Early National Signing Day: Pensacola-area athletes make their college plans official

Several student-athletes across the country wasted no time putting pen to paper and deciding where they will take their athletic talents.

This past Wednesday was the first day of the 2023-24 national signing period for all sports except for football. Many of these athletes have been sitting on their verbal commitments for several years while others were just weeks removed from taking an important step to their future.

In the Pensacola area alone, more than 20 people made their college destinations official.

Cast your vote: Who should win PNJ Athlete of the Week for Oct. 30-Nov. 4

2A High School Golf: Three area golfers claim top-25 finishes at state tournament

Here's a roundup of student-athletes from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who signed their collegiate letters of intent to continue their athletic careers.

Leila Ammon, Gulf Breeze

Softball - Middle Tennessee State University

Ammon signs to be a Blue Raiders nearly one year to the day that she announced her commitment (Nov. 10, 2022). Earning PNJ Pitcher of the Year honors, the right-handed pitcher put up a 12-0 record with 0.68 ERA, 206 strikeouts and a .125 OBA in 102.1 innings of work while hitting .427 and seven home runs last season to lead the Dolphins to a 25-0 start.

Quote: "To make it official really felt great especially because I know that playing at the next level as been my dream since I was little, so it’s very surreal seeing it come to life. I chose MTSU not only because I loved the campus and the location of the school, but I loved the coaches and players. The environment and the people really made the choice easy, especially with it being so far from home."

Islay Benoit, Pensacola Catholic

Golf - Florida Gulf Coast University

Returning to high school competition for her senior campaign, Benoit has been one of the area's best on the links. She has won district and regional titles, earning an opportunity to compete at next week's Class 1A State Championship meet. Next year, she'll head down the coast to play for Florida Gulf Coast University.

Quote: "It is a feeling of accomplishment and excitement for the future. Playing collegiate golf has been a dream of mine since I was 8 years old. I can’t wait for the next chapter!"

Brock Clayton, Pensacola Catholic

Baseball - University of Florida

Committing in January 2022, the 6-foot-3 outfielder/catcher is headed to Gainesville to play for the Gators. This spring will be his first season with the Crusaders after transferring from Fort Walton Beach. He spent first two seasons with Gulf Breeze High School.

Quote: "There’s so many things that makes Florida special, from the incredible success of the coaching staff and just the overall success of the program nationally. Those things make it a great program. I’ve always wanted to play in a program like that, and I think that being there will make me better and get me to where I want to go. Playing for my home state is just pretty awesome."

Bradyn Fowler

Gymnastics - University of Montevallo

The Gulf Breeze native will be part of the Falcons' inaugural acrobatics and tumbling team in the 2024-25 season. She will be second athlete from Panhandle Perfection Gymnastics to compete collegiately in acrobatics and tumbling. Bradyn's older sister, Hallie Fowler, is a junior for the Qunnipiac acrobatics and tumbling team.

Jayden Heavener, Pace

Softball - Louisiana State University

The left-handed Patriots flame thrower has been at the top of on the national radar since her early prep days in the circle. Heavener is the No. 1-ranked Pitcher Duo and and No. 2-ranked overall player in the nation according to Extra Inning Softball. Pushing Pace to a state runner-up finish, the reigning PNJ Player of the Year recorded an 18-2 record with a 0.19 ERA, 300 strikeouts and an 0.70 OBA during her junior campaign. Baton Rouge has landed a superstar.

Quote: "I am so excited, I can’t believe that it is really here. This is what you dream about."

Cora Helmig, Tate

Soccer - University of West Florida

The first of a few athletes that staying in town, Helmig will provide leadership to the Argos. She was the Aggies' team captain last season and earned that role once against for this winter. Her finest season thus far was as a sophomore, when she collected six goals, three assists and 34 steals.

Amelia Jacobs, Gulf Breeze

Soccer - University of South Alabama

Following in the footsteps of older sister, Abby, Amelia Jacobs won't be traveling as she's been on the pitch in Mobile. She scored three goals and collected five assists in 15 matches to help Gulf Breeze earned a 20-2-1 record and corral its first state title in 22 years.

Quote: "It feels amazing and I am so excited to start my college journey. It is definitely relieving to know where I will be going to college, but it is just the beginning. I am excited to go get at it and work hard at South Alabama.

Berkleigh Jernigan, Pace

Soccer - University of West Georgia

Jernigan has been a key piece to Pace's climb up the ranks as the program has produced back-to-back winning seasons. The midfielder has been a varsity players for all four years. Nearly half of her 28 career prep goals came in her sophomore campaign, when she poured in 13 goals. Jernigan is also a star on the Patriots flag football team.

Ravyn Jimenez, Navarre

Lacrosse - Lewis University

Jimenez is Midwest bound as Lewis University is located in Romeoville, Illinois. The Raiders attacker/midfielder was selected as a team captain and the team's Offensive MVP. She recorded a squad-best 52 goals last season, which was good for second-place in District 1-2A. Jimenez also had 65 draw controls and 46 ground balls.

