By Kyle LoJacono
Four more Land O’ Lakes student-athletes made their college plans official on April 11.
Tennis player Colin Roller will attend Eastern Carolina University in Greenville, a Division I school in Conference USA. Football players Nico Watts and Rickey Boyles will attend Marietta College in Ohio, a Division III program in the Ohio Athletic Conference, while teammate Will Fairchild picked Carthage College in Wisconsin, a Division III program in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin.
Roller said signing took “a lot of weight” off his shoulders.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun to be able to represent Land O’ Lakes and East Carolina,” Roller said.
Roller spent four years as the Gators’ No. 1 player, losing only one singles match in the regular season, districts or regionals.
“He was like the guaranteed two points for us,” said Land O’ Lakes boys tennis coach Jasalyn Gerazounis. “All we needed to do was find two more points somewhere on the team. He’s definitely a good leader, and he gave the other guys on the team something to aspire to.”
Roller, who reached the Class 2A state singles semifinals last season, said he didn’t realize he had the ability to play in college until his junior year.
“When I found out I could go to college and play tennis I knew that’s what I wanted,” said Roller, who plans to study business/economics.
The football trio pushes the number of Gators’ gridironers to sign this year to six not counting Jackson Cannon, who accepted a preferred walk-on spot with the University of South Florida.
“It’s an outstanding opportunity for them,” said Land O’ Lakes football coach Brian Wachtel. “The fact that they were able to find a place where they fit and has what they want in a school is an awesome opportunity. They get to go make a better future for themselves. They can grow and move on to impact other people’s lives positively.”
For Fairchild, going to Carthage is like a homecoming.
“I used to live up there,” Fairchild said. “I went to a few of their camps when I was in sixth grade, so I kind of had a connection, and I always considered them a place I wanted to go to.”
Fairchild said signing with teammates made the day even better.
“We’ve had a bunch of our players get to play at the next level,” said Fairchild, who plans to study criminal justice/law enforcement. “It’s just great to see so many of us getting to play in college, and maybe we’ll play each other later on too.”
Fairchild played guard and linebacker, compiling 57 tackles last season. He will stay in the linebacking core or move to strong safety in college.
Boyles and Watts, who play wide receiver, said the chance to play together will ease the transition.
“We’re going to work together and push each other to get better,” said Watts, who will study sports management. “Hopefully we do well and Marietta will come sign some more Land O’ Lakes players in the future.”
Watts had 12 catches for 274 yards and two touchdowns last season while adding 78 yards on six carries and another score. He also played defensive back, where he picked off six passes.
Boyles, who is undecided on his major, missed a few games due to injury as a senior, but managed five grabs for 56 yards. He said missing time last year was very difficult and is happy he gets the opportunity to play another four years.
“It’s been like a dream since I was little to play college football,” Boyles said. “Let’s see how these four years go, and maybe if I work hard I’ll be able to play after college.”
Girls soccer player Joelle Stewart has also committed to Webber International University in Babson Park. She is expected to sign in the next few days.
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
