More than a dozen more Osceola County athletes will continue their careers at the college level, including nine from Harmony and groups from Osceola and St. Cloud.
Scheduled to officially sign on Monday are three-sport star Alex Tuyo and track standout Drea Thompson, who will ink athletic scholarship offers with Division-I Jacksonville University, a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The OBC Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Tuyo tallied 23 goals and added eight assists for the Longhorns. On the football team as a kicker, he made 25 of 28 extra points and 10 of 14 field goals while averaging 38 yards per punt and registering 28 touchbacks on kickoffs. As a track star, was the OBC champion in both 100 and 400 meter hurdles.
“(Jacksonville) indicated they plan to keep me at striker but said they may move me around based on team needs,” Tuyo said. “I’m just excited about the opportunity to play soccer at the next level.”
Thompson, who also excelled in flag football and volleyball, will attend JU on a track scholarship. Tying for third in the Class 4A state championship last year, she is four-time defending OBC champion and the top-ranked high jumper both in Central Florida and Class 4A this year. She has been playing a key role in the Longhorns post-season flag football run, including an OBC and District Championship.
Although gifted in many sports and activities, Thompson said she chose track and Jacksonville University because, “It’s the sport I’m probably best at and because I love surfing and the ocean, it keeps me close to the coast.”
“Drea is a generational athlete that you would be lucky to get once in a coaching career,” Harmony track coach Adam Kerns said. “She is one of the hardest workers that I have ever had the privilege of working with. She is immensely talented, never complains, and is highly supportive of her teammates. Her most impressive attribute is that between three high school sports, her education, her sports hobbies and her other interests, she has an incredible full plate of constant activities and yet excels in everything she does.”
Seven Harmony athletes signed last week at a school ceremony. Jayden Gomez, a 6-0, 300-pound offensive guard, inked with Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Gomez anchored an offensive line for the past year for record-setting running back Tyler Emans, who signed with the Ivy League’s Brown several months ago.
Reid Fitzgerald signed with Monmouth College (Illinois). The 6-1, 225-pound tight end was mainly a blocking tight end for the Longhorns but did grab four receptions for 66 yards during the season and handled long-snapping duties. He also filled in on defense and special teams. Gomez and Fitzgerald may face each other in the future as both Knox and Monmouth are in NCAA Division III’s Midwest Conference.
Tyler McMorrow, a defensive end, will continue his football career at Division II Erskine College in South Carolina. McMorrow recorded 35 tackles and five quarterback sacks for a Harmony defense that helped the Longhorns to a playoff berth.
“These three guys are the epitome of what you want to see in your players,” sais Coach Don Simon, who announced he was stepping down last week to enter into athletic administration. “Hard-working, team-oriented, willing to overcome injuries and adversity, setting an example for younger players, these guys were an amazing group. I’m blessed and so happy that these were the guys I got to coach in my last year.”
From the girls’ soccer team that was 12-4-3 with a district championship, Rebekah Wiles, an explosive scorer and playmaker that tallied 16 goals and 13 assists, will also attend Erskine College. Daniela Canizales, headed for Florida Memorial, scored seven times and had 10 assists. Brynn Magner, who will attend Wayne State (Nebraska), led the Longhorns in assists with 20 and also tallied six goals. Wiles and Magner are also multi-sport standouts as both excelled in middle distances for Harmony’s track team.
“Both offensively and defensively, those three were sort of the heart and soul of our team for the past couple of years,” Head Coach Scott Marlega said. “Danni transferred in from Freedom before her junior year and is outstanding both offensively and defensively and can play with the ball on either foot. Magner and Wiles have been four-year starters for us and have been stalwarts in both or high school and club teams for a long, long time. Bekah is a highly skilled technical player and Brynn has a motor that simply doesn’t quit. While I am excited to see what happens in their college careers, they are going to be extremely hard for us to replace next fall.”
Softball standout Dominica Kohout will attend Webber International University. The second baseman, has been a three-year starter carries a .306 career batting average since breaking into the starting lineup her sophomore year.
At Osceola Wednesday, volleyball player Ahnika Johnston will head to St. Petersburg College to play volleyball, and Cathia Timas will head to Allen University in Charleston, S.C. to help start its women’s wrestling program.
Johnston leaves OHS with the No. 2 career mark in blocks, and No. 5 in kills.
“Incredibly excited to be playing. I was stressing about this in January,” Johnston said. “I’m a really hard worker and I’m good with pushing myself and fighting for my position.”
OHS Coach Carrie Palmi said Johnston found the right fit in St. Petersburg.
“I think she’ll make an immediate impact on the court,” Palmi said. “She’s played open-level volleyball for years. She’s played against the best in her age group. There won’t be anything she hasn’t seen.”
Timas, a regional runner-up who earned a FHSAA state podium finish, really came out of her shell this year, OHS wrestling coach Rick Tribit said.
“She really got our of her comfort zone and got better in a season and a half, got in tune with idea of attacking to score. That’ll be a great lesson to going on to college. I’m so glad she’ll get to wrestle in college.”
Timas, who also played basketball and flag football at Osceola, said Allen provided the best of the opportunities she looked into.
“I’m excited to get started with the practices and the conditioning,” she said.
Earlier in the month, St. Cloud sent a packaged deal to Missouri Valley College — safety Joseph Clukey, linebacker Noah Carr and center/guard Mason Green.
“They got a steal, and they are three friends who have played together for a long time,” Bulldogs Coach Mike Short said. “Their coach (Greg Purdum) is a professional contact, and at the end of the year he took a look at our prospect list and said, ‘Man, I like these guys.’ I know they’ll be well taken care of.”
Carr led the Bulldogs with 98 tackles and 20 tackles for loss in 2022. Clukey had six interceptions, and also caught 20 passes for 249 yards and four touchdowns.
In addition, St. Cloud announced the signing of Isabelle Salce, who will run cross country and track at Flagler College. She is a 400 and 800 meter specialist.
