Elijah Morgera enters this up spring season as one of the captains on the Cordova High School boys track and field team.

Last fall, he played wide receiver and defensive back on the CHS football team that posted a 7-4 record that included a share of the Sierra Valley Conference title, and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoff berth.

As Morgera, now a senior, prepares for Lancer boys’ track and field team, he will also have his thoughts on the next chapter of life outside of Rancho Cordova after he graduates this spring.

At Cordova’s campus in front of parents Dean and Erica, plus friends, coaches and the school’s administrators on Feb. 8th, Morgera signed his National Letter of Intent with Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Along with plans to obtaining a college degree in criminal justice, Morgera is slated to play wide receiver on the Yellowjackets’ football team.

Morgera is the second Cordova football player to sign with a four-year college. Two weeks ago, middle linebacker Kenny Haney signed to play at Southern Oregon University.

Morgera said there were two dozen colleges he applied. The friendly atmosphere at Graceland University drew his interest.

“The coaches were very welcoming,” Morgera said. “They sent me lots of e-mails, text messages every day to see how I was doing, and if I was still interested in coming. I felt a family environment.”

Playing in only four football games last fall – Morgera broke his collarbone in the Lancers’ season opener against Rio Americano, but returned later in the season –he had 5 receptions for 64 yards.

As a junior last spring, Morgera posted impressive numbers in short distance races for the Lancers. In the 100 meters, his best time was 11.84 seconds at an SVC dual meet against Liberty Ranch. In that same meet, he was clocked at 24.04 in the 200 meters.

Last April, also at an SVC meet against Galt, in the 400 meters, Morgera recorded his time in the 400 meters at 52.94. In addition, he helped anchor two relay teams; the 4x100 boys relay team that registered at 45.76 and the 4x400 boys relay team at 3 minutes, 35.67 seconds. Both were set at the SVC championships.

Being involved in Cordova’s football and track and field programs have been a blessing, Morgera stated.

“The coaches I’ve had,” Morgera said.

He further credits Cordova track and field head coach Shane Jackson, and sprinting coach Roger Parker for training him over the years.

“They’ve been very helpful in the process,” Morgera said.

Jackson added, “He’s been an amazing two-sport athlete for us. He’s done a lot of the hard work himself. He took care of business in the classroom, and that’s one of the biggest things. He was never one we had to worry about.”

Cordova football head coach Darrin Nill said that Morgera is “a great kid” who echoed that academics are more important than athletics, and that will carry Morgera through life.