St. Thomas Aquinas’ All-America swimmer Samantha Villacis commits to Florida State University

St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Edison, is proud to announce that junior Samantha Villacis, one of the nation’s top high school swimmers, has verbally committed to Florida State University to further her academic and athletic career. Villacis, a celebrated member of the STA swimming team and school community, chose Florida State from among five prestigious offers, which included Indiana University, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, and Northwestern.

“I am beyond excited to announce my commitment to FSU!” shared Villacis. “I want to thank my family, teammates, and coaches who’ve supported me every step of the way. Special thanks to the FSU coaches Neal and Steve for this amazing opportunity, my Peddie coaches Emmet and Heather, and my STA coaches Amanda, Brian, and Claire. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

A standout both in and out of the pool, Sam has achieved All-Conference, All-State, and All-America honors in a single season while maintaining an impressive 3.7 GPA. Her dedication has made her a top recruit, recognized among the top three swimmers in the state and ranked in the top 100 nationally. Her choice was guided by her excitement over FSU’s welcoming team culture, the support from their coaches, and a strong business program aligned with her career goal to work on Wall Street.

Head STA swimming coach, Amanda Cleveland-Miller, remarked on Villacis’ outstanding accomplishment, “FSU is very lucky to have been chosen from the prestigious group of offerings she received. It is a school rich in academic and athletic excellence and Sammy will thrive in Tallahassee.”

Villacis’ journey to success reflects the invaluable support of the STA community. Her family extends deep gratitude to her STA coaches, teachers, and staff for their unwavering encouragement during her recruitment journey, which saw interest from 53 top-tier programs worldwide, including seven overseas universities in Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Her achievements underscore the strength of STA’s athletic and academic programs, which empower students to excel at every level.

Mike Kowalczyk serves as STAHS communications director.