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Trey Staunch at Slippery Rock
Matt Durisko

Men's Basketball Bob Shreve, Sports Information Director

The Decision: The Trey Staunch Story

The following article was written and provided to the Edinboro athletic department by Nate Steis, a personal acquaintance of Trey Staunch. Steis is a senior at Penn State Behrend and works as an intern in the sports information department.  

The Decision was a documented television moment that featured basketball superstars' LeBron James' free agency decision in the summer of 2010. It is the most well-known free agency moment in major sports history. While LeBron James did not go to college, many college athletes are faced with their own decision on where to continue their career. While their decision may not be as documented and well-known as James', there have been some tough decisions made by thousands of college athletes on what school provides them with the best place for overall success.

Some former high school athletes who turned professional, like Terrelle Pryor, Malik Hooker, and Tim Couch, faced the decision on whether to play basketball or football in college. It was a decision that led to each of these men picking football over basketball despite having Division I offers in both respective sport. One District 10 alum faced a decision similar to these star athletes. Imagine scoring over 2,100 points in high school basketball, being named All- Region four years in high school baseball, including being named region Pitcher of the Year, and also leading your team to two District 10 championships in football as a starting quarterback.
Thinking deeper on the significance, 2015 West Middlesex High School graduate Trey Staunch was faced with quite possibly one of the most complicated and unheard of decisions any D10 athlete had faced in a number of years. What path would Staunch choose? After compiling a combination of DI and DII offers in football from schools like Slippery Rock, IUP, Gannon, Youngstown State, Duquesne, and Robert Morris, it appeared like football was the sport Staunch would choose. However, the decision was more difficult than that.

21201After a magnificent career in basketball that featured Staunch as one of the most consistent scorers and rebounders in the entire state for four straight years, was it best if he chose basketball? Staunch's mother, Mary Jo, was a former standout basketball player at Penn State Shenango and later at the DI level for Youngstown State. She had coached Trey for years and unquestionably helped Trey become a better basketball player through the years.

While Mary Jo easily could have pushed her son towards basketball, she did not and let Trey weigh each option thoroughly. After compiling offers from Pitt-Titusville, Mount Union, Penn State Shenango, and receiving a preferred walk on spot offering from Mercyhurst, Trey realized the decision was growing increasingly tougher.

After local scouts watched his ability as a pitcher, they were also intrigued and requested the services of Staunch for their baseball programs. Schools like Gannon and Mercyhurst expressed serious interest in the West Middlesex product, and this made Trey's already tough decision on what route to take even more interesting. Trey's father, Jack, was a a great baseball player in his high school days, but he never pushed his son to pursue the sport in college. So, what did Trey Staunch decide and why?

"It was truly a difficult choice." Staunch admitted. "I had a lot of interest, but I knew my heart belonged to football. A lot of schools were intrigued by my physicality and size as a high school quarterback, and they wanted me to transition to tight end. I chose Edinboro because I felt like it allowed me the chance to make the biggest impact as a football player while also pursuing a degree I was passionate about in broadcast journalism." It was settled; Edinboro University to play an entirely new position.
Anyone who knows Trey understands the truly indescribable athleticism he possesses, so the move was not something Trey or any of his biggest supporters were worried about him making.

After compiling 3 catches for 15 yards in his freshman season, it appeared that year two would be a better year for Staunch, who would be more familiar with the tight end position and the physicality of college football. 2016 was going to be Staunch's year, but the injury bug struck the Fighting Scots' offensive line. One week before the first game, to be exact. Staunch was asked and also voluntarily moved to the offensive line for the overall benefit of the team. A former star quarterback was now a lineman in one of the best conferences in the country in Division II.

At just 250 pounds, Staunch was able to give defensive lineman and linebackers trouble with his knowledge, quick feet, and work ethic. "Being a 250-pound offensive tackle in our conference is truly brutal." Staunch admitted. "After the season, the coaches thanked me and told me I did a tremendous job for my size at the position. However, they told me this would be my permanent home for the remainder of my career and that I needed to gain some weight in order to better compete and help the team win football games. I knew it was going to be a process in order to put on the necessary weight, but it was truly humbling for the coaches to put this much faith in me."

