According to the NCAA, of the estimated eight million students that play sports in high school, only 6% will go on to play collegiate sports. In high school, sports are more for fun, whereas in college, it’s a job where if you don’t perform, not only could you lose your spot on the team, but also be put on academic probation.
“The level of intensity to just go up another level, I’m technically getting paid for it and it’s not just a fun thing I do every day so it’s gonna be like my job and having to put in tons of time and tons of effort,” senior Max Larson said.
Larson, along with 12 other seniors, are going to continue their sports journeys into college. Greg Pearl (Iowa Central) Ja’mon Carpenter (Dodge City) Charlie Jin (Pitt State) and Leo Teubert (Ellsworth) will all continue their football careers. Creed Myers (Franklin Pierce) Thomas House (Johnson County) and Maryn Clement (Central Missouri) will play college soccer. Ava Harris will play college softball at Saint Louis university. Anden Oviedo will play college baseball at Palm Beach State. Hannah Giblin will dive at UMBC. Larson (Tulsa) Liam Kirkpatrick (Pitt State) and Ben Campbell (Spring Harbor) will run track and cross country collegiately. Jadon Sautter will play college basketball at Texas A&M Kingsville.
High school sports allow athletes to build bonds and friendships for four years and have fun with their friends that they’re in class with every day. Whether it was early morning workouts, team dinners, or traveling to games with one another, athletes build a closeness and a relationship with one another, and those relationships can last a lifetime.
“I’ve played soccer with a lot of my friends and people who I’ve become great friends with and that’s definitely something I’m gonna miss,” House said.
College sports provide a more competitive atmosphere playing with teammates who are at the same level. A coach has to win in order to put food on the table, and they’re gonna put themselves in the best position to do that.
“I’m looking forward to just competing next year and getting to hit the ground running when I get there and making an impact right away and help the team succeed,” Oviedo said.
College is an opportunity for people to go and explore a place where they may have never been before. As an athlete, traveling far away from home can present a challenge, but also a chance to build that same closeness and relationships with your new teammates. When college sports basically become your job alongside academics, you become very close with your teammates, and your sport is taking the majority of your focus.
“I’m really excited to experience a new city and to meet all these new people and build relationships with my teammates and just be a part of the family,”Giblin said.
