Why Athletic Scholarships May Be At Risk
By: Charity Robbins
November 9,2020Going to school remotely amidst a global pandemic has created significant changes for countless students. These abrupt changes have brought on stress and anxiety. And, with in-person sports postponed this year by the School District of Philadelphia due to COVID-19, it has been particularly difficult on student athletes who strongly rely on working with their teams. These athletes can no longer play with their teams. They can only contact their coaches via video chat, and are sent workout videos as "practice". Student athletes' growth, which they need in order to be considered for an athletic scholarship has now been stunted.
Student athletes now have something new to fret about concerning their futures while already worried and stressed out by the numerous changes that COVID-19 has inflicted. On September 29th, a large Philadelphia university, La Salle University, announced its plan to cut 7 sports by the end of the academic school year. High school students, like Sianni Elliot, a 10th grader at E&S, are counting on athletic scholarships to help them in their college journey. If other colleges follow La Salle’s lead, student athletes will be left devastated.
“I became interested in sports at first because I wanted a scholarship,” Siani said, “I do somewhat rely on one [an athletic scholarship]. Academically, it would be more challenging for me to get one because I have trouble focusing. Sports seem like a better way for me to get one because I’m doing something I love.”
Student athletes express concern over the cutting of sports programs in several colleges over the past couple of months due to budget cuts. Angelo Cutri, a 10th grade student, shares how troubling he finds this matter, especially during a pandemic.
“Truthfully it’s sad” Angelo continued “Even before the pandemic,[colleges]were cutting down on programs because of lack of interest and they needed the allotted money for other sports, or no longer wanted to offer it.The true balance in American life is sports. If we eliminate the way of growing into better players, then what? “
There are many student athletes though that are actually hoping to be offered an academic scholarship rather than an athletic one. Scott Pitzner, the athletic director, is responsible for overseeing everything related to sports here at E&S.
“Students at Carver are more geared towards academics.” Pitzner said “There are maybe 3-10 students here that are actually offered athletic scholarships."
There are an abundance of student athletes here at E&S that plan on playing their sport in college and ultimately becoming professional athletes. However, some of these students are now faced with considering other options due to our current circumstances.
“I have a plan B.” Angelo said “ This plan B is the second of two plans. The major that I am going to take is Mechanical Engineering or [I may] go into the world of Chemistry.”
Katherine Burgos, a 2020 alumni, better known at E&S as Kat, is currently attending Chatham University on an athletic scholarship. She too understands what high school students are going through. For the student athletes, she offered words of encouragement
“I know it's hard, I went through [remote learning] for half of my senior year. I wanted to give up. But now that I'm here (at Chatham University), it's definitely worth it” Kat said. ”It’s definitely something that you have to work for. But, I know that the students at E&S have fight and grip.”