It was another exciting year for Polk State Athletics. Throughout the course of the athletic year, however, there were players, moments, and performances that stood out above the rest.
As Polk State looks forward to another year of excellence on the courts and fields, and in the classrooms, here's a look back at the best from the 2023-24 Athletics Year in men's sports. The selections were made by the Polk State Athletics Eagle of the Month Committee.
Team of the Year: Baseball
Polk State Baseball overcame a slow start to reach the FCSAA Tournament for a fourth straight season. After beginning the year 1-5 and then 12-14, the Eagles hit their stride midseason by winning 20 of 25 games at one point. Polk State finished 33-25 overall and 18-15 in the new Citrus Conference. Under 14th-year Head Coach Al Corbeil, Polk State is one of just four FCSAA Division I teams to have won at least 30 games in each of the last four seasons.
Athlete of the Year: Dominick Nelson, Guard, Basketball
After earning All-Conference second team honors as a freshman for Polk State, guard Dominick Nelson enjoyed an even bigger season for the Eagles as a sophomore during the 2023-24 campaign. A first-team All-Citrus Conference performer, Nelson averaged 20.1 points per game – the highest for a Polk State player in seven years – and scored in double figures in 27 of the 28 games he played. Nelson shot 45% from the field and 74% from the free-throw line. In addition to ranking fourth in the FCSAA in points per game, Nelson ranked second on the team and in the top 15 in the state, averaging 1.7 steals per contest.
Freshman of the Year: JT Long, Pitcher, Baseball
The Polk State Baseball starting rotation was anchored by three accomplished sophomores. At the back end of the bullpen, however, it was a true freshman who was lights out. This past season, JT Long proved invaluable for the Eagles. A first-team All-Citrus Conference performer and the FCSAA Fireman of the Year, Long appeared in 24 games in 2024. He finished 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA and an FCSAA-leading 10 saves – good for third in the nation. Long threw two shutout innings for his final save of the season in Polk State's 8-4 FCSAA Tournament-clinching win over Florida SouthWestern State College on April 25.
Most Improved Athlete of the Year: Aiden Butler, Pitcher, Baseball
Primarily a reliever for Polk State as a freshman in 2023, Aiden Butler emerged as the ace of the pitching staff for the Eagles in 2024. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-6 right-hander finished with an 8-4 record and 3.67 ERA. Butler led the Eagles with two complete games while ranking third in the FCSAA in wins, fourth in innings pitched (81), and fifth in strikeouts (83). At one point in the season, Butler won five straight starts. Butler would finish his sophomore season as a first-team All-Citrus Conference selection and a second-team All-FCSAA honoree.
Coach of the Year: Al Corbeil, Baseball
With two new assistants on his staff, Al Corbeil was again able to coach his team to the FCSAA Tournament. The program's all-time wins leader, the Polk State head coach guided the Eagles to a fourth straight 30-win season and a fourth straight FCSAA Tournament appearance. Corbeil will enter the 2025 season just 23 wins shy of 500 for his career. The Eagles have now reached the postseason in 10 of Corbeil's 14 seasons at the helm.
Performance of the Year: Damion Kenealy, Polk State Baseball at St. Johns River State College (April 9, 2024)
Damion Kenealy had the best offensive season for Polk State as a sophomore in 2024. On April 9 in Palatka, Kenealy had perhaps the best night of his career. In a 14-4 run-rule victory over St. Johns River State College, Kenealy had his second career two-home run game during a 3-for-4 night, finishing with a career-high seven RBIs. In the next game, Kenealy set a new career-high for hits with five in a 13-6 win at St. Petersburg College. For his monster effort, Kenealy was named FCSAA Player of the Week – the only Polk State Baseball player to earn that honor in 2024.
Game of the Year: Basketball's 63-62 Win at Miami Dade College (Feb. 7, 2024)
Polk State Basketball managed just three wins in Citrus Conference play during the 2023-24 season, but two were absolute thrillers. After opening Citrus Conference play with a win over Miami Dade College, the Eagles completed the season sweep in Miami on Feb. 7 in dramatic fashion. Polk State trailed by as many as six in the second half but was able to take the lead with a 12-0 run midway through the final stanza. After the Sharks tied the game with a pair of free throws with 14.5 seconds to play, Polk State's Dominick Nelson was fouled just in front of the 3-point arc with less than a second remaining. Playing in his hometown, the sophomore from Miami calmly knocked down the first free throw to cap a 22-point night and give the Eagles their final victory of the season, 63-62.
Moment of the Year: White's Improbable Shot Lifts Basketball Past Santa Fe College (Jan. 20, 2024)
Like in its final win of the season, Polk State's first Citrus Conference road win also came in dramatic fashion. Against Santa Fe College in Gainesville, the Eagles were able to erase an early 10-point deficit to take the lead late. After a basket by the Saints tied the game at 82, Polk State found itself inbounding from the end line with less than four seconds remaining. Guard Ty Owens lobbed one for forward Cole White, who caught the ball in the lane before firing up an off-balanced hook shot. His attempt found the bottom of the net with 0.7 seconds remaining to give the Eagles a stunning 84-82 victory. White finished with 13 points in the victory. Dominick Nelson led Polk State with 27 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.
