The 5-foot-11, 145-pound senior won the MHSAA Class 6A state meet this past season, breaking the tape in 15:53 flat to finish 30.3 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Rebels to a 13th-place finish as a team. DeLuca clocked the fastest all-class time of the day at the state title meet and won his last four races of 2016. His state title-winning time was the fifth-fastest on Clinton's Choctaw Trails course in Mississippi prep history.
DeLuca has maintained a 90.3 average in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
A member of the Mu Alpha Theta mathematics honors club as well as the Agricola Baptist Church band, DeLuca has volunteered locally as a coach for the George County Middle School track team in addition coaching youth soccer. He has also has donated his time to Operation Christmas Child as well as a school blood-donation drive. "Giacomo is by far the most talented boys high school distance runner to come out of Mississippi in more than a decade," said Long Beach High head coach Olan Welch. "He put a lot of hard work into his running this season. His 5K personal best improved greatly and he is most deserving of this selection."
