Flagler Palm Coast lucky 13 sign college letters of intent at in-school celebration

Four football players, three baseball players, three softball players, two soccer players and a wrestler will continue their athletic careers in college.

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Flagler Palm Coast High School held a signing ceremony during school on Monday, Feb. 10, with 13 seniors signing letters of intent to play intercollegiate sports.

Colby Cronk, North Carolina State football: The defensive end is the first ever FPC football player to sign directly out of high school with a Power Five Conference school. Cronk was the only one of the 13 to sign previously. He sent in his NIL during the early signing period in December after undergoing surgery in late November to repair a torn labrum.

Cronk hopes to be cleared at the end of February to lift weights with his upper body and resume track and field practice. He would like to defend his state championship in the shot put and add a state title in the discus, in which he was a runner-up last year. He said he wants to add a couple more state titles to the family collection before he graduates. His sister, Micayla Cronk, an 11-time All-American swimmer at the University of Florida, won seven state swimming championships at FPC.

“I definitely want to get a fraction of what my sister did,” he said.

Roman Caliendo, Shorter University football: The tight end will continue his football career at NCAA Division II Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. “The moment I got there I felt wanted,” he said. “They told me the tight end is an essential position in their offense. They have a tradition of good tight ends, and I want to continue that legacy.”

Corinthians Watson, St. Thomas University football: The defensive back will play safety for the NAIA school and may also get the chance to run track there, he said. Watson is a jumper and also runs the 200 and 400. He was also a starting forward on the basketball team.

Jemon Little, Ave Maria football: The linebacker signed with the Florida NAIA school. Ave Maria and St. Thomas are both in the Sun Conference, so Little and Watson will meet each other on the football field.

Ashleigh Pigeon, Flagler College softball: The NCAA Division II school in St. Augustine has been Pigeon’s “dream school” since she was 10 years old. “It’s always been my No. 1 choice,” said Pigeon, a pitcher/utility player. “When I met the coaches I knew it was meant to be.”

Sadie Schell, Keiser University softball: Keiser University, an NCAA DII school in West Palm Beach, offered the FPC catcher a scholarship in September, just three weeks after she underwent ACL surgery. “I was concerned whether I’d be able to play on the next level after my injury,” she said. She expects to play softball this season for the Bulldogs but won't get back behind the play until this summer.

Skylar Ludovici, Montreat College softball: The pitcher/outfielder visited the NAIA school in North Carolina and fell in love with it. Montreat offered her a scholarship after watching her play in a travel team tournament. 

Evan Papadakos, Toccoa Falls College soccer: Papadakos returned to FPC as a senior after playing soccer for Mendoza United FC in Argentina during his sophomore and junior years. Mendoza United is a residential soccer academy that offers players an American-accredited education and an Argentinian/European football experience. The center midfielder was introduced to Toccoa Falls, a Division II school in Georgia, by FPC teammate Jack Moberly, who will also be Papadakos’ college teammate.

Jack Moberly, Toccoa Falls College soccer: FPC soccer coach Ramtin Amiri got Moberly, the Bulldogs’ leading goal scorer, in contact with Toccoa Falls coach Nathan Lowery. Moberly attended an ID camp at the college last year and was offered a scholarship. The striker then did a bit of recruiting of his own. “Having (Papadakos) back this year was a big deal, not only for FPC but for us playing together at Toccoa Falls,” Moberly said.

Brenin Striplin, Pennsylvania Western Clarion University baseball: The pitcher/outfielder heads to the Division II school as a two-way player. “It’s a good school for baseball and a good school for academics,” Striplin said.

Nathan Pertoso, Mitchell College baseball: The outfielder is beginning his first baseball season at FPC after moving from Massachusetts last summer. He’ll be returning to New England to be a student athlete at Mitchell, a Division III school in New London, Connecticut.

Logan Shudy, Lesley University baseball: The outfielder signed with Lesley, a Division III school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “They reached out to me,” Shudy said. “It’s a good school. Their field and their facilities are really nice.”

Maria Mills, West Liberty University wrestling: There is only one NCAA division in women’s wrestling, so Mills will be wrestling against the best in college next year. But that’s nothing new for the 2024 state champion and nationally ranked Mills. She has wrestled in national and international tournaments over the past three years.

Mills will graduate high school with a two-year Associate of Arts degree. Her plans are to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at West Liberty, then serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then try to make the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Mills said West Liberty coach Troy Bell told her how he was going to help her reach her goals.

“He seems invested in that,” she said. “And it is a Christian school. They’re keen on having faith in God. I really liked that.”  

 

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