Tallulah Falls School standout long distance runner Evan Prince on Tuesday afternoon signed his letter of intent with the U.S. Naval Academy. The multi-region champion in cross country and track & field will continue his academic and athletic career for the Midshipmen.
Prince, of Rabun Gap, will compete in both cross country and track & field at the NCAA Division-I level in the Patriot League Conference. The Naval Academy resides in Annapolis, MD.
“Evan has clearly pursued excellence at Tallulah Falls and prepared himself in a host of ways for greater challenges to come,” says USNA coach Aaron Lanzel. “We are excited here at Navy to add Evan to our team and provide opportunities for excellence at the national level. I am sure he will be missed from his class of 2022, but a new adventure awaits in the class of 2026 for the United States Naval Academy and the Navy cross country and track family.”
Prince is fresh off winning his second consecutive Region Championship as an individual in the fall and has guided the boys cross country team to 3 straight state appearances. He currently holds the school record of 15:42 in a cross country race, which he set as a junior in 2020. He finished 3rd overall at state in 2021 and was 5th in 2019 as a sophomore. He is only the second TFS runner to claim multiple region titles, joining Mike Wood, who won 3 straight from 1989-1991.
“In my 37 years of coaching, Evan is one of a handful of truly exceptional youth,” adds coach and Athletic Director Scott Neal. “He has an incredible balance between driven competitiveness (fueled by competing with others to see just how good he can be), humility, genuine service without wanting recognition, and the desire to contribute to the life of his team. His work ethic and ‘GREAT’ character is respected and inspiring, his performances match his preparation, and his ability to envision, read the moment, and provide positive feedback is mature well beyond his years. Evan sets long and short term goals, manages time well, and seeks to involve others in significant, meaningful team roles. He sees every opportunity as a positive challenge, a chance to be optimistic, confident, and pragmatic.”
For Prince, who is a team-first kind of athlete, there couldn’t have been a better fit for his next chapter.
“Being able to attend the United States Naval Academy is a tremendous honor, and being able to run for the Academy is a privilege that I am extremely grateful for,” states Prince. “My acceptance is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am for all of the help provided by my family, coaches, teachers, and friends. Without them, this would not have been possible.”
Family, friends, and teammates alike gathered around Prince on February 8 to make it official. Prince’s success in track & field last year led to the Indians finishing a program-best 3rd as a team at the GHSA State Championships. The boys cross country team finished 13th this past fall, and 9th in 2019.
