Community School Celebrates National Signing Day for Athletes

Athletes signing letters of intent at National Signing Day event

News Summary

National Signing Day for high school athletes in Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties is set to take place, marking a significant milestone for local student-athletes. Community School of Naples will celebrate 18 athletes signing letters of intent to pursue collegiate sports, including multiple lacrosse and football players. The event highlights the commendable achievements of these young athletes and their commitment to furthering their athletic careers at esteemed programs. Community School’s boys lacrosse team, despite a recent state championship setback, celebrates standout accomplishments this season.

Naples – National Signing Day for high school athletes in Collier, Lee, and Hendry counties is set for Wednesday, marking a momentous occasion for many students. A total of 18 athletes from Community School of Naples will officially sign letters of intent, embarking on their collegiate athletic careers across various sports disciplines. The event underscores the impressive achievements of local high school athletes and their contributions to their respective teams.

The Community School celebrates its student-athletes, with seven boys lacrosse players committing to prestigious programs, including:

Cal Wyatt – University of Pennsylvania
Turner Tarrasch – University of Richmond
Cole Bryant – Hobart College
Sammy Taylor – Flagler College
Charlie Youngs – Wingate University
Justin Willems – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Noah Cardoza – Wagner College

In addition to lacrosse commitments, three football players and other athletes from different sports will be signing:

Jayce Cora – Kennesaw State
TJ Hedrick – University of Mississippi
Emhre Pray – Air Force Academy
Three girls lacrosse players: Stella Lynch (University of Denver), Sienna Wyatt (Queens University of Charlotte), Jillian Daley (Lenoir-Rhyne University)
Two golfers: Alayna Freidt (Winthrop University), Ava Sparacio (Hofstra University)
Two swimmers: Nick Fabian (Boston College), Christian McAuley (Lehigh University)
One volleyball player: Sophia Baer (Williams College)

Among the notable signings in the Naples High School football program, Khari Bendolph will join Jacksonville State and is recognized for ranking fourth in career sacks. His teammate Jordan Bergeron will be attending Western Kentucky University, with both athletes participating in a formal signing ceremony at the Moe Kent Family Fieldhouse.

The Naples High School program also saw seven players confirm their intentions to play college football:

Khari Bendolph – Jacksonville State
Jordan Bergeron – Western Kentucky University
Sean Kabengele – Lafayette College
Logan Nibbelin – Minot State University
Brady Clark – Davidson College
Trayvon Jean – Florida A&M University (FAMU)
Shawn Simeon – University of Toledo

In addition to the National Signing Day activities, the local high school lacrosse scene is buzzing with anticipation for an upcoming matchup on Friday, May 9. Lake Highland Prep School will host Episcopal School of Jacksonville in a highly anticipated game starting at 5 p.m. ET. Fans can catch the action live through the NFHS Network, which provides access to high school sports events, allowing viewers to watch games both live and on demand.

Reflecting on the past season, the Community School of Naples achieved an impressive record of 19-5, advancing to the Class 1A state championship. Their performance this season has been recognized, with the Naples Daily News announcing All-Area teams that honor standout athletes across various sports.

Cal Wyatt stood out in boys lacrosse, being named the Naples Daily News Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year after scoring 83 goals and providing 34 assists in his junior year. Similarly, Stella Lynch emerged as a finalist for the Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year, reinforcing her future at Denver University.

The local lacrosse community was shaken by the recent loss of the Community School team in the state title championship, where they were narrowly defeated by Benjamin boys lacrosse, concluding with a score of 11-10 in a closely contested match. The strong performance of Community School’s goalie, who maintained a 70% save rate throughout the season, contributed significantly to their success, making for an exciting and competitive season.