SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – South Tahoe High School senior Brody DeFranco has committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah, where he will compete at the NCAA Division I level in men’s track and field. Utah Tech competes in the Big Sky Conference, a Division I conference featuring universities across the western United States and sponsoring championship competition in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
DeFranco will join the Trailblazers as both a hurdler and a decathlete. The decathlon, a two-day competition consisting of ten events spanning sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws, and distance running, is widely regarded as one of the most demanding events in track and field. It is also considered one of sport’s greatest tests of personal athleticism.
During his recruiting process, DeFranco received multiple scholarship and roster opportunities, including a half dozen Division I offers, more than a dozen Division II offers, and numerous Division III opportunities throughout California and across the country. His final top three schools considered were CSU Fullerton, Pepperdine, and Utah Tech. He ultimately selected Utah Tech based on the program’s competitive trajectory within the Big Sky Conference, its elite coaching staff and development model for multi-event athletes, the opportunity to compete at a high Division I level, St. George’s favorable year-round training climate, and the ability to compete in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
At South Tahoe High School, DeFranco has competed at the state meet in four individual events: the 110-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles, the 100-meter sprint, and the 200-meter sprint. He is the 2025 3A State Champion in the 110-meter hurdles and the 2024 and 2025 3A State Runner-Up in the 300-meter hurdles. He also finished fourth overall in the 100-meter sprint at the state championships.
He owns South Tahoe High School records in the 110-meter hurdles (14.55), 300-meter hurdles (39.67), and the 200-meter sprint (22.78), and he is pursuing the school record in the 100-meter this season.
DeFranco’s senior goals include defending his state title in the 110-meter hurdles and pursuing state championships in both the 300-meter hurdles and the 100-meter sprint. Winning the 100 meters would earn him recognition as the fastest man in Nevada’s 3A classification. He is also focused on helping South Tahoe achieve its broader team objectives, including regional and state championship aspirations this season.
DeFranco has competed nationally in the USATF Junior Olympics at the E.B. Cushing Stadium at Texas A&M University and at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. He has also competed at Nike Outdoor Nationals, the Arcadia Invitational, the Stanford Invitational, and the Sacramento Meet of Champions.
Academically, DeFranco carries a 3.9 unweighted GPA. He will graduate from South Tahoe High School in June while simultaneously completing his associate’s degree from Lake Tahoe Community College this summer. At Utah Tech, he plans to pursue a double major in Business Management and Exercise Science.
DeFranco’s accomplishment represents a rare achievement for an athlete emerging from a small mountain community. In a region not traditionally known as a track and field hub due to long winters and limited track facilities, earning Division I offers from multiple institutions and securing national recruiting attention reflects high-level performance and determination. His path has included countless training sessions in cold environments.
“Utah Tech gives me the opportunity to achieve my lifelong goal of competing at the Division I level and provides a place where I can continue to grow as a student-athlete and as a person. I’m incredibly thankful for my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who has been part of this journey. Go Trailblazers!”
DeFranco will enroll at Utah Tech University in the fall and will begin his collegiate track and field career in the 2026–27 school year.
