Three Flint Hill Juniors Commit to Top Athletic Colleges

by Brittney Sanfacon, Flint Hill junior 

Three Flint Hill juniors have already committed to their dream colleges for various sports. Carlyn Baldwin is going to The University of Tennessee for soccer, Tommy Doyle will be attending the University of Virginia for baseball, and Ericka Narel is heading to North Carolina State University for volleyball. 

Carlyn Baldwin is ecstatic about her commitment to The University of Tennessee and their soccer team. 

"It's great to be committed because one of my goals is to play at the highest level in college in order to achieve my goals beyond college soccer, so committing to Tennessee is wonderful and I could not be any happier about my decision," said this 16-year-old.

Baldwin went on to say: "The Tennessee coaching staff also played important roles in my commitment because I really connected with them and developed great relationships with them. They are also tremendous coaches and have coached at high levels in college, so I know they will help create a great program at Tennessee and make me a better player."

Baldwin believes she made the best decision possible, and cannot wait to play for the team. She said that "Tennessee will have the potential to win the SEC [Southeasrn Conference] and national championships and will help her reach all of her goals in college soccer and beyond."

Tommy Doyle is also overjoyed to be attending his dream school, the University of Virginia.

Doyle said he chose UVA because the academics and baseball program were one and one, and he has dreamed of going there his whole life.

"I've always wanted to be a Cavalier and when I was presented the opportunity to be one, I immediately accepted," said Doyle.

Doyle said that once UVA offered him a commitment, he was relieved, and he is now able to fully focus on his schoolwork. The junior takes most of the credit for his decision to go to University of Virginia, although he is grateful to his coaches for getting him to this position.

"No one really played an important role in me choosing to attend UVA, but my coaches played an important role in developing me to become a college level athlete," said Doyle. 

Ericka Narel is happy with her commitment to North Carolina State University, and although it was not her first choice, she is "excited to go there and work with the coaches."

Narel says that her volleyball coaches and her parents helped her through the recruiting process, and after lots of research and close consideration, together they concluded NC State was the best fit for this young athlete. 

"The commitment makes me feel like I have a place to go to after high school where I know people will help me to achieve my future goals in academics and in volleyball," said Narel.

While many juniors at Flint Hill are in the midst of starting the college application process, these three students are the exception, with the next five years of their lives already planned out.