Early college decisions announced by athletes

Shannon Welcome, 17, will join the Central Connecticut State College in New Britain, Conn. swim team.

Nadya Nataly/Herald

Mia Almonte, 17, will play soccer at Old Westbury University.

Nadya Nataly/Herald

Hayley Matthews, 17, got a full scholarship and will play as a forward on the Dominican College soccer team.

Nadya Nataly/Herald

Justin Lescouflair, 17, to attend U.S. Military Academy West Point.

Nadya Nataly/Herald

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The hardest part in picking my school was distance and making sure they had my major.”

Shannon Welcome

After hearing about Old Westbury’s previous [soccer season] I knew it was something that I wanted to be apart of.”

Mia Almonte

Soccer has always been my life and I haven’t had much of a social life because of it, but I haven’t minded it.”

Hayley Matthews

Going to West Point is giving me a balance between great football and great academics.”

Justin Lescouflair

Five Freeport High School seniors signed their national letters of intent earlier this month to continue playing sports in college. A National Letter of Intent is a letter a student athlete submits to a college or university as a commitment to participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Though, the Class of 2019 graduation isn’t scheduled until June, the students shared they were eager to make a decision to relieve the pressure and enjoy what’s left of their the rest of their senior year.

“You have to follow your heart,” Justin Lescouflair, 17, said about choosing a college. “You have to do what’s the best for yourself and your family.”

Though, Lescouflair will attend the U.S. Military Academy West Point in Westpoint, NY, to play football. Aside from football, he also ran the 1000- and 50- meter races and the 4x2 relay on the track team. However, he’s played football since the second grade and played as a slot receiver and safety. He was also a part of this year’s Class I title win last November. His parents are Sharon Osei and Anthony Lescouflair. He wants to major in computer science. A first generation college student, Lescouflair said he was thankful to the support his family has given him.

Mia Almonte, 17, of Dominican and Panamanian decent, decided to attend SUNY Old Westbury on Long Island to play soccer. On the FHS soccer team, Almonte played midfield and forward. She also ran the 1000 and 800 meter races and threw the shot put on the track team. She is the daughter of Michele Velasquez. She plans to major in psychology and minor in sports management. Attending Old Westbury, according to Almonte, was the ideal choice for her as she felt an instant connection to the team and close to home.

Seventeen-year-old, Hayley Matthews got a full scholarship to play soccer at Dominican College. At Freeport High School she’s played practically every position except goalie. When the season starts at Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY, she anticipates to play as a forward. She has also played lacrosse and thrown the shot put for the track team. She wants to major in athletic training. Her parents are Charles and Kimberly Matthews.

Freestyle swimmer, Shannon Welcome, 17, will attend Central Connecticut State College in New Britain, Conn. Welcome ranks in the top 50 swimmers in the state of New York at 29. During the 2015 season, and her freshmen year, she set new school records in the 500-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley and 100-yard butterfly events. She intends to major in engineering and is the daughter of Shawn and Cherlyann Welcome.

Linebacker Jordan Jackson will attend Stony Brook University on Long Island to play football, but was unavailable for comment at the time of press.