Navarrette signs with Cal Poly Pomona

Discus thrower Navarrette signs with Cal Poly Pomona

Last month, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the track and field season for the year, Navarrette signed his letter of intent to continue his career at NCAA Division 2 program Cal Poly Pomona in the Los Angeles area. A signing ceremony was held at COS, as his proud family was there to share in the moment. “It feels good to sign,” he said. “I’ve put in so much time into the sport.”

Dominique Navarrette is grateful that College of the Siskiyous gave him a chance to prove himself as a thrower when no other school would.

He parlayed that opportunity to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt he belonged by winning the men’s discus throw at the 2019 California Community College State Track and Field Meet as a freshman last May.

At state, Navarrette was six feet behind the leader after four throws out of six when he had the two longest throws of the day. His fifth throw of 166-05 proved to be his best one and earned him a state title.

Last month, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the track and field season for the year, Navarrette signed his letter of intent to continue his career at NCAA Division 2 program Cal Poly Pomona in the Los Angeles area. A signing ceremony was held at COS, as his proud family was there to share in the moment.

“It feels good to sign,” he said. “I’ve put in so much time into the sport.”  Dominique thanked his family for believing in him every step of the way.

“My entire family is extremely supportive of me,” he said.

While disappointed he won’t have the opportunity to defend his title this season, he said that being able to attend COS and do well in both athletics and academically is something he is proud to have achieved.

Since the season barely began before being called off, there is a chance Navarrette may have three years of eligibility instead of two at his new school. It is still too early at this time to know if he will gain an extra year of eligibility. 

“I hope this season won’t be a wasted year,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”  A 2018 graduate of El Capitan High School in Merced, Calif., Navarrette earned a berth to the CIF State Track and Field Championships in the discus as a junior and senior.

He and his father, Nick Navarrette, knew that Dominique wanted to compete in junior college, as they contacted every JC in the state with housing and a throwing program, with the only school showing interest was COS.

The head track and field coach at COS is Katie Woodward, who had an outstanding career as a thrower at Yreka High School and went on to throw at Fresno State.

“It meant a lot knowing she took a chance on me, and it paid off,” he said.

“Dominique is a gifted young man,” Woodward said. “Dominique is physically gifted and was lucky enough to have a father who worked hard to help him develop as a youngster even though he wasn’t a thrower himself.”

Navarrette said while he had the physical tools, he said coach Woodward helped him refine his technique and mental game to help him succeed and come away with a state title last year

“Coach Woodward is extremely humble and is so knowledgeable about being a thrower and about life in general,” he said.

Woodward said she and the other coaches had “worked a great deal together on Dominique’s mental game in he past two years and he has grown in leaps and bounds.”

Woodward said that while she was also disappointed that he did not have a chance to defend his state title, she is looking forward to watching what he can do “on to the next level,” at Cal Poly Pomona.

“Dominique still has plenty of room to grow, even though he was already a state champion,” she said, “and I hope his new coach can help him further realize and achieve his potential.”

She said that she has formed a close bond with Dominique and his family.

“Dominique and his family will forever be a part of my life,” she said. ” I am so grateful to his dad for all of his support of Dominique and the rest of the kids. He and his family traveled to many meets and provided that family atmosphere to all of our athletes. I am so grateful to have had the privilege to work with Dominique and am thankful to him and his family for trusting me to help develop him.”

Navarrette is glad that he chose COS and will always cherish the close bonds he has formed with his coaches and teammates.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “I loved my time at COS and the friendships I made up there. It helped me appreciate the little things more. It’ was a great big family (at COS). I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’m glad I branched out and tried something new.”

With the COS campus closed for the rest of the school year, Dominique is finishing the remainder of his classes remotely from his hometown of Merced.

Dominique said he is excited to start his new chapter at Cal Poly Pomona. He said that he is ready to work hard and have a strong season next year with his new team.

Story credit: https://www.siskiyoudaily.com/sports