- November 25, 2024
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In front of a packed Bistro at Flagler Palm Coast High School on Wednesday, Bulldogs student-athletes Eric Mejias and Paige Way signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college.
Mejias will play football and run track-and-field at Webber International University, in Babson Park. The Warriors are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and compete in the Sun Conference. The football team competes as an independent program.
Coaches at FPC said Mejias — pound for pound — is one of the best athletes the school has had in recent years.
“He’s also a great gentleman and a great student,” FPC football coach Caesar Campana said.
Mejias, who will be busy in college with studying and playing two sports, said his four years of hard work have finally paid off.
“You don’t think about it much when you’re doing it,” he said.
Mejias was part of FPC’s 4x400 and 4x800 relays, which finished second and fourth, respectively, at this year’s state meet. Track-and-field coach Dave Halliday said Mejias wasn’t much of a runner when he was a freshman, but he has come a long way, including running two great legs at the state meet to give FPC a shot at state titles in the relays.
“He went from being that little kid into a grown young man,” Halliday said. “It shows that you have to be patient, work hard and do all the right things for four years.”
Way will run track-and-field at Augusta State University, in Augusta, Ga. Augusta State is a Division II member of the NCAA and competes in the Peach Belt Conference. The Jaguars added its track-and-field program last year.
Way is a four-year runner on the cross-country and track-and-field teams. As captain, Way led the Lady Bulldogs cross-country team this year to its first Five-Star Conference title since 2004.
“I’m super proud of her and super excited she has the chance to start on the ground floor at Augusta State,” Halliday said.
Primarily a soccer player since she was a young girl, Way said she never expected to play any sport in college, especially track-and-field.
“I started as a freshman because my grandparents told me to try (running) because I was always one of the faster players,” Way said, adding that she has been given the nickname Hot Feet since the day her grandparents timed her on the track.
Though soccer was her passion, she said she wouldn’t change anything now.
“I’m glad it went this way,” she said. “It’s probably the best decision I have ever made.”
TIME TO GET BUCKETS
Matanzas will host a basketball camp for boys and girls, ages 10 to 15. The camp will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 10-14, in the Matanzas gym.
Cost is $50 per camper if paid by May 31; then the price increases to $55. Extended day is available until 5 p.m. for an additional $15. Space is limited.
For more information or to sign up, go to www.matanzasbasketballcamp.com or contact coach Tony Zaksewicz at 237-2986 or [email protected].
