Palm Coast Observer
Sports

More than a dozen Flagler County high school athletes will be participating in college sports during 2020-21 (not withstanding the implications the pandemic could have on collegiate sports for the upcoming school year). Twenty-one student-athletes from Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high schools signed their national letters of intent to play their respective sports at the next level. FPC had 11 signees, and Matanzas had 10 signees.

Flagler Palm Coast

Que'Trina Brown

Brown averaged 4.2 points, 1.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game in her senior season on the Bulldogs' girls basketball team. The combo guard signed with local school Daytona State College.

Max Bystrov

Bystrov was one of the top pole vaulters in the area the past few seasons. He signed with Merrimack College, a Division I school located in North Andover, Massachusetts. The Warriors compete in the Northeast Conference.

Aedan Celestino

Celestino was a mainstay on the mound for the Bulldogs' baseball team the past few seasons. A steady right-handed pitcher, Celestino is staying close to home for the next few seasons after signing with Daytona State College.

Luis Corazon

Corazon scored five goals his junior season for the Bulldogs' boys soccer team. He surpassed that figure six games into the 2019-20 season. Corazon led the Bulldogs with 17 goals this season. He signed his letter of intent to play for Andrew College, located in Cuthbert, Georgia.

Tyler Dunn

Dunn was a key element to the Bulldogs football team's offensive line, which saw massive improvements during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Dunn mostly played at right tackle. He signed his letter of intent to play for the University of Mount Union, a Division III school in Alliance, Ohio, that plays in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Brianna Ellis

Ellis showed a knack for putting the ball in the basket during her time with FPC's girls basketball team. Ellis averaged team-highs in points (13.7), assists (3.8) and steals (3.1) per game. She didn't have any Division I offers prior to the 2019-20 season, in which the Bulldogs District 1-7A championship. Ellis signed with the University of New Orleans, which competes in the Southland Conference.

Ryan Montgomery

Montgomery, a thrower for FPC's girls track and field team, set personal bests in both the discus (36.4 meters) and the hammer throw (26.28) in March. She signed a letter of intent with Florida International University, a Division I school in Miami. The Panthers compete in Conference USA.

Donovan Montoyo

Montoyo burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs' football team when, as a sophomore, he scored on a long rushing touchdown on his first snap at quarterback. Montoyo became the full-time starter during the 2018 season, helping lead the Bulldogs to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Montoyo was prized for a successful 2019 season, but a knee injury against Spruce Creek on Sept. 13 sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Regardless, he signed with Fresno City College, a community college in Fresno, California.

Ken'Deric Morton

Morton, one of FPC track and field's top sprinters, competed in the state championship in 2019. He signed with Indian Hills Community College Ottumwa, Iowa.

Ashton Neuman

Neuman was one of FPC baseball's top players the past few seasons. In addition to his duties as a right-handed pitcher, Neuman also saw time at second base and short stop. Neuman signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Benedictine College, which is located in Atchison, Kansas. The Ravens are an NAIA squad that play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Neuman was part of a team that was 6-1 prior to the cancelation of the season due to COVID-19.

Drew Schober

Schober, an infielder for FPC's baseball team, signed with Iowa Wesleyan in Mount Pleasant. The Tigers, as members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Matanzas

Douglas Bentley

Pirates boys lacrosse's Bentley will join Neuman in Atchison, as Bentley signed his national letter of intent to play lacrosse for Benedictine College.

Beatrice Dietz

Dietz was consistently one of the Pirates girls golf team's best players since she first joined the team as a freshman. Dietz signed with the University of Charleston, located in West Virginia. The Golden Eagles are a Division II program that competes in the Mountain East Conference.

Dalton Hawley

Hawley began high school as a soccer player but quit to focus on cross country. After finishing in the top 10 at districts and regionals for the Pirates, he was the only runner from Volusia and Flagler counties to qualify individually for the state meet. He capped off his senior season with a career-best time of 16:42.83 at states, which gave him a 33rd-place finish. He signed with Brevard College, a Division III school in North Carolina that competes in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Overcoming COVID-19

All high school football teams have felt the impact of the pandameic. COVID-19 forced the canellation of the spring football, and the 2020 season being played is still not a forgone conclusion.

How has Matanzas new head coach Matt Forrest, who was hired in December after former coach Don Mathews stepped down from the position, handled the adversity and the uncertainty that comes with it?

"We're feeling like we're doing the best we can," Forrest said. "That's really all we can get out of this thing."

His team can't workout in the schools weight room together, but he still manages to post workouts on social media for his players. As far as learning the playbook, the Pirates, who are transitioning from an option offense to an air raid offense, are expecting some difficulties.

"We are changing some things, so that does put us behind," Forrest said. "But we have a plan for whenever we can start back up."

Seth Leister

Leister was one of the Matanzas boys lacrosse team's top goal scorers this season. Leister signed with Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. The Bees are a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, competing in the Sun Conference.

Erik Libby

Erik Libby, who also played baseball for Matanzas, was the Pirates' No. 1 spot golfer his senior season. Libby signed with Stetson University, a Division I program that plays in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Tim McGuire

McGuire excelled on defense for the Pirates' boys lacrosse team. He signed with Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Division II Griffins are part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Quenteen Robinson

Robinson was one of the top wrestlers in the entire state in the 170-pound weight class. Robinson was one of three Pirates to qualify for the state tournament during the 2018-19 season, where he finished in fifth. Robinson took third place in 2019-20. He signed with Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. Limestone competes in Division II and is part of the South Atlantic Conference.

Isabella Santiago

Santiago, an infielder for Matanzas softball team, which won the district in 2019, signed with Santa Fe College in Gainesville. Santiago averaged .214 from the plate this past season. She also tacked on 4 RBIs and had 5 runs.

Kelly Steffens

Steffens has been a mainstay for Matanzas’ girls cross country team her entire high school career. She’s qualified for four-straight FHSAA state championships, she completed her second year as a team captain, and is a sub-20-minute runner, breaking the benchmark in the 2018 season’s regional meet. She's staying close to home after signing with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Division II program.

Sam Torres

The Pirates' top bowler, Torres signed with the University of St. Francis, located in Joliet, Illinois. The Fighting Saints are part of the NAIA.