RAMONA, Calif. --- Coming across athletes who earned all-league recognition in two sports is not all that common, even at the collegiate level. But what Samuel Vandegrift has done on top of his soccer and track all-league honors is truly unique: earning recognition for his hard work and leadership skills at two different high schools. 

A central mid/winger who has scored at least three goals during all three of his varsity seasons, Vandegrift held presidential positions in ASB at Ramona High School for three years before transferring to Classical Academy High for 2019-20 and earning the Caiman Leadership Award for leadership, hard work, purity, courage and honor. 

Vandegrift was a team captain as a senior at Classical Academy and also gained CIF playoff experience with Ramona to enhance the contributions he'll make to Biola Men's Soccer.

I am thrilled to have Samuel joining the Biola Men's Soccer family this fall," said Head Coach Torrey Stricklin. "He had multiple offers to play at rival schools but believed Biola was where God wanted him to be. He will be a great addition to our team culture both on and off the field."

In addition to earning a Bulldog Excellence Award as a freshman, Vandegrift was president of his freshman and sophomore classes at Ramona before serving as student body vice president as a junior. 

That junior year was also his most decorated athletically, as he was named All-Valley League in the 4x100 relay for track and the soccer team's Offensive Player of the Year with six goals and nine assists. Vandegrift has a total of two years of varsity track under his belt and accumulated eight points as a senior on Classical Academy's soccer team.

Academically, he maintained a 4.19 GPA and was named to three academic all-league teams during his high school career, two for soccer and one for track. He will major in business at Biola with hopes of becoming a financial planner and has had his heart set on the university for a long time: 

"I chose Biola because of the amazing Christian community and the genuine people that are a part of that community," said Vandegrift. "The first time I visited Biola, everything was so perfect, I knew I wanted to go to school here since day one."
 
Vandegrift and the Eagles are scheduled to host Stanislaus State at Al Barbour Field on September 5 to officially open the 2020 season. More information on the incoming 2020-21 class that will join him at Biola can be found on the Committed Athletes page.