Continuing a long standing tradition of athletic excellence, over 10% of the graduating senior class are playing a sport in college – well above the national average of 7%. Less than 7% of athletes nationwide go on to play at the next level, and the senior class is aware of the opportunity that they have. Senior Ava Martin is committed to play volleyball at San Jose St. University, a member of NCAA’s division 1. 

“I am really looking forward to competing at the next level because it is something I have dreamed of and worked so hard to get to,” Martin said. “I am just so excited to play and compete at the next level. I am also excited in a way to live independently in a new state and experience a completely different way of living while meeting so many people.”

Senior Cooper Greene is committed to Washington University to play baseball. The shortstop/pitcher picked Washington as his landing spot for their academics as much as their athletics. 

“I think since I will be attending an academically prestigious college, the thing that will stress me out the most is just balancing my time between school and academics,” Greene said. 

Senior Hollis Moeller is committed to Kansas University for long snapping. Moeller committed to Kansas in August 2023, removing himself from the recruiting process before his senior year. 

“It was very stressful to make a decision,” Moeller said. “But it was easier after talking to the people close to me.”

Senior athletes have shared similar experiences with the recruiting process. There are a significant number of pros and cons for athletes to weigh before making a decision.

“To be honest, the recruiting process is one of the most stressful things I have ever had to do,” Martin said. “The recruiting process requires you to basically sell yourself over the phone and talk about yourself and why you are a good player, which is not a strength of mine. To have to have those mature and sophisticated conversations at 16 and 17 years old was very stressful and nerve racking.”

For Martin and the other seniors, though, the stress is well worth the reward. Playing their sport in college is a realization of dreams that these athletes have held since a young age.

“I ended up committing on the last day of school, so it was kind of like everything just stopped,” Martin said. “I’m still so happy that my dream is coming true and so happy that I found a school I like a lot and am excited to be at for the next four years.”