Sunday's Prep news and notes

Berkeley's Chen picks Arkansas

Berkeley Prep senior Auston Chen, an all-county performer in the discus and bronze medalist at last summer's Junior Olympic National Championships for the decathlon, has made a verbal commitment to the University of Arkansas.

Chen said his decision to join the Razorbacks was an easy one. Arkansas has won a total of 10 NCAA titles in outdoor track, 19 indoors and produced 27 Olympians in the sport. Chen, who has a decathlon personal best of 6,473 points and was third in the Class 2A state finals for the discus with a lifetime best of 171 feet, said he was also sold on Arkansas after taking an official visit there earlier this year.

"It's just a beautiful campus and they have a good business school, which I'm interested in," Chen said. "The guys on the track team were great to me while I was there and I really like the [multi-events] coach, Travis Geopfert."

When track begins in the spring, Chen will be the area's top returning thrower. Between now and then, he says he will continue to train but will also compete on Berkeley's soccer team, which last season reached the state finals. He says he plans to play stopper for the Bucs.

Swimming

Hillsborough County's fastest swimmer could have waited until Spring to make his college decision. But Wharton's Jordan Rees isn't one to pace himself.
Rees verbally committed to the University of Louisville, choosing the Cardinals over FSU, LSU and Tennessee.

"I absolutely loved it," Rees said. "It felt right at first, but then I thought it was just because it was my first trip. But then I went on all the other ones and still loved Louisville."

Rees celebrated his 18th birthday Friday, the same day he won the 50 and 100 free events at the Class 3A-District 4 meet at the New Tampa YMCA. He holds the top times in the county in those events, with times of 21.52 and 47.92, respectively.

Wrestling

Brandon senior Zack Baldwin has received an appointment at attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, and he will continue wrestling in college for the Black Knights.

Baldwin, Brandon's 215-pounder, joined the Eagles' program last March after moving in from Alaska, Brandon coach Russ Cozart said. Baldwin was the Class 4A 171-pound state runner-up for Alaska's Chugiak High as a junior.

Baldwin is the second Eagles senior who will continue his wrestling career at a Division I program. Joe Cozart, Brandon's 152-pounder and one of the nation's top seniors, previously committed to Iowa State.