Photo by Cody Tomer Milica Sekulovic, seated left, Jon-Michael Falbo, seated right, Alco Smith, standing left, and Amir Hodzic, stadning right, all signed letters of intent with colleges last week.

WHEELING — Linsly continues to send its student athletes on to the next level at a rapid pace.

Last week four more Cadets signed their National Letter of Intents to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

From the football team, Alco Smith signed to play at the prestigious Mount Union, which has 13 DIII National Championships since 1993.

“On my visit I just felt like I had a connection with everyone,” Smith said. “Later I had a zoom meeting with my parents and coaches and even my dad liked them. That led to my decision.”

Smith, a 5-foot-11, 250-pound DL/FB provided 34 tackles, seven TFL, three sacks and three fumble recoveries as a senior — making his family proud all the way from the Bahamas.

“It’s exciting, especially for me and my family,” Smith said. “I just started playing football three years ago so this is a pretty big deal. We don’t have football back home so when my family sees me doing stuff like this over here they say, ‘Wow! We’re really proud of you!'”

Also moving on from the football team is OL/DL Amir Hodzic, who is taking his talents to Alderson Broaddus after turning in 15 pancake blocks, six tackles and a tackle for loss in 10 starts as a senior.

“They were the most friendly and most organized school I was talking to,” Hodzic said. “It just felt like the right fit for me.”

Hodzic was thrilled to have so many classmates on hand to support him as he signed his letter of intent.

“That was awesome,” Hodzic said. “Especially as an international student. I never thought I would have such a connection with anybody at school but they welcomed me with open arms. It’s a brotherhood and a family. It’s the most amazing feeling.”

Milica Sekulovic decided on Bethany College where she will continue her volleyball career.

“Their coach saw me and invited me to play for their club,” Sekulovic said. “I’m glad she saw potential in me. It gives me a chance to stay in the area and not go into the unknown again.”

When Sekulovic came to Linsly, she didn’t know what to expect. What she found, however, was family.

“It is truly a family here,” Sekulovic said. “I’m a boarding student so my friends mean a lot to me. They are literally my second family and they make it feel like home.”

Another standout athlete excited about his future is Jon-Michael Falbo, who will be running track and cross country at Baldwin Wallace after an excellent high school career.

“I wanted to look for a college kind of close to home,” Falbo said. “Coach (Joe) Ebay did a good job of recruiting me and making me feel like I could make a difference on the team.”

Falbo made sure all of his teammates and classmates were in his signing photo simply because they have meant the world to him.

“I came here in seventh grade and the guys I took the picture with, I’ve gotten so close to them. To see them and my family here on this day means a lot. The relationships I made here — they are my best friends and they have made this experience much better.”