Elkhart’s Huff and McSwane Sign with DBU

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

ELKHART – Dallas Baptist University (DBU) have landed a pair of Elkhart Elks to help keep their track and field program going strong as Elkhart standouts Trent Huff and Jacob McSwane signed their national letters of intent to take their prowess on the track to DBU during ceremonies held on Tuesday, May 15.

Once all the pictures had been taken and all the accolades had been handed out, Huff and McSwane sat down with The Messenger to discuss their signing and what led them to DBU.

McSwane said his visit to the DBU campus helped sway his decision.

“I’ve always wanted to run track in college. The opportunity was there so I took it,” he said. “They recruited me to run the hurdles, both the 110 and 300. Right now, I’m sitting as either the second or third fastest hurdler (on the DBU squad).”

 

As far as what he would say to his teammates about moving to the next level – athletically – McSwane said it was all about the work a person puts in.

“At the end of the day – an

d I know it’s been said a lot – but hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. That is pretty much what I’ve done throughout high school and now it seems to have paid off,” McSwane said.

He added Huff “… was getting recruited before I was. We had to go take our ACTs at the school and while we were there, we were talking to the head coach about track. I told him I ran and from there, they pretty much started to recruit me.”

Huff said his first contact with DBU came through a direct message on Instagram.

“The coach told me he was interested in me. He gave me his phone number and e-mail and we started talking,” Huff said.

Concerning the campus

of DBU, Huff said “… it’s beautiful. It kind of feels like home. They have recruited me to run the mile relay and the 400m.”

Asked when he realized he was fast enough to consider a move to the collegiate level, Huff said it was his sophomore year when the Elks 4 x400m relay team qualified for the state meet in Austin.

Concerning advice he would pass on to his teammates, Huff echoed McSwane and said “… work hard in practice and represent your school in a positive manner.”

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].