Katie Kauth, Navarre

Soccer - University of West Florida

The second UWF soccer signee from the area committed to the school this past summer. Kauth was out of commission for much of the 2022-23 season after suffering a medial collateral ligament tear just before Christmas. The year prior, she appeared in 16 matches, scoring five goals, tacking on three assists and posting 47 steals.

Jackson Kohr, Pensacola Catholic

Baseball - University of West Alabama

An ace for the Crusaders even since he first put on a uniform, the 6-1 right-hander pitcher is bound for Livingston, Alabama to join the Tigers staff. He's coming off a junior campaign where he were 10-1 with a 2.33 ERA. Those numbers were good enough to land him on the PNJ All-Area First Team.

Quote: "It was great to finally sign the papers yesterday and it was mainly the coaches and the atmosphere of Livingston that I fell in love with that made me choose West Alabama."

Kaitlyn Lawson, Navarre

Soccer - Pensacola State College

After a successful debut campaign, the Pirates bolstered their roster by continuing to pluck area talent. Lawson joins a PSC team that includes several Santa Rosa County players, including former Raiders teammate Selissa Bly. The midfielder is off to a tremendous start to her senior season as she scored twice in Navarre's 8-0 win against Milton.

Carter McCulley, Pensacola State/Pensacola Catholic

Baseball - Florida State University

McCulley soon becomes a Seminole after a strong spring as a Pirates. In his first season at PSC, the infielder/outfielder was third on the team with a .326 batting average. He hit five home runs, drove in 28 runs while scoring 44 runs and stealing 16 bases.

Shelby McKenzie, Pace

Softball - Florida State University

Another athlete headed to Tallahassee has been one of the country's most dangerous hitters in recent years. A two-time PNJ Hitter of the Year, McKenzie topped the area last season with a .577 batting average and 13 home runs to help the Patriots reach states for the third year in a row. Along with Heavener, she was selected to participate in the PGF All-American Game.

Quote: "It feels amazing knowing that it's finally official. I have enjoyed this journey so much and I can't wait for the next four years at FSU."

Ella Nelson, Jay

Softball - Samford University

Nelson has been at the center of the greatest softball run of Royals history. The team has reached states in each of the last three years, highlighted by winning the Class 1A state title in 2022. Named PNJ's Hitter of the Year in 2021, the middle infielder has a .447 career batting average.

Quote: "I’ve dreamt of this since I was a little girl and the feeling of achieving my goal is everything. With all the hard work, tears, and worry signing my official letter was amazing on top of reliving. I can’t wait for my next chapter at Samford University and I will definitely be making a mark.

Chris Rembert, Pensacola Catholic

Baseball - Auburn University

Like Clayton, the infielder will play at the next level for an SEC team. And like Kohr, he's been a major contributor for the Crusaders since his freshman season. Rembert has a career .417 batting average. Last season, he set career highs by batting .464, clubbing six home runs and driving in 31 runs en route to a spot on the PNJ All-Area First Team.

Quote: "Before I officially visited Auburn, I immediately fell in love with the coaching staff. All the coaches showed that they really cared and they were patient. Not only did they spend time getting to know me as a player, but as a person as well, along with my family. After I officially visited, I also fell in love with the atmosphere. Everyone in Auburn is so welcoming and it made it feel like home."

Jazmin Roltsch, Gulf Breeze

Soccer - Mississippi College

Playing for a program that churns out talent year after year, Roltsch had to wait her turn. She only played in six games as a sophomore, but that was bumped up to 17 matches as a junior. In helping Gulf Breeze claim the Class 6A title, the 5-8 midfielder put in two scores and had four assists. Former Pensacola Catholic midfielder Emily Doyle is also a part of the Choctaws.

Sydney Scapin, West Florida

Softball - University of South Alabama

A deltoid strain may have limited her time of the field last season, but the star pitcher put up great numbers for West Florida. She went 7-2 with a 1.55 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 2023. Winning PNJ Co-Pitcher of the Year in 2022, Scapin becomes the second Pensacola-area player to join USA in as many years, joining Jay graduate Caitlyn Gavin.

Quote: "It’s just exciting to sign the papers and make it official. Mobile and South Alabama just feels like home and everyone up there is so welcoming, so I definitely feel blessed to have a place so close to call home. Signing the papers was definitely a breath of fresh air because I have put in a lot of the work over the past year due to my injury, but I have also been working for this since I was little."

Daysha Taylor, Navarre

Soccer - Holmes Community College

Taylor has been very dependable on the back line during her previous three seasons on varsity for the Raiders. She was named to a PNJ All-Area team as a freshman and as a sophomore.

Brett Watson, Jay

Softball - University of West Florida

Easily the fastest player in the area, Watson combines her speed with fine defensive skills and a solid bat for the perennially successful Royals. She stole seven bases to go with 33 runs and a .337 batting average. Watson will link up with former Jay star Alayna Lowery at UWF.

Avery Wynder, Tate

Soccer - Pensacola State College

Another area product will be on the pitch for the Pirates. After playing in just one game as a sophomore, Wynder appeared in 16 matches for the Aggies last season, scoring twice while notching an assist in 518 minutes.

Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached at (772) 985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Early National Signing Day: 2024 Pensacola-area athletes ink their LOI