Spartan’s Acosta signs to continue playing career at Coast Guard Academy

C.J. Acosta will be locking down defenders on the gridiron, sprinting to the finish and performing in the classroom at his next stops in Rhode Island and Connecticut

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) - C.J. Acosta took the next step in his athletic and academic career, signing with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in front of friends, family and coaches.

The Central Union standout will continue competing in both football and track, choosing a path that offers both athletic opportunity and long-term goals.

“This is a very exciting and proud moment for C.J. and the Acosta family,” track and field coach David Hernandez said.

Acosta said his decision stemmed back to a childhood dream.

“When I was younger, I wanted to be a SWAAT sniper. So my thing is like, I'm going to go to the military, be like a Chris Kyle sniper, and then go into, like LAPD SWAT or something," Acosta said. "I kind of started to think about it, it's kind of dangerous. I don't know if I want to put my life that much on the line."

And now it's about what he wants now.

"The military has always been something that intrigued me, something that I've wanted to do," Acosta said. "I know how important college is, so whenever those two things collided with the Coast Guard Academy, it sparked an interest.”

The academy proved to be the right fit, offering strong academics and the opportunity to compete as a dual-sport athlete — something Acosta nearly stepped away from earlier this year.

Unlike other schools though, the USCGA recruited him for both sports.

“The other schools, they're kind of recruiting me for one, but not the other, and I enjoy both," Acosta said. "So it was going to be hard to kind of put down one and raise the other one or vice versa, so going to do both is incredible. It lifts a lot of weight off my chest as well."

Even with his decision made, there were still questions about competing at the Division III level, but Acosta said that ultimately didn’t matter.

“There were some times where I was thinking, what if I go, you know, the JUCO route or what if I go to this other D-II or NAIA school and work my way up to being in a D-I program, but with this it sets me up perfect for my future," Acosta said.

Between not having to pay for school, being able to play both sports he loves and serving his country, the stars were aligning.

Even at the D-III level, you can be selected for the Olympics or national teams if you place high enough.

The senior credited much of his success to the people around him, many of whom were in attendance for his signing.

“A lot of times in life, you could feel like you're kind of alone, you know, just like you're the only one going through something or that you really have no one to go to," Acosta said after having an assembly for his signing day. "Today was a testimony, that no matter what, there's always people in your corner."

Acosta has done a good job of building up what he calls his "corner", the group of people he surrounds himself with.

After balling out on the field and sprinting to the finish, he appreciates all the people in his "corner".

"It's really important who you put in your corner, because all these people that were here, they were always rooting me on, always cheering for me. The people that maybe, I don't know directly, one on one, they are cheering my name whenever from the stands.

"It's a good feeling knowing that you have all that support, and no matter what, as far as you go, even with me going all the way to Connecticut and Rhode Island, that support will follow me and always find me somewhere,” Acosta said.

With a strong support system behind him, Acosta now looks ahead to continuing both his academic and athletic journey at the Coast Guard Academy as the possibilities seem endless with the entire El Centro community behind him.