Melissa Tervort

Class of 1997

Volleyball, Basketball, Track & Field

Melissa Tervort shows the value of being a multi-sport athlete. The skill she developed in each sport made her better in all of her other sports too. In 1997, she was named the PHS Outstanding Female Athlete.

Melissa's senior year at PHS was extraordinary. In addition to being the Valedictorian (1997) she was also All-Region in Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field. Then, she was named to the First Team All-State in both Basketball and Track & Field. She played on the PHS basketball team that finished as State Runners-up in the state tournament. To cap it off, she was named as Academic All-State in Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field.

In track & field, she was the state runner-up in the 100 meter hurdles and the state champion in the long jump. In addition, she finished her career at PHS with eight school track & field records, meaning she achieved the best mark in Payson High history in those events. She broke the school record in the 100 meter hurdles, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, high jump, long jump, heptathlon, 4x100 meter relay, and medley relay.

After high school, she played basketball at Utah Valley State College (UVSC, now Utah Valley University) on a full ride scholarship. Ultimately she was named the team captain. She transferred to Brigham Young University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in family science.

She later served PHS track & field as assistant coach and later as head coach. In addition, Melissa was the assistant coach of the PHS women's basketball team in 2005 when they won the state championship.

Inducted 2020