Middleton, Fla. – The Villages High School track and field program signed a state champion to the collegiate level Thursday in Middleton.
David Probola, a senior distance runner and the school's 10th individual state champion, signed his letter of intent to continue his athletic and academic careers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Probola won gold in the boys' 800-meter run at the FHSAA Class 2A state meet May 7 in Jacksonville, becoming the third track and field state champion – and first runner – in VHS track history. He finished the two-lap sprint in a time of 1:51.95 at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.
"I want to thank God for giving me the power and strength to do everything I do on a daily basis," Probola told a ceremony crowd of more than 200 inside the VHS cafeteria on Thursday. "The support system here has just been amazing and then getting to have my dad as a coach, to have him coach throughout my entire time here, it's just been so special to me."
Probola's signing just one week removed from his state championship run caps a stellar senior year, after having already captured his respective regional and district track titles in the 800. He also set the VHS cross country program record during an event back in September.
"This school has done so many wonderful things for our family," said VHS cross country head coach,
James Probola, David's father. "I can't thank the Morse family, Coach (Richard) Pettus and all of the administration and other people behind the scenes here. It's really been nothing but a positive experience for us and I couldn't be more thankful."
Probola, who plans to study medicine at the prestigious Baltimore-based university, joined Emma Symonds (2019, high jump) and Caley Sosnowski (2023, javelin) as VHS track and field state champions.
"I'm just so proud of him and Johns Hopkins is just so awesome," said VHS track head coach
Chase Stroud. "He's doing a lot with his life and he's going to do even more."
Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org.