Staunch was able to gain 26 pounds of muscle between his sophomore and junior season which unquestionably served him well in his last two seasons. While football was Staunch's sport of choice in college, another unusual twist and opportunity arose for Staunch in the middle of his sophomore year. After attending basketball games with his friends and teammates for a year and a half, Staunch began to miss the game he once spent every weekend in the summer playing. He also began to notice the unusual number of players on the Edinboro basketball team. The team was down to close to just 10 or so healthy players which is not a lot for a college basketball program to carry and run productive practices.

21592Trey became intrigued and decided to reach out to Edinboro head basketball coach Pat Cleary. Trey wanted to join the basketball team, but unfortunately he was not called upon to begin his basketball career in his sophomore season like he hoped. However, Cleary was impressed by Staunch's desire.

In his junior season while also starting on the offensive line, Staunch was about to begin a collegiate career in a second sport, basketball. While he admits there is some overlap at the end of football and the beginning of basketball, he has been able to manage it by putting extra work in to be a better all-around athlete. "There is a football in-shape and a basketball in-shape," Staunch admitted. However, from watching the big man play basketball, it is crazy to think he is able to play the game of basketball at 290 pounds with such skill and speed.

In his junior year of basketball, Staunch was able to score 8 points and pull down 3.7 rebounds per game. These numbers, after taking more than two full years off of basketball, are truly incredible. However, Trey's senior year in both football and basketball have featured him reaching an even higher level. Staunch was named second-team All-PSAC West as a starting offensive lineman.
It was quite the last five years in football for Staunch, as he transitioned from starting quarterback in high school to tight end as a freshman, and later to offensive tackle for the following three years.

Staunch has also proven he is much more comfortable with college basketball in year two and is averaging double figures in points while also pulling down over six rebounds per game. He was able to score a career-high 22 points against Mansfield in December, which was his first 20-point game since his high school days when he averaged well over 20 points per game.

While Staunch has accomplished things in his college career that were unexpected, he described the journey of his athletic career with one word, humbling. "It has been quite an adventure. Both my high school and college athletic careers. Winning several District 10 championships in both football in basketball was such a cool experience, and I would not trade those memories for anything. I am a firm believer in team performance overall rather than personal accomplishments, but I admit being a PSAC second team selection in football was something I worked super hard for. It has been so uplifting to me to move from a former quarterback who gets a great amount of recognition to an offensive lineman who never is mentioned in the press. I would not trade the journey for anything." Staunch admitted.

While Staunch's football career in college has concluded, he admits a desire to pursue a professional career on the gridiron. It has been a tough task to prepare for NFL combines and other pro football opportunities because of basketball, which serves as a damper on his dream at the moment. However, Staunch is still in fantastic shape because of basketball and has unheard of ability and knowledge about the game of football. It would not be surprising to many if he had an opportunity to play football at the highest level in the near future. For now, Staunch is focused on finishing his collegiate career in basketball strong along with finishing his career in broadcast journalism. Staunch hopes to work in professional or collegiate athletics for a career since sports has always been his passion for as long as he could remember.

22985With great coaches, teammates, and family support, Trey Staunch has accomplished some of the most impressive feats District 10 and the PSAC has ever seen. Truly, a 6-4 offensive lineman and basketball center at the Division II level is special. It is one of the most unique skill sets imaginable, but with a work ethic and knowledge of athletics like Trey's, it makes sense how he has been able to make it work. The former three sport star undoubtedly made the right decision to attend Edinboro because it allowed him to live out two dreams while also obtaining a degree that will prepare him for a career in athletics once his playing career concludes.
Thinking back at the decision of LeBron James to head to Miami, was it the right choice? If you judge the choice in terms of helping LeBron winning some championships and gaining valuable experience to bring back to Cleveland, then yes it was the right decision. Was it the right decision for Trey Staunch to go to Edinboro? If the choice is judged based on education and being able to continue his career in two different sports at the Division II level, then yes it was the right decision. Life could be much different if Trey would have attended another school and chosen another path. Trey fully recognizes this, and considers himself incredibly blessed for making the best absolute decision for him.

There is only one question left to answer; is club baseball next for Trey Staunch before graduation in May?
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Trey Staunch

#22 Trey Staunch

F
6' 4"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Trey Staunch

#22 Trey Staunch

6' 4"
Graduate Student
F