WEST PALM BEACH – Dartayvious Saintelus had his ultimate crowning moment last week (Wednesday, May 22) at The King’s Academy.
The soon-to-be high school graduate officially signed his letter of intent with Southeastern University, a NAIA school based in Lakeland (Fla.).
The 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive tackle chose Southeastern over the likes of Keiser, Montreat, Heidelberg, Wabash, and Wittenberg.
“What led me to my final decision was my family,” Saintelus said. “I really like the coaching staff at the school and how the campus just made me feel like I’m at home. My families, friends, and God also helped me along the way with my decision.”
Saintelus finished his senior season at King’s Academy with:
•19 tackles
•3 tackles for loss
•1 forced fumble
•1 fumble recovery
The Pahokee native reflected on his senior year – and three years of time on the varsity level – at King’s Academy.
“High school football at King’s Academy was such a blast,” Saintelus said. “There’s nothing like it at all. I loved the sense of camaraderie and team spirit. The amount of support we had was crazy. I would look at the stand and they were filled with parents, friends, and families.”
Saintelus did not stop there.
“Playing with my brothers was cool,” Saintelus said. “The adrenaline rush during the games was incredible. As for what could have gone differently, maybe we could have played bigger. Although we are a small school, we test our limits. Our team was good and we played for an audience of one, but overall it was an amazing experience.”
Saintelus spoke on playing for King’s Academy head coach Daniel Burack, who is a Belle Glade native and Glades Day alum.
“Coach Burack is an amazing coach,” Saintelus said. “He coached at Cardinal Newman before coming to King’s. He played football at Glades Day when he was a younger kid. When playing at Glades Day, he helped his team win a state championship. Coach Burack also played college football at Methodist University. He was an inside linebacker, made All-State and All-County in high school.”
Saintelus had more to say about Burack.
“It is really cool to have a coach who was a former Muckstepper,” Saintelus said. “It’s really cool to have someone that you can relate to because I grew up in Pahokee when I was a little kid.”
Saintelus also received a pair of college offers for wrestling from Montreat and Wittenberg. This was possible due to his success on the mat, particularly in his senior season from this past winter.
The multi-sport athlete finished his senior year in wrestling with a 27-5 record (team-high for wins), a county title, a district title, a third-place finish in regionals, and a ninth-place finish in the Class 1A state championships. He was in a two-year wrestling program at King’s Academy, finishing with a 24-4 record as a junior.
Saintelus will look back at his high school experience as a whole at King’s Academy with fond memories. He will be a King’s Academy 2024 graduate and alum on Thursday (May 30).
“My overall experience at King’s Academy was fantastic,” Saintelus said. “I made lifelong friends, had incredible teachers, and got involved in various extracurricular activities. The school is really cool. From participating in school events to attending fun events after-school, there was always something exciting happening. Plus, the campus itself was beautiful and had a great sense of community. It was definitely a memorable time in my life.”
PHOTO CREDITS: The King’s Academy Lions
Muck City Media Enterprises 
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