Patrons gathered in Pinewood Christian Academy’s (PCA) lecture hall on November 13, 2024, as Katelin Smith officially committed to the University of Georgia (UGA) to continue her academic and athletic softball career. The senior class along with family, coaches, teammates, and staff celebrated her signing.

Throughout her high school career, Katelin has been a standout athlete, consistently demonstrating exceptional performance both on the field and in the classroom. Her impressive cumulative high school batting average of .537 and outstanding defensive capabilities have caught the attention of college recruiters across the state. This commitment represents a significant milestone in Katelin’s athletic career, marking her transition from a promising high school athlete to a collegiate competitor in one of the most competitive softball conferences in the country.

Katelin shared, “I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity to continue playing the game that I love at UGA. There are so many people who have supported me in this journey, and I am thankful for each one of them. It means so much to have everyone here to celebrate with me.”

When announcing the 2025 class of recruits, UGA Head Coach Tony Baldwin said, “Katelin is an athlete! She is a multi-sport athlete who loves to compete. She is a shortstop by nature but can truly play anywhere on the field. She has a powerful bat as she has shown with her 20 home runs during the high school season. She is a blue-collar worker and a tremendous student. She is another South Georgia player that we are excited to represent the Red and Black.”

Throughout her career, Katelin has proven to be a dynamic athlete with numerous accolades across multiple sports, including softball, basketball, and track. She is a four-year starter for the Lady Patriots in softball and basketball, as well as running the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m during track. Smith earned All-Region and All-State Softball awards her freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, and was named the 2024 Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA) AAA Player of the Year. She helped her team clinch the Region Championship and led the Lady Patriots to a 3rd place finish in the State Tournament. In basketball, Smith received All-Region accolades her sophomore and junior years with her senior season just getting underway. As a freshman, Katelin earned a spot to compete in the State track meet earning 7th place in the 200m and 5th in the 4x100m. During her junior season, she helped the Lady Patriots earn the Track Region Championship, was All-Region in the 4x100m, and ended the season in 4th place during the State Meet in the 4x100m.