OFF TO THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL

3 Hurricanes sign letters to continue football & swimming careers

Above: Coral Shores swimmer Corley Smith announces her intent to continue her swimming career at ClaremontMudd-Scripps College in California. DOUG FINGER/Keys Weekly

Top right: Coral Shores standout defensive tackle Xayver Arrington dons a U.S. Naval Academy hat after announcing that he signed a letter of intent to continue his football career.

Bottom right: Coral Shores offensive tackle John Holly, left, announces his letter of intent to attend Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi during National Signing Day.

Three Coral Shores senior standout athletes are taking their talents to the collegiate level. With family, friends, coaches and high school students in attendance, swimming sensation Corley Smith, defensive tackle Xayver Arrington and offensive tackle John Holly signed their names to national letters of intent and donned school attire to show where they’ll be playing at National Signing Day on Feb. 2.

Smith is a distance specialist who represented the ’Canes at states in the 200 and 500 freestyle individual events, as well as swimming a leg on the Coral Shores 200 freestyle relay team. She’s also the reigning champ of the 8-mile Swim to Alligator Lighthouse. She’ll attend Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College in California in the fall.

Dubbed the Iron Man of the ’Canes, Holly’s ability to pull and run for downfield blocks enabled the Coral Shores offense to be successful. The 6-foot-5-inch 285-pound senior tackle anchored the Coral Shores offensive line. Holly will play at Holmes Community College in Mississippi.

Arrington is a recognizable force the moment he steps onto the field. His incredible stats speak for themselves: Arrington, who’s set to play at the U.S. Naval Academy, amassed 64 tackles, 23 of them for a loss, plus 19 assists, 19.5 sacks, one touchdown, one fumble recovery, 28 pressures, two forced fumbles, two pass breakups, three blocked punts and two blocked PATs.

By: Tracy and Sean McDonald