- April 27, 2024
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There are more than 15 million high school students in the United States. About eight million of those students participate in athletics. However, of those, only 480,000 go on to play sports at any collegiate level, according to the NCAA.
So, the student-athletes from West Orange and Southwest Orange County who signed to play at the next level during National Signing Day on Feb. 7 are joining rare company, regardless of whether they signed with a Division III program or a Power 4 program, the day marked the culmination of nearly a lifetime of work.
“It means a lot to me,” West Orange High football player Latorie Hollinger Jr., who signed with Mars Hill University, said. “I’ve always dreamed of playing college football as a kid, and today, seeing my National Letter of Intent signed means I’m that much closer to achieving that dream.”
Not only is it a dream for the players to sign their NLI but also for their coaches.
“Every time we have these ceremonies, it means that we’re doing things right,” Olympia football coach Travis Gabriel said. “It means we’re helping kids accomplish their goals and dreams. I remember myself trying to live these dreams out, as well, so I know what they’re feeling. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event, a dream come true for these young men. I'm just proud to be able to witness them accomplishing their goals. … That’s the whole point of why we coaches do this.”
Beyond the accomplishment of fulfilling a lifelong dream, this day also represents the justification for the long hours these students have put into perfecting their craft.
“All the work I put in feels like it’s starting to pay off,” West Orange linebacker and University of West Florida football signee Tavarrius Powell said. “I’ve always put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I give all the credit to him. … And with Him by my side, I always knew He’d give me the strength to work hard and find the place to call home.”
For many athletes such as Powell, this most recent accomplishment took years of work. They’ve built their case for a collegiate roster spot by developing their games and bodies — all while making sure their film and name get in front of college coaches.
However, for some, it’s not a lifelong pursuit. It’s more like the famous Eminem lyric, “You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
For Legacy Charter’s Vaughn Scusa, a Berry College football signee, this moment was his representation of seizing the opportunity in front of him.
“This is his dream … and even though he’s only been around the sport for a year, it’s something that from the second he stepped onto the field in the spring, he told me he wanted,” Legacy football coach Zachary Fox said. “He got here because of all the hard work he put in. … He was a kid who lived, breathed and ate football. A sleep-with-the-playbook-under-your-pillow type of kid. He did everything he could to learn and get better — whether it was playing multiple positions, studying with me or getting in extra reps after practice.”
Scusa, who was a soccer player for the majority of his life, decided in senior year to trade in his shin pads for shoulder pads, and well, something special happened: He fell in love with football.
“I would have never thought two years ago that I’d be here today, signing to play college football, but here I am, and it’s a really exciting opportunity,” Scusa said. “It’s been such a fun sport to play; I love the physicality of it. I just feel honored, given my journey here, that I get the opportunity to keep playing this sport.”
Ultimately, the hard work and dedication put in by these student-athletes are the primary reasons they’ve been able to accomplish all they have in sports, but no person is an island. Each one of these young men and women had the support of someone in this pursuit — whether it be their parents, coach, teammate or friend.
For West Orange alumnus and football coach Geno Thompson, being part of his players’ support system is the priority, and getting them to college plays a vital role in how he approaches running the program.
“First and foremost, it’s an honor to be in this position, being a former student here (Class of 2003), to be able to come back to your high school and take the reins of the program to help raise and have an impact on these young men is such a blessing,” Thompson said.
“That’s the most important thing for me and part of that is kind of our ‘why’ here at West Orange and that’s to get kids to college. Obviously, when we go out on the field Friday nights, we play to win the game. But, the ultimate goal is getting these kids to college. That’s going to give them the opportunity to grow as people and earning a degree is going to open up so many doors for them.”
Because of the various opportunities that playing their sport in college affords these student-athletes, the reason they chose one school over the other also varies.
For Hollinger, Mars Hill felt like the right fit because of the impact the coaches and environment could have on his growth.
“It’s great for me because I feel like there I have the chance to be molded as a player on the field and as a man off the field,” he said.
His teammate Chaka Scott, a St. Thomas University football signee, prioritized something else.
“It’s definitely a great environment, the coaches are great and it’s a great space for me to study and get my degree, but also it was important that it was close to home,” he said.
According to his father, Paul Scusa, one of the reasons Vaughn is heading to Mount Berry, Georgia — a seven-plus hour drive from Orlando — is one of the programs that Berry offers.
“We were very impressed with the school in general, but what was really cool is they offer a degree that’s quite unique called Creative Technologies,” Paul Scusa said. “The program combines technical engineering elements, with creative elements, which is so Vaughn.”
Yes, most of these student-athletes are conscious about the opportunity they have by playing at the next level and how it can positively impact their futures, but at the end of the day, each of them — to a certain extent — earned this opportunity by being high-level competitors.
“I’m excited to get up to West Florida; they’re getting a dog in me,” Powell said. “I’m trying to win a championship.”
“Hopefully they’re getting a good slot receiver for the future and a man of God, who can help lead the team to great things,” Vaguhn Scusa said.
“They can expect me to come in and be a vocal guy early,” Hollinger said. “I have a lot of passion for the game, so they can expect that. They can expect me to be a playmaker, to come in ready to work and give 100% every time I step on that field.”
Regardless of which sport is played, which college they signed for or which high school they play for, this accomplishment deserves a round of applause.
Congratulations from the Orange Observer to all of the West Orange and Southwest Orange County student-athletes who signed to continue their athletic careers in college.
Sam Albuquerque is the Sports Editor for the Orange Observer. Please contact him with story ideas, results and statistics.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @SamBAlbuquerque
Instagram: @OrangeObserverSam
