Behind the Jersey with Russell Pascascio

Published on Mar 9 2026

Russell Pascascio clears the bar with quiet focus and steady discipline. A high jumper for the College of the Redwoods track and field team, Russell has built his success on a simple philosophy: compete with yourself first, and the rest will follow.

Raised in Rio Dell, Russell attended school there before attending Fortuna High School.

But his path into track and field began in sixth grade, thanks to a little encouragement from friends. At the time, Russell was focused on basketball and baseball. One friend convinced him to try out for track, and something immediately clicked.

“I’ve always been pretty decent at jumping,” he says with a smile. “You know when you’re a kid, and you play games where you try to jump and touch things? I always enjoyed doing that. I went out for track and field and started competing in the high jump. I did well and started winning most of my competitions, so I thought, maybe I can keep doing this.”

Athletics run deep in Russell’s family. His parents encouraged sports from an early age, and the support has never faded.

“My family’s great, super supportive,” he says. “My younger siblings are athletes. My father was an athlete, and my mom was a cheerleader. Sports are important to our family.”

Even now, with the responsibilities of college life, that encouragement is a steady presence.

“Even though my dad is a busy man, I can count on him to show up when it’s important,” Russell says. “They’ve always supported my journey.”

That journey led him to CR, a decision he describes as surprisingly easy. At first, Russell considered leaving Humboldt County for a larger university experience. But the pull of community and family ultimately won out.

“I realized if I stayed local, I could stay close to my family. Plus, I get home-cooked meals,” he laughs.

Another major factor was Coach Reed Elmore, who reached out and spoke with Russell before he enrolled.

“I could tell right away he was a really good guy,” Russell says. “Everyone I talked to who had been part of the CR track and field program said the same thing about the culture. It’s more like a family.”

That sense of connection mattered to Russell, especially after playing team sports like basketball.

“Even though track is an individual sport, teamwork still matters a lot,” he says. “Here, everyone supports each other.”

So far, the season has already delivered a breakthrough moment. Russell recently cleared a personal best of 2.02 meters, roughly 6 feet 7½ inches, while also hitting the coveted State A qualifying mark.

“I was super excited,” he says. “It felt like the work I’ve been putting in was starting to pay off.”

Still, Russell doesn’t focus too far ahead on championships or rankings.

“I try not to think about State too far in advance,” he says. “What matters more to me is beating myself. Getting better every time.”

That mindset helped him push through a period last season when he felt stuck.

“I started to feel like maybe I couldn’t jump any higher,” he says. “That was tough to deal with. But starting this season with a PR (personal record) really changed my mentality. It reminded me I can keep going higher.”

Balancing athletics, academics, and work requires careful planning. Russell trains for about an hour to two hours most weekdays, while also working roughly eight hours per week in the Welcome Center on campus. His classes include a mix of online and in-person coursework.

“You kind of have to make a schedule and figure out your priorities,” he says. “Once you get used to it, it becomes about discipline.”

Some professors have left a lasting impression along the way.

“Astronomy with Jon Pedicino has been great. He’s really passionate about it,” Russell says. “Jaclyn Patmore in anatomy is amazing, too. She really cares about helping students learn. And Ralph Reiner is awesome. He makes class fun.”

When motivation runs low, Russell returns to a simple question: why keep going?

“You have to remember why you’re doing it,” he says. “Then you decide if you’re comfortable staying where you are, or if you want to keep getting better. If you want to improve, there’s only one option. You keep showing up.”

That steady mindset carries into competition as well.

“I don’t really think about beating other people,” he says. “I think about beating myself. If you keep improving, the results will come.”

For Russell, representing CR means something deeper than personal success. The team may be small, but the pride runs big.

“CR is a small school. Sometimes we have the smallest team at meets,” he says. “But it makes me proud to represent where I’m from.”

There’s also a family connection to the campus. Russell’s father once played football at CR, making his own time on the track feel like part of a larger story.

“This is Humboldt,” he says. “Maybe not everyone knows about Humboldt, but I want them to remember College of the Redwoods.”

Looking ahead, Russell is considering several possible paths after CR. Some university programs have already expressed interest in his jumping ability. At the same time, he remains open to staying local and pursuing a career in nursing.

“Right now, it’s a little up in the air,” he says. “But either way, I think I’ll be happy.”

For younger athletes hoping to compete at the collegiate level, Russell offers advice grounded in the same philosophy that guides his training.

“Don’t worry about the competitors,” he says. “Just worry about beating yourself. If you keep improving every time, everything else will take care of itself.”

For Russell Pascascio, the bar is always rising. And he’s ready to keep clearing it.