Early Christmas present delivered

On the majority of high school campuses, student/athletes can be subdivided into two categories: Athletes that are students and students who are also athletes.

At F.W. Springstead High, senior Christopher "Chris" John Sarabalis is the latter.

This past week, he received an early Christmas present - early acceptance into the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or as it's commonly known, MIT, in Cambridge, Mass.

Ironically, Sarabalis isn't the first SHS student to attend MIT this decade.

He's following the footsteps of Alec Resnick, a 2004 SHS graduate and 2008 SHS graduate Camille McAvoy.

"When I got to Springstead, Resnick was like a legend around here," admitted Sarabalis. "Both he and Camille were brilliant. I aspired to follow in their footsteps."

Sarabalis 101

Chris, as friends call him, is the youngest of two sons to Spring Hill's John and Suzanne Sarabalis. Chris was born in Brooksville and has been raised in Hernando County.

The one thing the Sarabalis boys do have in common is their love for soccer.

Chris' older brother, Nick, was particularly adept on the pitch. Nick was a three-year letterman under coaches Jerry Bon and Hank Deslaurier at Central High. Nick graduated from CHS in 2006 with 23 goals, 21 assists and 67 career points.

He's currently enrolled at the University of Central Florida.

For his part, Chris played with the Hernando Heat since sixth grade. He played recreational soccer before that.

Chris also competed in track and field for West Hernando Middle School as a seventh- and eighth-grader. He specialized in the 800 before moving to 100, 200 and 800 in his second year with the Golden Eagles.

Once he matriculated to Springstead, the 5-foot-10, 145-pound Sarabalis has competed on the varsity soccer pitch as a freshman, sophomore and senior.

The 18-year-old Chris pales in comparison athletically to his older sibling.

So far in 2½ years as a midfielder, Chris has tallied a modest two goals and notched one assist. His lack of scoring punch, however, has not diminished his passion for soccer.

"I started soccer when I was real young," recalled Sarabalis. "I kind of grew up with the sport. I like the team aspect the most - everyone trying to pull in the same direction with a common purpose.

"Plus, I enjoy it because most of my friends play soccer."

Sarabalis acknowledged he'll miss soccer.

"Sports has always been a part of me." He said. "I'll miss high school soccer. But I'll still have the group dynamic in college."

The other side

However, the inner core of Chris Sarabalis belongs in academia.

Chris considers himself a student first, an athlete second.

How solid a student?

If Springstead High's commencement exercises were held tomorrow at Booster Stadium, Sarabalis would be the Class of 2010's valedictorian.

Despite the honor, Sarabalis downplays it.

"It's an honor to be valedictorian, but all it is is a number," Sarabalis said. "It's a very prestigious honor, but it's based on GPA. True genius is based on creativity and hard work. Valedictorian is just a number; it doesn't measure anything else."

Regardless, out of 484 current Eagle seniors, Sarabalis ranks first with a weighted 4.61 grade point average.

In the critical standardized testing to get into college, Sarabalis etched a 1,560 out of a possible 1,600 in his Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), featuring a perfect 800 score in mathematics.

He also took the American College Testing (ACT) exam and received a 33, out of a possible 36. In the process, he aced the mathematics, science and writing portions of the exam.

How did the love affair begin in the classroom?

"It started when I was in the gifted program at J.D. Floyd and my elementary teacher, Miss Drankwalter, really kicked off my curiosity in mathematics and science," recalled Sarabalis. "At first, I'll admit most of the curriculum like paleontology and archeology was way over my head. I didn't have the answers. But I slowly started to ask questions and comprehend what the lessons were about. I owe Miss Drankwalter everything; she's the one who helped push my buttons."

Once he was at SHS, Sarabalis acknowledged that several teachers, including Mr. Barton and Mrs. Vonada, have "always been there to answer my questions and concerns."

Sarabalis also thanked SHS Principal Susan Duval.

"She has helped facilitate me taking (online) classes that were not offered at Springstead," added Sarabalis. "And when we had our submarine competition during the summer at Bethesda, M.D., Ms. Duval came up and saw us. In fact, after the first day, we needed a new gear box and she ordered it and it came in the next day. Without Ms. Duval's help, we would have been sunk. No way do we win that competition without her help."

Chris' mother, Suzanne, echoed his sentiments about the assistance given locally.

"I think it's been excellent," said Mrs. Sarabalis. "I have nothing but good things to say about Springstead's teachers, guidance counselors. They've gone out of their way to help Chris attain his goals."

Mrs. Sarabalis said parents have to encourage their child to be an active learner.

"Parents needs to stay involved," she said. "But children only get out what they put in."

Why MIT?

With such outstanding grades, Sarabalis' college search was narrowed primarily to four schools.

On his short list was MIT, Cal Tech, Stanford and, if he failed to get in at any of those three, the back-up plan was to enroll at the University of Florida using his Bright Futures Scholarship.

Fortunately for Sarabalis, his primary choice, the $50,000 a year MIT, came through.

According to Sarabalis, only 300 students were notified of last week's early acceptance. The remaining applicants have to wait for "Pie Day" (March 14) for notification.

Roughly, 1,100 students out of a possible 11,000 applicants are accepted each year at MIT.

The school, which opened its doors to students in 1865, is located across from Harvard.

On the school's Web site, its mission statement reads, "To advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world."

"Ever since that gifted program at Floyd, every time I researched something in physics, chemistry or approached an answer about absolute zero, one name kept popping up, MIT," recalled Sarabalis. "What lured me in is it's the best engineering school in the country.

"But I really like about it is its personality," smiled Sarabalis. "They play hacks (tricks) on campus. Even with all their resources, it's a kind of crazy and humorous environment. It seems like they're more laid back and cool.

"The more traditional schools want to sport a well-polished, sophisticated image."

What's next?

At this point, Sarabalis expects to major in mechanical or electrical engineering.

"I more I get into pure physics and pure mathematics, I'll probably double major at MIT," explained Sarabalis. "I'm interested in building consumer-based products. I'm building a human-powered catamaran to cross the Gulf of Mexico."

Long-term goal?

"My goal is to assemble a firm to tackle various projects," predicted Sarabalis. "I'd like to follow my own dreams and build a team of engineers and to pursue my own curiosities."