Hilmar High’s Devon Mederios is the latest local athlete to secure an athletic future at the collegiate level after signing his letter of intent with Sacramento State University’s football team. Mederios, who was a key component of the Yellowjackets’ 13-1 season in 2013, will join the Hornets’ roster as a walk-on at the kicker position.

“It was awesome; really amazing,” Mederios said of his signing.

“He’s got the academics to go with it, so it was an easy fit,” Hilmar head coach Frank Marques said.

Mederios had a stellar senior year as he made 13 of his 20 field goal attempts, notched 51 of his 57 PAT attempts, and totaled 4,577 kickoff yards. Mederios also set a school record with a 56-yard field goal against Center High in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semi-final game.

“I think what sealed the deal is when he kicked that 56-yarder in the game,” Marques said. “He really worked hard in the off-season. He was in the weight room and he kicked a crap-load of balls.”

“I knew after my 56-yarder I’d go somewhere, just not exactly where,” Mederios said.

Mederios, a long time soccer player, retired his soccer cleats this past year as he opted to focus entirely on football. Primarily learning the craft on his own, the ‘Jacket is looking forward to getting some help from collegiate kicking coaches once he hits the Sacramento campus.

“He got better as the year went on and I think he can still get better,” Marques said. “Once he gets some specialized coaching at the college level he’ll be even better.”

Mederios will join a Hornets team that finished the 2013 seasons with an overall record of 5-7 and an even conference record of 4-4.

“I want to get better. I have to earn a starting job because they already have a kicker,” Mederios said. “That’s my motivation right now.”