Two of Wharton's best athletes share birthdays and success on the field. Last Monday, they shared something else: Both signed to play college sports.
By TERRY JONES
Published April 25, 2004
NEW TAMPA - Two of Wharton High School's top athletes share the same birthday. They also have something else in common: After years of working at their respective sports, both signed up last Monday to continue their athletic careers in college.
Champion pole vaulter Natalie Moser won a scholarship at the University of Florida in Gainesville, while track star Victoria Michelotti is headed to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.
Both are New Tampa residents, and both turned 18 on Feb. 19.
Moser is the defending Class 3A state pole vaulting champion, with hopes of a repeat at the upcoming state meet in May. She also throws the discus, competes in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles, and helps run the 4x400 relay.
At last year's state championship meet, her winning pole vault was 12 feet, 6 inches.
The combination of both academics and athletics helped Moser get the attention of several colleges. She'll graduate from high school with an unweighted GPA of 3.83 and a weighted one of 5.81.
Moser considered Florida State and the University of Wisconsin, but a couple of reasons prevailed in her decision to be a Gator.
"My mom is a nurse and I already know I want to end up in some form of health care for my chosen profession, and the University of Florida has an excellent medical college," she said. "Plus they have one of the best track programs in the country."
Like Moser, Michelotti also runs the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles and is on the same 4x400 relay team. She also competes in the high jump.
Her choices were numerous as well, but she picked Dartmouth for several reasons.
"I just felt at home at Dartmouth," she said. "Attending an Ivy League school will be a great academic challenge from the start, so I will not declare a major yet. I will just concentrate on track and my books."
Ivy League schools like Dartmouth technically do not offer athletic scholarships; instead, when Michelotti signed with Dartmouth, the college offered her a financial aid package based on her academic record, and she agreed to compete in athletics for the college.
Michelotti's best event is the 100-meter hurdles. Her best time this season was a 14.97, which she ran at the Florida Relays a few weeks ago.
Her academic record is also impressive. She has an unweighted GPA of 3.9 and a weighted one of 5.6.
Both should leave sometime in July to report for weight and conditioning training at their respective colleges.
