Three Freedom Athletes Sign Scholarships

By Gary Nager

Although the official “National Singing Day” for this school year isn’t until February 5, 2014, our congratulations go out to Freedom High student- athletes Rachel Carlson, Jimmy Jones, Jr., and Ashley Wilson, each of whom signed scholarships to continue playing their respective sports in college.

Carlson and Wilson, who both play outfield for coach Autum Hernandez’s Freedom softball team — which finished with a sparkling 22-4 record and lost 1-0 to Ft. Lauderdale’s St. Thomas Aquinas Prep in the State Class 7A Finals to end the 2012-13 season, signed to attend and play with the University of Maine (at Orono) Bears and the Elon (NC) University Phoenix, respectively.

Meanwhile, Jones, the son of former LPGA tour star Dawn Coe-Jones and golf company executive Jimmy Jones, will play his college golf for and attend Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

The young athletes and their families, high school and college coaches, as well as Freedom staffers, friends and media members (about 100 people total) packed the Freedom Media Center on November 13 for the signings.

Freedom golf coach Mike Passarelli said that Jones was the “anchor” of the Freedom squad that advanced to the Class 3A State Championship tournament for the first time ever this season. And, al- though Jones’ 14-over-par 158 (78-80) in the State Finals wasn’t his best scoring ever, he still finished 33rd of the 96 State-participating golfers.

Freedom softball coach Autum Hernandez said that Wilson and Carlson, the team’s left and center fielder, respectively, will again be among her top players this season. In 2012-13, Carlson led Freedom with a .406 batting average and tied for first on the team in runs scored (24) and RBIs (20) while going 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts. Wilson, who led the Pats with 4 home runs on the year, hit her final homer in the bottom of the 8th inning, after making a tough catch in LF and throwing out a runner at second base, to send Freedom to the State finals.

Congrats to all three & good luck!