SANTA CRUZ — When star pole vaulter Jonelle Scott was trying to secure college plans three years ago, UCLA caught her attention.
The Soquel High alumna reached out to a UCLA and expressed her desire to compete for the Bruins, but she never received a reply. Turns out, she emailed the wrong person.
Jonelle Scott, a Soquel High alumna, broke Long Beach State University’s indoor and outdoor pole vaukting marks as a freshman in 2025. (LBSU Athletics)
The Bruins were interested in her talents, though. They proved that when they saw her name in the transfer portal earlier this month and contacted her. Scott liked what they had to say and offer. She announced on Instagram that she has committed to the Bruins after an abbreviated, record-setting career at Long Beach State University.
“There’s a part of me that always wanted to go to UCLA,” said Scott, who is entering her junior season. “I’m super excited to experience a college football game, the simple things. I’m also excited to compete in the Big Ten. It’s super competitive.”
More than a half dozen schools reached out to Scott after she entered the portal, including Alabama, Cal, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Duke, San Diego State, and UC Irvine.
Scott, a 2026 CSC Academic All-District honoree who took second at the Big West Conference Championships, feels like she “outgrew” LBSU’s program. She set The Beach’s outdoor (13 feet, 9 inches) and indoor (13-3 1/2) records as a freshman.
Scott liked what she saw on her visit to UCLA. “They have really nice athletic facilities, training room, and track, too. It’s a big stadium. It had a bigger school vibe and more of an emphasis on sports. They have good academics, too.”
Long Beach State University’s record-setting pole vaulter Jonelle Scott, a Soquel High alumna, entered the transfer portal and has committed to UCLA’s track and field team. (LBSU Athletics)
Jonelle Scott, a Soquel High alumna, broke Long Beach State University’s indoor and outdoor pole vaukting marks as a freshman in 2025. (LBSU Athletics)
Pole vaulter Jonelle Scott, a Soquel High alumna, will compete for UCLA in the Big Ten Conference in 2026-27. (LBSU Athletics)
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Long Beach State University’s record-setting pole vaulter Jonelle Scott, a Soquel High alumna, entered the transfer portal and has committed to UCLA’s track and field team. (LBSU Athletics)
Scott wasn’t pleased with her sophomore showing. For the first time in her career, she didn’t get a personal record. She believes she can reach new heights at UCLA, where she’ll have a full-time pole vault coach in Tate Curran.
She’ll also be pushed in practice by a pair of incoming sophomores, Avery Boyse, a Burlingame alumna who cleared a personal-best 13-2.5 at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, and Paige Echsner, a Del Norte alumna who cleared 13-8.25 this spring.
Scott is also excited to test herself against Washington vaulters Amanda Moll, the reigning NCAA outdoor champion, and her sister, Hana, the defending NCAA indoor champion. Both Huskies are entering their senior season.
In high school, Scott won three Central Coast Section pole vault titles and placed third at the CIF State Championships as a senior despite battling a lower back injury. She holds Soquel’s school record, 12-9.