The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorn Hall of Honor: Tori Trees Smith
09.18.2015 | Texas Athletics, Women's Swimming and Diving, T-Association
The 16th Women’s Hall of Honor class will be inducted in a Sept. 25 ceremony at the Frank Erwin Center.
A six-time NCAA champion and 14-time All-American, Tori (Trees) Smith established her swimming legacy by helping Texas win four NCAA team titles. She earned the distinction as a national champion relay swimmer in each of her four seasons as a Longhorn, as well as winning an individual championship for the 200 meter backstroke during her sophomore year in 1985.
Smith was one of 11 freshmen who contributed to the Longhorns' run to the 1984 NCAA title. She was a member of the title-winning 400 medley relay team and placed second in the 100 and 200 backstroke events at the 1984 NCAA Championships.
"I think my freshman year was definitely a surprise and probably the most fun of the championships we won," Smith recalled.
One of the keys to success for the Longhorns' success that year, Smith claims, was the team's chemistry. Year after year, the pressure to win consecutive championships was practically nonexistent, as the team focused on bonding and working together as a team.
"We were a very close-knit team, very team-spirited, and pretty much close to one another," she said. "By our senior year we were expected to win, but there wasn't much pressure. It was really a way of life for us because we didn't know what it was like to get second."
After winning her first team NCAA championship with the Longhorns during her freshman year, Smith was back in the pool the following summer where she represented the United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In her only event at the Games, she finished fifth in the 200 meter backstroke. Her experience was unique in the sense that she qualified for the event from lane eight, which has a reputation of being the least advantageous lane.
"It was great because we had Jill Sterkel on the team when I was there. She's a legend at Texas," Smith said. "That was my first international meet so she and a couple other swimmers took me under their wing and helped guide me, so it was nice to have her there."
Smith is married to former UT national champion swimmer John Smith. They are the parents of UT junior swimmer Clark Smith, a 2015 NCAA champion in the 500 freestyle who helped the Longhorns win the NCAA team title last March. When asked about whether hers or her son's championship titles was the most satisfying, Smith was flustered.
"Oh my gosh, that's a hard question. They are for sure all special," Smith said. "I think it was special as they won this last year, as the guys felt bad not winning in our home pool (in 2014)."
With four team championships under her belt, Smith graduated from UT with a degree in kinesiology and moved to Houston with her husband. After working a short stint at a sports club, Smith took up coaching and continues to do so to this day. She currently coaches at Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado, where all three of her children attended.
"I've been coaching for 25 years and it's always been a big part of my life," she said. "I love coaching kids because I like to kind of shape them and guide them as they get older so they remember to do it for fun and not for anyone else."
Swimming has always been a big part of Smith's life, and she hopes to encourage anyone who has a passion for it to pursue it with a full heart.
"The kids have to find out what they want to do, what they enjoy, what they get out of this work, and what friends they make and what they're good at," she said. "They have to swim for themselves and have fun doing it."
Day of Distinction: 2015 Men's and Women's Hall of Honor Induction
Please join Texas Athletics as we induct 13 decorated and distinguished former University of Texas student-athletes and staff into the Men's and Women's Athletics Halls of Honor on Friday, Sept. 25
Tickets start at $35. To purchase, or if you have additional questions, please call (512) 232-4422.
