Highlander Athletics

        As the sun sets on countless hours of practice, determination, and unwavering resilience, a day of recognition finally emerges: signing day. The proud display of high school athletes, wearing their college T-shirts, becomes a vibrant scene. As they look out into the audience, the cheerful smiles of family, friends, and teachers mirror the journey that led to this point. Picture, if you will, the collection of years spent chasing excellence. Finally, these athletes step into the spotlight, ready to pen the next chapter of their athletic journey. The chapel resonates with applause for a hard-won victory. It's more than just a day of acknowledging athletic skill, it's a celebration of the relentless spirit and determination that carried these athletes through the challenging climb.

It's important to rewind and view some of the pivotal moments, valuable insights and challenges that some committed athletes faced on their path to becoming a future collegiate athlete. 11th grade Field Hockey star Caroline Simmons gained momentum during the summer before her sophomore year after being devoted to the sport since sixth grade.  Her journey was difficult and as the day approached where D1 field hockey coaches could express their interests on June 15, it cast a shadow of anticipation into her life. She proactively reached out to coaches through email, fostering relationships and spent most of her weekends at recruiting camps all over the country. She described the process as “draining,” however, despite the taxing toll of the recruitment process, Simmons recalls the life-changing moment of receiving a call from the head coach at D1 field hockey program, Richmond University. “I remember the day perfectly. I got the call while at school when my mom was working at the Spirit Shop and I rushed to go tell her. She ran out and hugged me while crying.” This profound moment “lifted the weight” off her shoulders and she felt honored, validated, and blessed to overcome the challenges of the collegiate athletic recruiting journey. 

This process is a rollercoaster of emotions for many aspiring college athletes. A parallel tale unfolds as we shift our focus to another determined individual set to embark on a future in D3 lacrosse. Despite not deciding to pursue collegiate lacrosse until her junior year, the University of Chicago remained Reese Goodmans’ dream school. Chicago recognized her potential early on, placing her on their watch list. Goodman actively engaged with coaches, establishing relationships on the sidelines while also continuing to prioritize her studies, as she recognized the academic rigor of Chicago. Challenges emerged, with coaches initially silent and the stress of watching club teammates commit before her. Overcoming uncertainties, her dedication paid off when she received a call from the head Chicago coach, realizing her dream of playing at her number one school came true. With relief and excitement, Goodman embraced the commitment, having successfully navigated the challenging recruitment journey. “There were many moments I wanted to give up because I was traveling all over the country and wasn't getting any acknowledgement yet, but once I got the call I knew it was all worth it,”  she said. The peak of her journey brought intense feelings of pride as her hard work and determination were rewarded with a well-deserved athletic scholarship to one of the top schools in the country. 

Even when you make it to your destination, the work doesn't stop there. Former D1 women's lacrosse power-house from Montclair, New Jersey, Lindsey Ewertsen played at Columbia University and served as a two-time captain in her junior and senior years. She was voted IVY league midfielder player of the year and in 2018 set two Columbia records, including career caused turnovers (91) and single-season draw controls (76). Ewertsen initially had Columbia off her radar until the coach spotted her at an Under Armour tryout hosted at her high school fields. Following a successful ID clinic (recruiting camp with college coaches) and a campus tour, Ewertsen received an offer just 48 hours later, marking a somewhat late but pivotal point in her senior year. Once in college, Ewertsen found the student-athlete schedule facilitated accountability and collaboration. She emphasizes the growth in maturity and mental toughness that being a D1 athlete instilled in her.  Her typical training week during the season included 2-3 games (could be traveling to all of them), 1-hour lift sessions in the mornings, 2-hour practices later that day and 30-minute film sessions in between practices.  

For those hoping to play at the D1 level, Ewertsen encourages seeking support and that “Competing at the next level is no joke. You have to really want it for yourself, not just because you think it is cool or something you think you should do because others want it for you.” As the final whistle echoed the end of her collegiate lacrosse journey, Ewertsen not only left an undeniable mark on Columbia University's lacrosse program but also on the record books, showcasing the resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication that defined her D1 experience. 

St. Andrew’s, under the guidance of Coach Thomas Sale, the Director of Athletics, is dedicated to supporting athletes through the intricacies of NCAA eligibility and recruitment rules, preparing them both mentally and physically for the collegiate path. Coach Sale emphasizes that the SPC structure mirrors the life of a D1 athlete, providing an environment conducive to success. The program goes the extra mile by supplying individualized gear and merchandise for each sport at the school, enhancing the overall experience for student-athletes. 

Head GRIT Austin lacrosse club coach Alex Ross shares a valuable perspective, reminding athletes that the journey “is a marathon, not a sprint.” Despite the challenges and potential rejections, the hard work invested in the process is never all for nothing and Ross encourages a positive outlook, reassuring that everything will fall into place eventually. 

So the next time you catch yourself watching a young athlete sign that piece of paper to play at the collegiate level whether it's D1, D2, or D3, know they sacrificed so much to be there. Out of the thousands of student-athletes navigating this journey, those signing represent the 7% of high school athletes achieving the dream of playing a varsity sport in college.

         “It’s game time,” said senior outfielder Rhys Carter. As the first semester of school ends and winter sports progress, spring teams begin their preparation. Specifically, the varsity baseball team. Coming off a 15-11-1 season, with a 4th place SPC finish, expectations are high for the baseball team this year. “I don’t remember the last time I was held to a standard like this. The other seniors and I have to play to the best of our abilities this year. If we’re gonna win a championship, it's going to be this year,” said senior pitcher Reid Manti. Manti has been a leader on the baseball team since his sophomore year. He won the team MVP award back-to-back years, as well as multiple SPC accolades. Manti recently committed to Rhodes College, a competitive Division III school located in Memphis, Tennessee. “It’s easy to lose track of what is important with college baseball around the corner, but at the end of the day, all that matters this year is winning the SPC championship,” Manti said. 

“I think there’s finally hope for the team,” said sophomore infielder James Dalton. "There’s something special about this current team. I’d say we have a real chance.” The team has been working extremely hard to prepare by running captain-led practices. Due to new SPC rules, the coach of a team is not allowed to participate in any preseason preparation, so it has been up to the team to prepare themselves. “Preseason is the most important time because it’s an opportunity to tune your fundamentals,” said Manti. The team has been meeting up 2-3 times a week to practice on the field. With the captains' experience, the underclassmen participating felt as though they were improving exponentially. Freshman Eli Moore stated that these preseason practices have helped him hone in on specific skills that he needs to perfect before the season begins. 

The pressure is high for Highlanders baseball, as a highly anticipated season is just around the corner. With multiple college commits and a roster full of potential, the baseball team is in grind time. “The team is definitely poised to make a run at the SPC title this year,” stated coach Steven Garcia. “I have confidence that our guys will put in the work to be successful.”