By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Poinciana High lineman Dariusz Bladek cuts an impressive figure – he’s 6 feet 5 and 312 pounds – and he also had a big decision to make last week before National Signing Day.

His answer came Wednesday when he signed with Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. He celebrated his choice at the school’s auditorium with teammate Michael Cirino, who opted for South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C.

Bladek said Florida Atlantic University made a bold pitch for his services last week, but after thinking it over, he stuck with his original decision to join the Wildcats, 7-3 last season in the MEAC conference.

“They have a lot to offer, and I get along great with (head) Coach (Brian) Jenkins, and not only him, but his whole coaching staff,” Bladek, a three-year starter at PHS, said.

So impressed was the Wildcats coaching staff with Bladek that most of them came to the Bladek household during their house visit.

“It wasn’t just Coach Jenkins, but the offensive line coach, the defensive coordinator, the defensive line coach – they all came, because they weren’t sure where they were going to use me,” Bladek said. “They were really respectful to my parents, and my parents were comfortable with them. They let me make the choice, and I chose the offensive line.”

Poinciana Coach Corey Fleming said Bladek was a model athlete and team leader for the Eagles last season.

“He tore it up in the camps last summer and came to practice in great shape,” Fleming said. “He is a Division I talent, no question. He could play for anyone. He deserves this.”

Bladek weathered a winless season at Poinciana as a junior, but he said he vowed always to give his best.

“I have a huge passion for the game. I told myself that I was going to play Division I and I wasn’t going to settle for less. I went to nine football camps over the summer, and I decided that I wasn’t going to let anyone there beat me. I was going to bring it to the next level,” he said. “I don’t care whether the score is 50-0, I want to the guy who is playing across from me to say, ‘He kicked my butt.’”

Bladek said the opportunity to play for a program investing $30 million into its facilities was another incentive.

“I want to be a part of that, one of the people who brings the championship to Bethune-Cookman,” he said.

Cirino was possibly the most versatile player in Osceola County last season, combining speed and strength in a 6 foot 1, 185-pound frame to score as a runner, as a receiver, as a return man and as a defender last season. His 106 points ranked second in the county.

He also played quarterback.

“He was the best all-around player in the county, in my opinion,” Fleming said.

St. Cloud Coach Brad Lennox, who coached against Cirino several times, said that he is a big-time talent.

“He’s really impressive. He can go up against just about anyone and come out on top, he has that kind of ability,” Lennox said.

South Carolina State, another MEAC program, was 7-4 last season under Coach Buddy Pough.