Are you a student-athlete looking to secure a spot on a college sports team before graduating high school? According to three CORE athletes who were recruited — Seniors Karisa Walborn (volleyball), Macey Ascherman (volleyball), and Brian Patton (track) — these are the steps you need to take.
The first and most important thing to do is to put yourself out there. Macey says that it was “nerve-wracking at first,” but that she “emailed coaches a lot,” even the ones that were a long shot.
Both Karisa and Macey also created profiles on the NCSA website. It is free to make a profile, and you only need to provide basic information about yourself and your parents. However, if you want a more advanced profile, Macey said it is “pricey,” but it allows access to more coaches at a higher level. It is ideal to create this profile early in high school so you have time to build a strong presence and reach out to multiple coaches and colleges.
Karisa said that after she made her account, “the assistant coach [of Butte College] contacted” her and then connected her with the head coach of Butte College volleyball. Brian said recruiters “reached out at track” and texted him afterwards, asking if he wanted to join the team.
The athletes shared similar feelings about committing to college sports. Brian said that playing for college will be “very rewarding” because of the work he has put into track, and that it is a “big deal” that a “college wants [him] to run for them.” Karisa said that she is “excited, but kinda nervous,” explaining that “it will be a whole new group of girls, and it will be different from how [she is] used to playing.” Macey expressed similar emotions, saying she is excited and that “volleyball is who I am.” She added that the competitive atmosphere of college volleyball will leave her with more to take away, and that she relishes the adrenaline rush.
The next step to take is preparing for the season. Macey says that she focuses on “physical activity — walking, jogging, lifting,” adding that “seeing the progress helps.” Karisa said that she “will be doing a LOT of weight training” to prepare. All three mentioned the gym at Butte College as “very, very nice.” Macey says that the “equipment is very good” and that she will be doing strength training there. Brian said he is “stoked” to “get good workouts”.
Despite the excitement and positive feelings, all three athletes acknowledged the level of competition in college sports. Brian said that it will be “super competitive” and “twice as hard” as high school competitions. Macey said that “all the teams will be better in college,” noting that one team already won a state championship. Karisa described it as “pretty intense,” but said that it will ultimately be a good experience.
Overall, getting recruited at the college level takes initiative, consistency, and preparation. But seeing all your effort pay off is the best reward.