Editor's note - This is part one of a feature on Whitehall's student-athletes taking their next step.

It was a sweet sixteen party when Whitehall High School recently announced its spring list of student-athletes that will further their careers in college.

Local colleges and universities will be the beneficiaries of this large group of Zephyrs who plan to continue playing sports after graduation. That list also includes a wide range of athletes across the three seasonal sports offered at Whitehall High School.

Kailyn Beil will be heading to West Chester University to continue swimming and diving as a member of the Golden Rams. She will join a team that finished 3-2 last year as a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. She'll be coached by Jamie Rudisall and Dr. Ronn Jenkins.

Beil placed fourth at this year's District XI AAA Diving Championships. She was also among the nominees for Lehigh Valley Conference scholar athlete in girls swimming.

Beil said she chose West Chester because it was a good fit academically, while also giving her the opportunity to swim and dive in a competitive program.

Her experience as a member of the Zephyr swim team, especially her senior year, was marked by the chance to mentor the underclassmen as a captain.

"It taught me how to be a good leader and help my teammates out," said Beil.

As she embarks on then next chapter of her life, Beil said she'll remember the pasta parties with then team before their meets. It was a way to bond with one another.

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Jean Carlos Falcon is making track and field a part of his college experience when he attends DeSales University in the fall. The senior will be running as a member of the Bulldogs who compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Bulldogs finished fifth among the 12 teams competing at the MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships this spring.

Falcon, who anchored their record-setting 4x800 team, said that he chose DeSales for its proximity to home. He also likes the aspects a smaller school like DeSales, can provide, offering him the opportunity to be among teammates, that at like Whitehall, can become family.

He said his career was marked by not only the victories he won, but by the friendships he made.

"My time at Whitehall has been incredible," he said. "I made friends that I will literally never forget, and you become so close with everyone.

"It's a great place to grow up, especially when you want to stand out because everyone will support you."

Falcon said he'll always remember his season year, because they were all working as a team to achieve the same goal.

"We all wanted the same thing, and that was to win as many meets as possible, and maybe an LVC title," said Falcon. "Although that didn't happen, many great things happened because of that one goal."

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Fouad Haddad will be heading to Moravian College to continue playing football. He'll be part of a Greyhound squad coached by Jeff Pukszyn. They finished 2-8 in the Centennial Conference last season.

Haddad was a two-year starter for the Zephs on the offensive line, and also saw playing time as a sophomore. He also played on the defensive front, contributing on both sides of the ball.

Haddad said that Moravian's allure was not just on the gridiron, but in the classroom as well.

"First and foremost, it gives me the best opportunity to excel, most importantly as a student, and then as an athlete," said Haddad.

Haddad also said that Moravian offered a great environment where he can be close to home and play football with guys from the area. He believes that with the local talent enrolling in the fall, the Greyhounds will be a "solid football team."

His time at Whitehall may be defined more by the preparation than by playing under the Friday night lights. He said the commitment to be the best by putting in that extra work helped open the door to a playing career at Moravian.

His fondest memory was bittersweet. After losing to Parkland in their final game in the district playoffs, Haddad met with his cousins Omar and Nezar Haddad, sharing a moment that will stay with him.

"I saw them and embraced them, knowing this was going to be the last time we played together," said Haddad. "The times that we had playing, that was special."

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Brian Plucinsky is packing his bags for Eastern University to play soccer. The two-sport standout will be a member of the Eagles, a Philadelphia-area school that plays in the Freedom Conference. They finished 14-3-1 last season under the leadership of coach Mark Wagner.

Plucinsky said that he chose Eastern for its academic reputation, noting they offered a good biochemistry program. He also liked "the family environment" with its current enrollment at 4,300 students.

Plucinsky said that his senior year as a member of the 4x800 team will be what he cherishes most as he readies to start the next chapter of his life.

"My fondest memory is making it to states this year, getting first place at districts, and breaking the record." said Plucinsky.

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Nick Nejad is another Whitehall athlete heading to Bethlehem to play football. Nejad will be joining Haddad on the Greyhounds, hoping to help them ascend the standings in the Centennial Conference.

Nejad, who also qualified for the PIAA Championships in track and field, said that his decision to enroll at Moravian was swayed by its closeness to family and friends who can watch him play, both on the field in the fall, and at the track in the spring.

It was also a good school with strong academic standards.

"It gave me the best chance for me to get a great education and play sports," said Nejad.

Nejad's list of accomplishments this season included a first team All-LVC selection in football at tight end, as well as the LVC's Scholar Athlete Award winner in track and field.

He said he'll begin his freshman year as undecided, but eventually plans to major in business management or economics. He'll also benefit from the lessons he learned as a member of the Whitehall athletic community.

"I will carry on the dedication, hard work and passion I gained through the education I received and the sports I played," said Nejad.

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Angela Stella's journey now takes her to Misercordia University where she'll compete in cross country and track and field as a Cougar.

Stella was a two-time state qualifier in the 800 meters and holds the school record in that event, setting the mark an astounding five times. She also finished among the top 20 in last year's District XI AAA Cross Country Championships.

Stella said that her decision to go to Misercordia was influenced more by her major than her athletic career since she "won't be running for a living," (Although she wished she could). Once enrolled, she'll be competing in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference under coach Chris Wadas.

Stella also liked that it was far away enough, giving her the charm of distance, while still being close enough to home to get a good cooked meal.

Stella will be in the Physician Assistant program and looks forward to the challenge, indicating that sports will take a back seat.

"I'll take the lesson that school comes first, always," said Stella. "You need to get your work done and keep your grades up, or you won't have a team to participate on."

As for her time At Whitehall, Stella said that she has so many memories that it would be hard to pick just one.

"I will never forget my coaches and teammates," she said. "They have been like family to me and I love them like my own flesh and blood."

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Isaiah Cary will be heading down Route 222 to attend Kutztown University in the fall. He'll be a member of the track and field team where he'll compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference as a Golden Bear.

Cary initially fell in love with Kutztown after attending an indoor meet on the campus.

"As soon as I walked onto the facility, I was amazed by it," said Cary.

He said it induced a jaw drop, and it was further accentuated by the opportunity to run on it, an experience that helped shape his decision.

He was also impressed with their communications department, housed in a building "that had great equipment to work with," an important selling point for a communications major.

Cary also echoes his track teammates who view the program and its participants as family. Everyone is eager to help.

"The coaches are the most dedicated people I ever met in my life, and I owe it all to them for my success," said Cary who excelled in the jumps for the Zephs. "I will take away the hard work and never giving up aspect I carried throughout my years as a Whitehall track member, and my dedication to the sport."

Cary said that this year's LVC Championships on their home turf afforded the best memory of his career. With all the schools in attendance, Cary competed in the long, triple and high jumps, earning second in the triple and sixth in the high jump, the former qualifying him for districts.