WATSONVILLE — Somehow, Chloe Deleissegues didn’t get the memo.
The St. Francis High senior was unaware she would have to give a short speech for the dozens in attendance at Monday’s national letter of intent signing.
“I wrote it during fourth period,” Deleissegues said, explaining that she typed up speech just couple of hours before she stepped up to the podium. “Obviously, you always want more time to keep going over it and you always feel like you left someone out, but I think I did well enough.”
Deleissegues was one of three St. Francis senior student-athletes who took a hold of the mic and gave thanks at Monday’s ceremony on the school’s campus.
Chase Watkins and Janiya Sevilla also dished gratitude after signing their letters of intent to Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and Hope International University, respectively.
Watkins will play baseball for the NCAA Division I Mustangs and Sevilla is set to play hoops for the NAIA Royals.
Deleissegues signed her letter of intent to Seattle University to run track for the NCAA Division I Redhawks.
“It’s pretty surreal that I have this amazing opportunity to play Division I sports at a school that I love, I’m living the dream right now,” Deleissegues said.
Deleissegues was a standout on the track and the basketball court over the last four years.
She set the school record in the 400- and 200-meters earlier this spring and also helped teammates Samantha Bellucci, Olivia Burke and Devlyn Gomez set the school record in the 4×100 relay.
On the hardwood, Deleissegues was a part of a Central Coast Section Division V champion squad as a freshman and earned All-Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League honors as a senior after leading the team in rebounds (7.5), assists (2.6) and steals (3.8) per game, while also finishing second in points (12.2).
She also played high-level competitive soccer outside of school and was recognized for her work in the classroom a few months ago, earning CCS Female Athlete of the Year honors.
Deleissegues said her lasting memory of St. Francis would be her connection with the teachers.
“When they say that each teacher knows your name, each teacher cares for you, they mean it,” said Deleissegues, who carries a 4.55 grade point average.
Like Deliessegues, Sevilla had “no idea” she had to write a speech for the ceremony, but etched out some time during lunch to put together a heartfelt piece for the friends, family, classmates and teachers on hand.
“I think it went well,” she said.
Her precision under pressure carried over from the court, it would seem.
Sevilla was also a four-year varsity star for the school’s basketball team. She earned a spot on the All-SCCAL First Team as a sophomore and junior, while leading the team in scoring in each of the last three seasons.
Sevilla said she took her first visit to H.I.U. in Fullerton last November, and liked the area, class size and basketball program.
“It really felt like home,” Sevilla said.
Watkins was the only one of the three who had more than 24 hours to write up his speech. He started working on it yesterday, knowing full well the procedure of national signing day ceremonies after watching several teammates sign their letters over the last few years.
Last year, Ruben Ibarra (San Jose State), Conor Bagchee (Hawaii) and Andrew Ciandro (Cal State Bakersfield) all signed, and the year before Danny Cervantes (Cal State Monterey Bay) and Sahid Valenzuela (Cal State Fullerton) signed.
“I remember watching all those guys sign and thinking that would pretty cool to be up here one day,” Watkins said. “I knew if I just put my head down and worked, I would be here in a couple of years. It’s still kind of crazy. When I was a sophomore, that still seemed so far away.”
Along with being a left-handed ace on the mound for the school’s baseball team, Watkins also starred on the basketball court. He was the leading scorer on last year’s league, section and regional champion team, which advanced to the CIF Division V state championship game.
Watkins’ time playing baseball for the Sharks is not yet over. St. Francis is in the semifinals of the CCS Division III playoffs and will play Palma High on Wednesday at San Jose Municipal Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for at 7 p.m.
Watkins could be forced to choose between going pro and playing college baseball if he is drafted by an MLB squad in a few months. Right now, all of his attention is on Wednesday’s game.
“I’m just looking forward to Wednesday night at this point,” Watkins said.
