TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Polanco Heading To Western Kentucky

ADVERTISEMENT

By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune
and NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2009

NEWS AND NOTES

Polanco Heading To W. Kentucky

The road to college hasn't been an easy one for Middleton senior offensive lineman Luis Polanco.

Polanco moved to Tampa from the Dominican Republic as a freshman in high school and could barely speak English. While trying to adjust to a new culture, he lost his mother to cancer as a sophomore.

With the encouragement of his classmates, he tried out for the Middleton football team, unaware of the opportunities it would give him.

On Sunday night, Polanco, a 6-foot-3, 250 lineman, verbally committed to Western Kentucky. When he signs his letter-of-intent on National Signing Day, he will become the first member in his family to attend college in the U.S.

Polanco had narrowed his choices to WKU and Florida Atlantic. He visited with the Hilltoppers in December and Florida Atlantic over the weekend.

He said Western Kentucky's academics and coaching staff won him over.

"They had everything I want," Polanco said. "They had small classes and since they offered me, the coaches have been helping me and supporting me."

Polanco plans to major in engineering and architecture.

Meanwhile, Plant City senior linebacker Denzel Drone has found a new school.

Drone, who had verbally committed to Western Kentucky, has backed off his commitment to the Hilltoppers and has verbally pledged to Michigan State, Raiders coach Jason Strunk confirmed Monday.

Drone made his official visit to Michigan State this past weekend, at which time the Spartans extended a scholarship offer that he accepted.

A three-year starter for the Raiders, Drone has earned All-Western Conference honors in each of the last two seasons. As a senior, Drone had 22 tackles, two sacks and five fumble recoveries.

ALL-STATE: Indian Rocks Christian senior running backs Jonny Sitton and Ethan Englebert each received recognition on Florida's Class 1A all-state team, which was released Monday. Sitton was named to the first team as a utility player, while Englebert made the second team.

Additionally, Shorecrest Prep sophomore quarterback Hunter Tremaine and senior running back Jack Schroeder each received honorable-mention recognition.

BASKETBALL: Seffner Christian junior Devin Paularinne scored 31 points against Cambridge Christian on Saturday to put him over 1,000 points for his career.

Paularinne, one of Hillsborough County's leading scorers, has averaged 32.5 points per game in his last four games and currently has 1,021 career points.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT