Two Redwood Athletes, One Goal

Jazmaine Stewart, ‘26, and Graycie Serpa, ‘26, share their journey in making commitments to California State colleges for track.

By: Ariana Lopez Salguero and Sophia Rodriguez

For many high school athletes, the recruiting process is as demanding as the sports themselves, filled with expectation, uncertainty, and life-altering decisions. Every meet, every performance, and every conversation with coaches can shape what comes next.

It’s a time when performance meets possibility, and where every choice carries weight beyond the sport.

Seniors Jazmaine Stewart and Graycie Serpa have emerged as two of Redwood’s remarkable track and field athletes. Both Stewart and Serpa have committed to colleges to continue their career at the collegiate level.

Stewart a tri-athlete standout, has committed to California State University, Bakersfield, on a full-ride scholarship for track.

For Stewart, the decision became clear during her campus visit.

Going on her visit, Stewart felt at home, she says that it was unmatched, “the chemistry of the team, the energy that everybody had, how nice everybody was. And just how enthusiastic everybody was about their program. And the coach, he reminded me a lot of my current coach. So it made me comfortable being able to leave Redwood, going to a school, knowing that I’d have the same coaching and being comfortable under that coach’s wing.”

Stewart said track has shaped her confidence and mindset far beyond competition.

“I think the idea of track being an individual sport is what made me who I am. It’s taught me how to be more patient with myself and to trust the process, because you’re not gonna PR every meet. So being able to trust that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

“I’m excited to take my skill set to the next level. I’m excited to travel more, being able to go to different states, and compete with people who are at a higher level than what I am.”

Stewart says that the biggest challenge for her was learning to believe in herself. She says, “Coming into high school sports, I wasn’t the most confident athlete. I always doubted myself. 
So being able to be confident in my skill set, to understand that I’m where I’m supposed to be. And I deserve to be here. I didn’t work this hard to not be here.”

As a jumper, Stewart says consistency comes from focusing on small details and trusting her training.


“I like to talk to myself when I’m jumping, I give myself verbal cues,” Stewart said. “Just being able to remember the smaller things that can help with the bigger things.”

One of Stewart’s proudest accomplishments came early in her triple jump career.

“When I first hit 39 feet in a triple jump. Because this is only my second year doing triple. That was such a huge accomplishment for me,” said Stewart.

Stewart credits much of her motivation to her mother and coaches.

“My mom is such a huge motivator,” Stewart said. “Having my coach there, to encourage me to teach me these things that I never thought that I would see myself doing. So being able to have these people on my side all the time as well helps me.”

She also draws inspiration from Olympic long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall.

“When I first started long jump at Farmersville, I had to teach myself,” Stewart said. “She was one of the people I always watched on YouTube. Seeing her accomplishments in high school, and then going into the Olympics, it’s always been something that’s motivated me. Like, I can do this.”

Stewart said competing in the Olympics is one of her long-term goals. She says, “It seems unattainable, but I think I could do it.”

Before committing to Bakersfield, Stewart also received offers from California State University, Long Beach, and California State University, Fullerton.

She said the most difficult part of the process was turning down programs where she had already built strong relationships.

“It sucks because you build these connections,” Stewart said. “The coaches were respectful and supportive of my decision.”

Looking back, Stewart said track was not originally something she envisioned pursuing seriously.

“When I first started track, it was not really something that I saw myself doing as an actual sport,” Stewart said. “I just kind of saw it as like a time filler because I sucked at softball. But the more I got into it, the more I saw it as an opportunity.”

“Shout out to my mom Sabrina Gomez, my little brother Rickey Stewart, and my coaches Isaac Leppke and Stephen Amundson,” Stewart says. “Y’all rock.”

Graycie Serpa, an outstanding runner and soccer player, has decided to continue her track career on a full-ride scholarship to California State University, Long Beach after balancing multiple offers.

She received offers from Fresno State, Cal State Fullerton, Colorado State, and the University of Nevada.

At the college level, Serpa says she is “excited to compete with the best and improve.”

Serpa took her time committing to a university to pursue her track career, saying, “I just don’t want to go somewhere I don’t like and then have to transfer. Transferring is never what you want to do.”

Having to turn down her other offers was not easy for Serpa either. She says, “Stopping contact with them [was difficult as] I have been talking to most of them since the fall.”

However, Long Beach stood out to Serpa because of their support system and coach, who she says pushed her to the limit.

Committing to Long Beach “means a lot for my family and me because it’s a goal I have been reaching for. I pushed myself a lot, but so have my parents and my coaches,” Serpa said.

“My biggest influence is my trainer, Deajah. She has run at the highest levels, and I look up to her as a runner,” says Serpa.

“For track, I feel like it’s more on you,” Serpa said. “If you put in the work, you see the results. In soccer, sometimes mistakes can come from your team and not just yourself.”

Even with coaches and recruiters watching her future closely, Serpa says she tries not to let outside pressure affect her decisions.

“I feel the pressure, and I feel like I just put it to the side,” Serpa said. “I don’t let it bother me because it’s my journey, and I don’t really want people to rush it.”

Serpa says her priorities definitely became more serious during her junior year compared to the start of her career where she has put in more work.

“I trust my training because it sets me up for my races,” says Serpa about staying consistent with her marks and timings.

Her parents and coaches, though, have played a major role in keeping her motivated throughout the process.

What separates Serpa from other athletes, according to those around her, is her work ethic and discipline, even when training becomes difficult.

Outside of competition, Serpa enjoys spending time with friends, doing her nails, and playing pickleball with her mom and friends.

“I am going to miss the friendships,” says Serpa. “I would like to thank my family, coaches, and friends for always being by my side.”

As they prepare for their next chapter, both athletes have left a lasting impact on Redwood’s track program, proving that success at the next level comes from more than talent alone.

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