On April 27, seniors Roan Dutta and Iliyan Hajiani became the 18th and 19th members of the Class of 2026 to commit to continuing their athletic career at the collegiate level. Dutta will play football for the College of the Holy Cross; Hajiani will join Wesleyan University’s track and cross-country teams. 

Over the past four years, Dutta has established himself as one of the most reliable and decorated kickers in the state. A four-year varsity starter and a team captain his senior season, Dutta’s clutch performances include multiple game-winning field goals. His consistent excellence on the field earned him Kohl’s Kicking Freshman All-American honors in 2022, followed by three consecutive First Team All-Region selections. Ranked as one of Georgia's top kicking prospects by both Chris Sailer Kicking and Kohl’s Kicking, Dutta capped off his high school career as the Pace Football Special Teams Player of the Year and received All-State Honorable Mention recognition.

Hajiani’s Pace journey is a masterclass in the student-athlete model—his relentless pursuit of excellence spans from the trails and the track to the classroom. Hajiani’s cross-country tenure is marked by consistency. As a sophomore, he placed seventh overall at the state meet and followed that performance with a sixth-place finish as a junior. This past fall, he capped his Pace career by earning All-State honors with a 10th-place finish, and his leadership as team captain helped propel the varsity boys to fifth place in the state. He leaves the program boasting a 5K personal record of 15:29. On the track, Hajiani is a 4x800-meter state champion with a 1:57 split. His individual accolades include a 12th-place state finish in the 3200 meters as a freshman and a sixth-place state finish in the same event as a junior. 

Congratulations, Knights!