Jared Smith’s journey at USA Karate’s senior level — ages 18-34 — still is in its early stages, but the Murrysville resident and 2019 Franklin Regional graduate continues to prove he is one of the best at this level in the country.

The 19-year-old freshman at Carnegie Mellon put his skills to the test at the USA National Karate-do Federation senior team trials Jan. 18 in Colorado Springs, and his performance earned him a spot on Team USA’s senior squad for the second year in a row.

As one of six competing in the under-75 kilogram (165-pound) division, he produced a 4-1 record, taking second to 30-year-old 11-time U.S. national champion Tom Scott.

Scott and Smith will represent Team USA in their weight division at the Pan American Championships in Costa Rica in May as well as the biennial World Championships in Dubai in November.

“Jared is a strong, young athlete,” his instructor, Dustin Baldis, said. “He wasn’t the typical 18-year-old who jumps into the adult ranks and is trying to find their way. He jumped in last year as one of the youngest to compete in the team trials and held his own against some veteran U.S. team members and beat them.

“He was ready mentally and physically. The only roadblock he’s gone up against is Tom Scott, knowing that (Scott) is No. 4 in the world. Tom is considered one of the best athletes in the world.”

Smith again is the youngest member of the senior team.

Last March, he was part of the team that won its second of back-to-back overall Pan American titles at the competition held in Panama.

Smith specifically was a member of the kumite (fighting) team that earned bronze.

Placing second to Scott at the team trials last month also puts Smith as the first alternate for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in August.

Scott is expected to represent the U.S. in Tokyo as karate will be included at the Olympics for the first time.

Smith, who trains at the Pennsylvania Shotokan Karate Club locations in Leetsdale and Level Green, finished his junior season in 2018 ranked No. 3 in the world, and he continues to move up the adult rankings. He also is set to compete at several international tournaments this year with the hopes of building off performances at 2019 events in countries such as Morocco, Canada and Spain.

Smith will make a return to the USA Karate National Championships from July 9-12 in Spokane, Wash., and he not only will be competing for a return to next year’s senior team trials, but he also will be in the running to qualify for the Junior Pan American Championships in August in Monterrey, Mexico.

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