The Process of Thinking About Collegiate Sports

The Process of Thinking about Collegiate Sports

By: Chase Wassel

“Where are you going to school?”

“What are you studying?”

“What is your school like?”

And then.. “are you playing in college?”

Yes- sometimes the “I don’t know’s” and the “uhhhhh’s” come into play when asked that question. It is completely normal for all athletes. But in reality though… are you going to play in college?

When playing a sport in high school, some people consider it something to do to keep in shape for when prom season comes around. Some see it as a way to make friends.

But for those real athletes, they play it because it has been a part of their life since they could remember. It is something that made YOU the way you are today. It was all those endless car-rides and plane tickets, all those days laying around in your sweaty clothes during tournaments from 8am to 8 pm. It’s all those parties you missed because you had a tournament the next day. It’s all those hot and exhausting practices where you just wanted to go home and sleep. You didn’t put all that time, money, blood, sweat, and tears into it NOT to continue it at college, did you?

For me, I personally didn’t know what I wanted to do. I waited so long to officially decide: “No, I AM playing in college.” Not going to lie, it is a huge decision. The decision requires a lot of work. You can’t just show up to your dream school and ask to be put on the team. The usual situation is you try out for a club team in high school, you set up a recruiting profile, you email coaches, you ask them to show at your games, you wait for their response, you visit the schools, etc. But- it’s not that easy.

Everyone obviously wants to attend a school with a good academic, athletic, and all around good college atmosphere. Sometimes you get all of those amazing qualities, and sometimes you lack in some areas. It is all about working hard and earning what you put in.

For me, I only played club volleyball for 3 years. When my final season approached, I said to myself “Should I even bother?” I lacked confidence, it is who I am. But everyone told me otherwise, that I looked to be one of the most confident and comfortable players on the court. That I had this “I’m going to take over” persona.

It took a lot in me to decide on whether or not I wanted to continue playing this sport I loved. So one day we brought in my two coaches (who in fact, practically raised me alongside my wonderful parents), and they explained to me the process of being recruited and how it is a tough process and sometimes you aren’t always happy with the feedback you receive/don’t receive.

At the time, they were coaches at Holy Family University (small, D2 school in Northeast Philadelphia). They were talking to me and my parents my summer going into Senior Year. They said “Okay, so we believe there are a handful of D1 schools that would like to take you, more on the lower tears, but it could change depending how much work you put in.” After that, they explained to me all the challenges, all the commitment, and all the adversity you face in these type of programs.

Slightly overwhelmed, my parents toss the question “How about Holy Family?” Their faces dropped…”you…you want to come play for us?” I almost was offended like … “Do you ..not want me?”

And here I am, typing this, after 2 monumental seasons in my career. And to be honest with you, this is by far the best decision (for numerous different reasons). I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being an athlete is in my blood. I literally ask myself sometimes “what would my life be like without sports?”

And that is why playing a collegiate sport is the best decision for any die-hard athlete.