TAVARES, Fla. – Tavares High School recently honored several standout student-athletes as they signed their national letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Representing softball, baseball, and volleyball, these athletes leave behind a legacy of excellence both on and off the field.

Softball Standouts Take the Next Step

Tavares High School’s softball program saw three of its stars commit to playing at the next level, a testament to their talent and dedication.

Emmy Lee officially signed with Lake-Sumter State College, marking the next chapter in her journey. Lee’s leadership and commitment have been a cornerstone of the team’s success.

(Emmy Lee sits with her mother and head coach Jay Miller of Lake-Sumter State College.)

“Emmy is a true teammate and backbone of the softball team,” said head coach Valarie Neu. “She inspires everyone and has the unwavering support of her teammates. Emmy knows what it means to rise to the occasion, and she is so poised and focused. She has poured in so much sacrifice over her years, and we are incredibly proud of her. We can’t wait to see her in a Lakehawk uniform next year.”

Jasmine Lawrence, one of the top softball players in Lake County, signed with Troy University. A leader on the field and in the classroom with a 5.0 GPA, Lawrence’s work ethic is second to none.

(Jasmine sits with her parents and younger brother. Jasmine has a 5.0 GPA and has signed with Troy University.)

“Jasmine is not just an outstanding player; she is a true game-changer,” Neu said. “She is always ready to take on any challenge and is a true team leader. She demands the best out of everyone and has a relentless drive to improve. She never settles for just ‘good enough’—she always goes above and beyond.”

Rounding out the softball signees, Riley Jackson is headed to Vermont State University. Though she did not start her career with Tavares, Jackson has been an integral part of the team’s recent success.

(Riley Jackson “middle” has signed with Vermont State University to continue her softball and academic career.)

“Riley brings her best every day,” Neu said. “She has such a positive attitude, and although she didn’t start with us, we value that she is finishing her high school career with the team. She always steps up with a smile, and we can’t wait to watch her career progress at VSU.”

Kyle Dunn’s Inspiring Baseball Journey

Tavares senior Kyle Dunn signed to continue his baseball career signing with Northland College in Wisconsin, overcoming adversity along the way.

“Kyle is a special player who not only battled back from injury but never quit,” said head coach Grant. “He went from being cut from the team his freshman year to overcoming a broken arm to now being our starting ace. If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.”

(Kyle Dunn “White” has committed to Northland College. Kyle is a good story of how to overcome adversity and has had an amazing journey to get to this point.)

Dunn’s perseverance and hard work have paid off, earning him a well-deserved opportunity.

“He took a much different road than many in high school sports, but Kyle is one of the truly good people in the world,” Grant added. “Anytime I talk to him, he’s humble and just happy to be playing the game he loves. We wish him much success at the next level.”

Volleyball Trio Heads to College Ranks

Tavares High School’s volleyball program also saw three of its top athletes commit to collegiate programs.

Samantha Beatty, one of the most dominant outside hitters in school history, signed with Lake-Sumter State College. Beatty tallied 441 kill shots over her varsity career, including over 100 in her senior season and 260 in her junior year. She played a pivotal role in Tavares’ playoff runs making the FHSAA playoffs each year of her varsity career and will reunite with former head coach Aslisha Wintersdorf at LSSC.

(Sammi Beatty was joined by her teammates and family members. Beatty was among Lake County’s top volleyball talents in recent years. She will continue her career at Lake-Sumter State College.)

Charli Butts will continue her volleyball career at Jackson State Community College. Butts recorded 101 aces, 316 kill shots, 329 serve receptions, and 221 digs throughout her high school career, proving to be a key player in Tavares’ success. Charli is a great person and I am very happy to see her get an opportunity to continue playing. She has a lot of potential and JSCC is a great landing spot for her to continue to develop her skills the next few years.

(Charli Butts is joined by her father and mother. We are very proud of her and Charli and look forward to her continued success.)

Leilani Cummings, who signed with South Florida State College, demonstrated a ton of consistency in her senior season. She recorded 19 aces with a 13.6% ace percentage, led the team with a 95.7% serving percentage, and anchored the defense with 90 digs and 202 returned serves. Over her four-year career, she accumulated 45 aces with a 93.6% serving percentage and 377 returned serves.

(Leilani Cummings, signed with South Florida State College and has a 4.3 GPA.)

Beyond athletics, Cummings excelled academically with a 4.3 GPA and has aspirations of becoming a physician assistant. We are very proud of all the volleyball athletes and a big congratulations to the families, friends and coaches who have helped them get to this point.

“This is big for our school.” says coach Trey Grant. “I am so happy for all these athletes because it shows how committed they were. We have more athletes in the pipeline who will likely be signing in the coming weeks as well but this is a big day for all these students. I am proud of each and every one of them.” says coach Grant.