Special to IFN
Pine Lake Preparatory student-athletes Daelin Diaz-Luong and Sadie Peterson have committed to continue their studies and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
Diaz-Luong commits to Penn State University
Daelin Diaz-Luong, a junior, has verbally committed to Penn State University on a full athletic scholarship for gymnastics. As a Level 10 gymnast, she is competing at the highest level in a sport in which she has competed for eight years. She is the reigning Regionals champion with three consecutive wins. Her favorite event is the uneven bars.
Diaz-Luong’s poise, ability to maintain good form and mental toughness caught the attention of collegiate coaches. In the summer after her sophomore year, Daelin’s phone lit up with calls and texts from about 20 universities, including Michigan, Ohio State, Stanford and Maryland.
She chose Penn State because it felt like a family atmosphere, and the coaches were caring and friendly. In addition, Penn State’s Pre-Med program stood out. Diaz-Luong plans to pursue a career in pediatric sports medicine.
When she has a competition, Diaz-Luong said there are three main things that contribute to a successful meet: a playlist of songs, which includes Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, and Taylor Swift; a visit to Tropical Smoothie Cafe, where she will get a sandwich or smoothie bowl; and a pair of lucky black leggings that she has won several meets after wearing.
Her discipline and planning outside of the gym help her maintain a schedule that includes a typical college prep class schedule in addition to 22.5 hours of training per week at Everest Gym. She enrolled at Pine Lake Prep during her sophomore year after years of online school which allowed her the flexibility to fit in her rigorous training.
Diaz-Luong helps her mom with meal planning for the week to make sure she is getting the proper nutrition. She also likes to bake, draw, and spend time with family in her down time.
“If you have a dream, don’t ever give up,” she said. ” I doubted myself a lot along this journey, and there were many times I thought it wasn’t going to happen.”
An ankle injury in 2023 finished her season early. But with support from her family and the same focus and determination she brings to the competition mats, she is looking forward to her last high school season and competing with Penn State in the future.
Peterson commits to Clemson
Pine Lake Prep junior Sadie Peterson has committed to play soccer for Clemson University.
After spending her first two years of high school at a sports boarding school in Florida, she knew she wanted to stay close to home for college. After focusing her search in North Carolina and South Carolina, she selected Clemson because of the team culture as well as their success last year when they reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
“When I went on my official visits I could see how the girls interacted with the coach and each other. Clemson is definitely a place I want to be, I found myself comparing all the other schools I visited to it,” Peterson said.
Her strengths lie in her ability to take feedback and be coachable, score goals, and control the tempo of the game.
Peterson plays forward or midfield for her club team and looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to Pine Lake’s team this spring. There is no off-season for a college-level athlete, however, and Sadie’s schedule consists of driving to Pineville after school to practice with her club, CSA. After a 90-minute practice, it’s an hour drive back home to do homework.
Her club team travels out of state for weekend competitions and there is an upcoming showcase in St. Louis. When she has free time, spending time with family is a priority for Peterson, particularly after being away from home for two years.