Taking the next step is an exciting experience for many athletes and these seven athletes did just that. At South Lakes high school seven incredible seniors recently signed to continue their sport at the college level. Noah Tyler has committed for baseball at Salisbury University (D3), Ken White has committed for swim at the University of Delaware (D1), Carson Day has committed for baseball at Waynesburg University (D3), Caroline Elliot has committed for track at University of Virginia (D1), Aya Ryan has committed for track at University of Richmond (D1), Kayla Rudolph has committed for softball at Indiana State University (D1), and Morgan Kass has committed to for swim at Amherst College (D3).
Doing a sport at the college level can be very exciting and nerve wracking. When asked about what he is most excited for Tyler says, “Having fun with the team and getting more exposure.” Someone he looks up to is his dad, and one piece of advice he would give to younger athletes who want to play a sport in college is, “Just keep on working hard.”
Whites’ proudest achievement during his high school career was breaking the school record for both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke at states. When asked about why he decided to continue swimming in college he said, “My love for swimming. I’ve been swimming for 10 years now and I love every part of it.” One piece of advice White would give to younger athletes is, “It’s about finding the right place for you. For me the biggest part was like the team culture at Delaware that really attracted my and the coaches. Just find a place where you want to be because the worst thing you can do is end up somewhere you regret for the rest of your seasons.”
College comes with lots of new beginnings. When asked what he was looking forward to Day says, “Meeting new people, new friends, teammates and connecting with new people on a different level.” He “has always wanted to play baseball at the next level.” Finally, one piece of advice he would give to younger athletes who want to play at the next level is “the more you put in the more you’re going to get out of it.”
Elliot has had many accomplishments during her high school career running for South Lakes. She has helped the girls team win districts and state championships over her four years also winning 8 individual state titles. Her sophomore year she helped the girls team win the state title saying “It was super fun to see how my individual success combined with everyone else’s hard work could lead to the outcome because you can’t always do that on your own.” Her teammates are her biggest supporters “I love them. Running seems like an individual sport but really if I didn’t have them I would not be doing this sport.” One piece of advice she would give to younger athletes is “Don’t be afraid to reach out to coaches and make sure to be polite during the recruiting process because they are not only recruiting you as an athlete but as a person they want to have and that will fit into their team.”
Ryans’ accomplishments during her high school career are helping the girls team win districts and states over her 4 years, individually she has won districts and states, and for indoor track she has won regions, she has won all-state, and set records for the four by eight indoor and outdoor and has the Virginia school record for the four by eight for indoor and outdoor. Her biggest supporters are “My teammates, definitely, they push me every single day because there is no way to get better if it’s just yourself. My coaches are super motivating, they keep us on track, and they give us the opportunities to succeed.” Some advice she would give to younger athletes is “don’t close that door if you think you have the opportunity of competing at a division because it’s a really good opportunity and so always keep that door open.”
Rudolph has made all district and all region teams while playing at South Lakes. She is looking forward to “getting in a new environment and getting coached by the coaches at the next level.” Something that made her want to continue softball in college is “just seeing how all the work I put in played out on the field and seeing how much joy I felt when achieving my goals.”
Kass has made state finals making it to nationals and helping set team records. Swimming has helped her “get into a prestigious college and I was also not ready to give it up yet and it gives me a lot of discipline in my everyday life.” Her mom is her biggest supporter “Probably my mom. She’s my therapist whether she likes it or not and she always keeps me on track.”
We wish all our athletes luck as they continue their academic and athletic careers at their chosen colleges.
