Smithville High School senior Nikolette Schmidt will continue her academic and athletic endeavors at the University of Houston this fall, as she joins the Cougars’ track program on scholarship.Schmidt will be contributing to the team in her expertise of pole-vaulting, where she is one of the top high school competitors in all of Texas. She cleared 12’6” at last year’s state meet en route to a second-place finish in the 4A girls pole vault finals. That mark stands as Schmidt’s personal record as she gears up to the district meet at Giddings Stadium, which will be held April 11 and ...