by Maya Dorsam ‘27

Only six percent of high school athletes go on to play at NCAA schools of any level. This low figure is mostly an indication of the high distinction of excellence at the collegiate level, but it is also the result of the reality that playing requires high school student-athletes to consider many factors before deciding to take their athletic careers at the next level. For some people who potentially could, they must note the trade-offs and sacrifices to play a sport they love. Both Alex Welch and Avery Anderson went through the recruitment process experience and ended up making different final choices.

Welch, a multi-sport varsity athlete who committed to play basketball at The Catholic University of America, and Anderson, a dominant force on the softball field who declined the opportunity to play collegiately for now, say that it requires great sacrifice and discipline to continue with sports at a high level. They emphasize that the leading reason for playing a sport at college should be love for the game.

Anderson said that one of the biggest appeals of playing collegiately is that “you will always find teammates who love the sport like you do.” However, Anderson said the flip side is that collegiate athletes are placed under a lot more pressure to succeed. “Those who stress the importance of playing for elite schools have a tendency to lose the fun that makes sports what they are,” said Anderson.
Anderson advises those to “be honest with yourself about what you really want out of college.” For her, this meant also considering the financial and academic aspects of schools, which led her to attend the University of Maryland at College Park, where she plans to play club softball and looks forward to trying out for a girls softball walk-on spot.

Welch says if you’re considering playing in college, to “go for it if you’re passionate and willing to work hard.” He knew he had what it took to make this leap when he realized he consistently surpassed the level of competition among peers and gained interest from college scouts. The next step was creating highlight videos and attending showcases to get more recognition. This came with sacrificing more social events since late junior year, when he first started the process. His commitment during the recruitment process helped show that he had the level of dedication needed for collegiate athletics. He received many high-level offers and others from developing programs, ultimately choosing Catholic University because of the balance of athletics and academics it provides. The coaching staff and team environment appealed to him.

Anderson similarly started the process later in her junior year and into her senior year. She notes that it can be costly, as camps and resources to get to the next level typically are. Division III schools don’t grant athletic scholarships, and DII schools often don’t grant much financial support either.

For high school athletes, the choice might not necessarily be between a lot or not at all, but instead how much. Most colleges offer club and intramural athletic teams. Students who try out and make a club team get the opportunity to compete against other colleges, just as your typical college athlete. Intramurals tend to be more lax as they are typically thrown together by a few friends looking to have fun. For now, this is the level of commitment that is right for Anderson, while Welch arrived at the decision that he’s ready to play high-level basketball at Catholic University.