Another year, another state championship, and another group of student-athletes headed to the next level for Estero High School Coach Jeff Sommer. Three of Summer's runners Araceli Leon, Katie Slater, and Bethany Jenkins, have pledged to FSU, and USF respectively.
Leon, who moved back to Florida from Michigan for her senior season, was the Wildcat's number one runner, taking over for last year's seniors Katy Solis and Kacy Smith. She visited Ole Miss (where Smith attends), as well as USF, but it was Karen Harvey's Florida State Seminoles that earned her signature.
"I chose FSU because the campus is beautiful and it made me feel at home. The surrounding area is a very nice town. I really like the whole atmosphere. I fit in very well with Coach Harvey and the ladies on the team. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful. I liked spending time with all of the girls and getting to meet everyone; they were all easy to talk to. Which is great!"
The senior isn't very vocal, but let's her running speak for herself. Leon finished in the top six in every meet she entered in 2013 including a fifth place finish at the 3A Cross Country Finals. Even more special about Leon, is that she will be the first member of her family to attend college. FSU's medical college helped played a role in her decision because that is the area she plans on studying .
She describes herself as a hard working athlete and the kind of runner who loves being pushed to her limits and loves competitions. Leon only joined cross country because a friend asked her to try out with her. She never ran in middle school and wasn't sure if she'd get the chance to run in college. She says she is looking forward to being a Seminole and practicing with such a dominant team.
"I know running with the ladies on the team and Coach Harvey will really make me a better runner. It means a lot to have Katie Slater on the team as well. Being on the Estero team now has really helped me. She really pushes me in practice because we are pretty close in pace and speed. So having her on the team will do us both good."
Slater will join Leon in Tallahassee. After narrowing her finalists down to Southern Miss, USF, Iowa, and FSU, she also chose the Seminoles in a process she called bittersweet.
"I am very grateful that such amazing colleges considered me as a student athlete. The most difficult part was making the calls to inform the coaches that I would not be joining their program, especially considering I could not find one thing I didn't like about the coach or team."
A member of four Cross Country Finals championships in each of her years as a Wildcat, the senior visited the Seminoles on her last visit. She says she was in awe of the campus, the team, and the atmosphere the whole time.
"The facilities are amazing and I love coach Harvey's method of training. There is such diversity in the team and it was awesome being able to spend time with them. Florida State has a phenomenal running program and a past full of national qualifiers and top 5 placements. The opportunity to reach my full potential as an athlete and possibly compete at Nationals in the future is a goal of mine, which I believe I can achieve at Florida State University.
The Estero program isn't run like every other program in the state. 
5:00 a.m. practices, unconventional workout methods like flipping tires, pulling sleds, and running in the offseason for the 3D Running Club. Slater says she will miss being a part of the Estero cross country team, which she calls the best four years of her life. Coach Summer pushes us past our breaking points at every practice. He often says "Do you like me yet?" and we always scream "no". He then replies with "Good, because if you do, I'm not doing my job". The victories, friendships, good times, and hard work spent with the cross country team are intangible momentums I will carry with me throughout my life."
5:00 a.m. practices, unconventional workout methods like flipping tires, pulling sleds, and running in the offseason for the 3D Running Club. Slater says she will miss being a part of the Estero cross country team, which she calls the best four years of her life. Coach Summer pushes us past our breaking points at every practice. He often says "Do you like me yet?" and we always scream "no". He then replies with "Good, because if you do, I'm not doing my job". The victories, friendships, good times, and hard work spent with the cross country team are intangible momentums I will carry with me throughout my life."
Keeping with the in-state signings was Bethany Jenkins. Another member of the four-peat Wildcats, Jenkins was 10th at the 3A Cross Country Finals. With offers from UNF, UCF, Austin Peay, FGCU, and USF, she chose to rock the green and gold and go with the Bulls. Like the others she says she had an instant connection with the school, coaching staff, and team.
"Overall I just felt like the school its self would be a good fit for me. After talking to coach and my friends on the team I know I will be going from one family into another which will only help my running become better and faster. Another factor was that USF's medical program is outstanding and I plan to go into the medical field."
Jenkins wanted to stay in Florida and be closer to family. Her younger brother is still down in Estero and the senior says she wanted to be able to be in his life; watching him grow up and run in the same 3D and Estero High School program she enjoyed so much. So what will she take away from her time as a Wildcat. She says there is so much, that there is no easy answer.
"Wow this is a very hard question. There is so much that I will take from both my time at Estero and from being part of this program, I will remember my teammates that have become my family, my amazing coach that has become a fatherly figure in my life, and the discipline, dedication, and work ethic I have learned that is needed to reach your goals."
Coach Sommer considers himself the lucky one to be able to have them in his program. He says that all three kids are all about high character, academics, work ethic, and family and that they have meant the world to him and his program.
"For these girls to get scholarships means the world to them and myself. It means the hard work for four years has paid off and takes a big burden off the families. They will love their schools and coaches and be taken under their new coaches wings in the next chapter of their life. I will miss them dearly."
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