Somerset's DiBuono signs National Letter of Intent to attend Lehigh University

Aiden DiBuono was elated and relieved to recently sign his National Letter of Intent.

The Somerset Area High School senior track and field standout announced his intentions to continue his athletic and academic career at Division I Lehigh University of the Patriot League.

"It felt really good. Lehigh is a great place for me," said DiBuono. "I had a lot of stress on my shoulders for a while. I am relieved. I believe I can put even more effort into schoolwork and track because that weight is off my shoulders, now."

DiBuono, who has a track and field profile on Next College Student Athlete recruiting, was discovered by the Lehigh coaches on that platform. He did not hear of the school prior to the coaching staff reaching out.

"They have some really good academic programs, and is a Division I track and field program," DiBuono said. "They have a lot of things that I value. I feel that there's a lot of like-minded people there. I am excited to go. After looking into it, Lehigh really seems like the place for me. I met the coach and entire staff - they are all great. I met my teammates and it almost felt like home, right away."

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DiBuono knew Lehigh was the place he would call home for the next four years after going on a weekend visit to both Lehigh and Lafayette College.

"As far as athletics and academics, they are both similar," he said of the schools. "But when I went on a tour at Lehigh, that place just felt right. The atmosphere there just sets it apart."

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DiBuono thrives in the hurdles. He won the 110 hurdles and finished second in the 300 hurdles as a sophomore at the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championships in. DiBuono went on to capture silver in both events at the District 6 Class 3A meet, earning all-LHAC honors in the process.

As a junior, DiBuono claimed first in the 300 hurdles at the LHAC Championships and finished second in the 110 hurdles. He did not compete in the District 6 meet due to an injury, but still earned his second all-conference nod.

DiBuono already has a win in the 2022-23 indoor track and field season, finishing first in the 55-meter hurdles at the Energice Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational in New York City for the second straight season.

"I want to win states in both indoor and outdoor this year," DiBuono said. "I am looking forward to that. My 110 hurdles ... I have recently been at the top of my game, lately.

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While nothing is set in stone, DiBuono will likely run the 110 and 400 hurdles at Lehigh as well as potentially the 200 and 400 dash.

DiBuono is the son of Michael DiBuono of Windber and Kecia Bal of Somerset. He boasts a 4.0 GPA at Somerset. He is a member of National Honor Society, Student Council, Somerset orchestra and the Science Olympiad. He was also named Somerset Area School District’s Varsity “S” Club Outstanding Athlete for boys track and field in 2022. DiBuono plans to major in environmental engineering at Lehigh.

He thanks his parents, strength and conditioning and sprints coach Dave Polcha as well as Somerset Athletic Director and assistant track and field coach Scott Close.

Polcha, who has been training athletes for more than 20 years, has seen DiBuono's growth since the two began working together prior to his freshman season.

"He has been great for our track program because he's a leader," Polcha said. "He coaches and motivates. Sometimes, the mystique of track gets lost as a fun club thing to do in the spring. A number of kids don't put the effort in to make it a craft like Aiden has. It has been his purpose to compete at the state-wide level and get a Division 1 scholarship. Lehigh could not have recruited a better kid."

Having coached so many talented athletes over the years, Polcha had high praise for DiBuono.

"As a coach, his determination and work ethic stand out to me," Polcha said. "He's not a big guy but he is deceptively strong, and that's what has helped him build so much speed. He's put the time in. He has very little technical flaws. He is the hardest working kid I have ever had. We earn our days off, but he wants to be in the gym or at the track five days a week. I think he is going to have some pretty big surprises in store this spring."

Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset's Aiden DiBuono announces commitment to Lehigh University