Wednesday’s National Signing Day featured seven Hernando County athletes inking letters of intent to play their respective sports at the next level. While five football players put pen to paper, the lone Division I signee came from the girls soccer ranks, as Springstead senior Samantha Betters made official her commitment to attend the University of Florida.
“I’ve kind of been a Gator fan all my life and when I was going into school I was looking a lot for academics and a sports balance, and I think academics are really important, especially going to college,” Betters said early in the recently completed season. “It wasn’t just about soccer. I want to further myself for my career.”
Betters, who also seriously considered the University of Missouri, tallied 46 goals and 23 assists as a freshman. After missing her entire sophomore campaign recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL, she posted 50 goals and 26 assists in 2014-15. She finished off her prep career with 26 goals and 15 assists, according to Hernandosport.com, as the Lady Eagles went 11-5 and lost in the district semifinals on Jan. 13.
Another girls soccer player, Hernando keeper Caitlynn Nixon, signed on Wednesday with Southern Wesleyan University, a Division II school out of South Carolina.
“I was super nervous,” Nixon said. “I think toward the end of last year I started thinking about playing college soccer. So it’s pretty awesome to make that a reality.”
Nixon said she visited Southern Wesleyan a couple of times, and “really enjoyed the campus, the environment up there,” as well as the small campus size.
“I’m really excited,” Nixon said. “I had a blast doing high school, so I can’t wait to have the chance to see what it’s like at the next step.”
Another Hernando senior, Tyson Libengood, signed to play football with Division II Nebraska-Kearney. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman recorded 72 tackles and eight sacks this past season, causing two fumbles and recovering one.
The other four signees came out of the Central football program. That included wide receiver Manny Scott and offensive lineman Trevon Lincoln inking with Central Connecticut State University. The Blue Devils are a Division I Football Championship Subdivision team.
The 6-foot, 175-pound Scott caught 37 passes for 844 yards with seven touchdowns as a senior. He also returned a punt for a score. Lincoln (6-foot-5, 305 pounds) helped pave the way for De’Vonta Smith to rush for 2,193 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Linebacker Albon Jones (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) signed with Dodge City Community College in Kansas, after totaling 105 tackles, eight sacks, six caused fumbles and three recovered fumbles. Offensive lineman Ethan Supik (6-foot-1, 270 pounds) rounded out the Bear signings, choosing Division III Adrian College in Michigan.
“We’re excited about it and that’s what you take pride in as a head coach, sending kids off to become men in college, and we showed that today,” Central head coach Chris Sands said. “I definitely see all of them succeeding. Not just on the field but getting their degrees. That’s what it’s all about.”
Follow Chris Bernhardt Jr. on Twitter @cpbernhardtjr.