By Kyle LoJacono
One of Freedom’s more versatile student-athletes has committed to play in college.
Ashle Thompson has accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.
“I’m very happy,” Thompson said. “I had the option to go to the University of Florida as a student, but I could not see not playing basketball. That’s why I chose Florida Tech.”
The 5-foot-8 Thompson played every position for the Patriots last season, helping them to a 25-4 record, a district championship and the first final four appearance in the program’s 11-year history. She said she will likely play a small forward/shooting guard position in college.
Thompson picked up basketball during her freshman year. She started playing so late because she didn’t make the squad while at Liberty Middle in New Tampa.
“I was really bad my freshman year, and I really wasn’t that good my sophomore year either,” Thompson said. “The sport didn’t come extremely naturally to me, but I really liked the sport and the challenge.”
Thompson averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds as a senior.
She said the decision to attend Florida Tech had as much to do with her anticipated major.
“It has all the engineering fields,” Thompson said. “I don’t know which one I wanted to go in, so wherever I went had to have every engineering field. … I had a couple other schools looking at me, but they didn’t have engineering so I didn’t even look at them.”
Thompson also played volleyball for Freedom, helping the squad to playoff berths the last three years. She put up 49 kills and 37 blocks as a rightside hitter last season.
The versatile Patriot also played linebacker and slot receiver for Freedom’s flag football team. She had a team-high 586 receiving yards with six touchdowns while leading her squad with 36 flag pulls.
Florida Tech is a Division II program in the Sunshine State Conference.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
Turntine-Ivy, Pacholke commit
Two starters from the first Freedom girls basketball team to make the final four have decided on where to play in college.
Guards Whitney Turntine-Ivy and Neena Pacholke will play at Johnson and Wales University in North Miami and the University of South Florida (USF), respectively, according to Patriots coach Laurie Pacholke.
Turntine-Ivy accepted a scholarship, while Neena turned down several offers to take a preferred walk-on spot at USF. Laurie said Neena, her daughter, has been attending Bulls games since age 6, which played into her decision.
Turntine-Ivy transferred from Plant for her senior year. She averaged 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals last season.
Neena was a four-year member of the Patriots. She posted 3.0 points and 2.1 assists as a senior.
Johnson and Wales is an NAIA program in the Sun Conference.
USF is a Division I program in the Big East Conference.
