Terrance Saryon, a senior standout from Evergreen who is preparing to sign with BYU, credits his mother for keeping him grounded as he navigates life-changing deals, and he thanks his high school coaches for helping him become the young man he is today
Paul Valencia
Clark County Today
The future is calling, but the future will have to wait for Terrance Saryon.
The present is just too important, too fun, for him.
Oh sure, he can dream about what college football will be like, how life will change with any negotiated NIL deal that comes with being a Division I recruit. It is, after all, so close.
Nothing, though, compares to a final season at home, with his guys, with his football family of today.
“It’s really just about fighting for your brothers. It’s a mentality,” Saryon said of how he stays in the moment, of competing with his Evergreen teammates one final season.
“It’s memories for me, too,” he said.
Yes, he will make new memories in college. The talented wide receiver intends to sign with Brigham Young University in December.
All that can wait.
Today, it’s all about Evergreen.
“I want to make the best memories that I can in my senior year with my brothers,” Saryon said.
On Friday, he made spectacular catch after spectacular catch, recording double-digits in receptions and tallying more than 150 yards.
“I feel like offensively we did a great job of complementing our defense every drive,” Saryon said. “If we keep doing that every week, we’re going to win.”
Saryon helped Evergreen improve to 2-1 in the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League with a 41-21 win over Prairie at McKenzie Stadium.
Saryon and other Division I recruits in Clark County are in new territory: Young standout athletes, still in high school, about to sign letters of intent that also include Name, Image, and Likeness deals.
Ethan Harris of Camas (Iowa men’s basketball) and Brooklynn Haywood of Union (Oregon women’s basketball) are expected to sign in November. Football players such as Saryon must wait until December to sign.
For Division I recruits, signing it much more than just scholarships now. Often, there are money deals. That means there is a new responsibility that comes with college recruitment. Saryon said he has a great support group at home with family and friends.
“My mom does a great job of keeping me grounded,” Saryon said.
Olga Kalashnik said she and her son have a good relationship, and she just does what she can as a mom, giving him advice to handle these relatively new demands.
She credits Terrance.
“It’s his drive and his doing. He’s more responsible than I am, to be honest,” Kalashnik said with a laugh. “When it comes down to getting things done on the field or getting to school or getting his homework done, he’s on it. I can’t be more proud.”
Saryon said he carries a 3.3 grade-point average.
Evergreen coach Christian Swain called Saryon “a great kid.” He was referring to the whole person, not just the football player. Swain meant a solid citizen, a joy to be around in school, in the community.
“Terrance is friendly, courteous, enjoyable to teach, and I have enjoyed his time at Evergreen,” Swain said. “He’s one of the great ones to come through The E.”
“It feels good when people are complimenting you off the field, too,” Saryon acknowledged.
Saryon had been talked about as the next big thing in Southwest Washington high school football since his early days at Evergreen.
“I have a lot of friends come up before me, and they did great things. I just wanted to be next up,” Saryon said.
“Terrance is a soft-spoken, respectful kid who has worked his tail off,” Swain said. “He’s been a guy who works year-round and he put in two, three workouts a day in the offseason.”
The attention has not changed him, and, Saryon said, it has not changed the way his coaches treat him.
“I just want to thank my coaches for believing in me and keeping the same attitude with me through all my years,” Saryon said.
This is the last football season for Saryon at Evergreen, and he and the Plainsmen are trying to make it count.
The Plainsmen got that big win on Friday as they try to lock down a playoff spot in the closing weeks of the regular season.
And it was another memory made in a very memorable high school career for Terrance Saryon.
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