List of Athletes,              Sport                School

For many high school athletes, graduation is the end of their competitive athletic careers, but for a lucky few, they get the opportunity to play at the next level. Whether it be D1 or D3 athletics, competing in college is a large commitment that is earned over years of hard work and dedication. Many of these athletes have sacrificed hours on and off the field and have set themselves apart from their peers, allowing them to excel.

The recruiting process starts months, if not years, before the day they can commit to a school. Between talking to coaches and completing extra training to set them apart, the life of a student athlete is no joke when it comes to time management. When interviewed about her commitment process, Mulhlenberg women’s soccer commit Ava Hartle said, “I think it has taken up a lot of my life so sometimes I have to choose soccer over maybe hanging out with my friends or going on vacations or like not having to wake up early so it definitely does restrict me from doing other things, but I think it is definitely worth it because I enjoy playing it so much.” The commitment required can take a lot out of an athlete, but in the end, it is extremely rewarding. 

Along with the increased time commitment, there is also increased academic pressure. Being able to balance both academics and athletics is a vital part of becoming a college athlete, especially at highly rigorous academic schools. The NCAA has many guidelines that ensure all athletes reach academic success both before and after they get to college. 

When combining the challenges of academic rigor with top-notch athletics, sometimes it can be hard to find the school that is right for you. When interviewing baseball commit Sullivan Dunn about how he decided on the United States Merchant Marine Academy, he explained, “Last year I realized that a service academy was the best for both my athletic career and for a career after college.” Going into the recruiting process with an idea of what an athlete wants to do after they are no longer able to compete can allow them to excel in life even after sports. When asking other athletes why they chose their school, men’s golf commit Liam Brandt said, “It’s a really great academic school with a strong golf program as well. The campus is really nice, and the school corners the athletes and sports pretty well, so it’s kind of an exciting culture there.” 

This year’s class of 2025 athletic commits is a group to be impressed with. A group that consisted of 20 athletes across 14 different sports proves just how athletically diverse this class is. From all of the writers at the Mendham Patriot, Congratulations! We can not wait to see what else this group of athletes will achieve in the future.