Amidst the sessions of strong work ethics, vies for playoff aspirations, and the ever-so withstanding team family bonds, the foresight of going to college on an athletic scholarship is in the back of most high school athletes’ minds. For most, being recruited and offered a position in a division program is rare.

In college recruiting, coaches are limited to budgets set to spend on building a recruiting class for each year. Schools will often send letters to recruits. Phone calls are able to be placed, scouts/coaches may attend practices and games, camps are held by schools to draw better evaluations of a potential recruit, and official visits are scheduled.

“It was a continuing process,” said senior secondary, Jordan Armstrong, who signed with Fairmont State University on National Signing Day. “I’ve been receiving information from schools since my sophomore year. I’m glad after it was all finished, I chose a school that will give me the best opportunity.”

This year at Varela, 18 student athletes signed their letter of intents to play their respective sport beyond high school on the collegiate level, ranging from schools out in the northeast in Connecticut, the west coast in San Francisco, the metropolitan in Chicago and down south in parts of Florida. A number slightly lower from past years, this year’s football team produced its biggest class. 10 students have signed -- 5 on Signing Day back in February.

For the program, it’s been a complete uplift sending players past the Friday night lights. Starting in 2001, the football team had only sent one player to a college during the first nine years. It wasn’t until 2009, former coach Matthew Dixon’s  first year, where three players signed. The following year added five, and now it’s scaled up to the double digits.

“The reason why so many of our kids have signed with us is the necessary exposure that are needed for these kids to get recognized,” said Dixon. “We’ve taken them to many camps in the summer, workouts, combines and they’ve performed well enough where coaches have become inquired.”

Softball has also had its increases, too. And once again, both girls and boys soccer were able to continue to send their players, as well.

“As an athletic program, I think Varela has done a good job getting kids into the next level,” said senior forward, Nahuel Medina, who signed with Long Island University. “We’re still growing as a program, but already our athletes have been making an impact, making a good name for the school in athletics.”

1. CARL PIERRE-LOUIS

Football

Offensive Lineman

Fairmont State University

2. RYAN CAMPBELL

Football

Defensive End

Southern Illinois University

3. JOHN GREEN

Football

Receiver/Kick Returner

University of Connecticut

4. BERNARD SAUNDERS

Football

Running Back

Fairmont State University

5. JORDAN ARMSTRONG

Football

Secondary/Quarterback

Fairmont State University

6. HARRIS FONSECA

Football Linebacker

Glenville State College

7. STEVEN GILBERT

Defensive End

Football

Jackson State University

8. MICHAEL GLEN

Football

Offensive Lineman

Valley City Stone University

9. ANDRE BROWN

Football Wide Receiver

Ave Maria University

10. GARRY CHOULOUTE

Football

Quarterback/Wide Receiver

Atlanta Sports Academy

11. NAHUEL MEDINA

Boys Soccer

Forward

Long Island University

12. JESSICA CLARK

Girls Soccer

Forward

USF

13. CHRISTINA MARTINEZ

Softball

Third Baseman

Florida Atlantic University

14. MELISSA MARTINEZ

Softball

Shortstop

15. AMBER ACOSTA

Softball

Outfielder

College of Central Florida

16. CARL JANVIER

Track and Field

Middle Disntance (800m)

University of San Francisco

17. JUMAOKE SMITH

Basketball

For2ward

Johnson and Wales University

18. MANNY CERDA

Baseball

Catcher

Robert Morris University