Scholarships to intramurals

From rowing to softball, there is a wide range of sports available to seniors entering college.

For some seniors, such as Andre Perkins and Nicole Horita, the decision on which sport to play was made easy when they were recruited by colleges.

Perkins, a baseball player, has already signed with Chico State University to play baseball next season. “It felt like home,” Perkins says of Chico. Perkins chose the Division II Chico despite looks from Division I schools, including UC Davis and an offer from the University of San Francisco.

“I came to the reality that to go the next level [Major League Baseball], the scouts will come to you,” he adds. “It doesn’t matter where you go. So I feel that if I went to a Division II, I would get more playing time, and since I would get more playing time, the scouts would be able to recognize who I am and then maybe draft [me].”

Horita has found her niche on the diamond as well. “Over the summer I decided that I wanted to play [softball] in college. I’ve gone through the recruiting process for a Division III school [Lewis and Clark College], so I’ve had the chance to do an official visit and meet the coach. The whole process is exciting just because the prospect of college athletics would take my game to a whole new level,” Horita says.

Senior football player and wrestler Steve Panelli feels that the intense lifestyle of college football may not be the best route. “It takes up too much time. It’s like a job you’re not getting paid for,” says Panelli. Panelli plans to stay fit in college without the commitment of a college sport.

For senior Miles Bowman, the school he attends will dictate whether or not he joins a team. Bowman has participated in mens rowing outside of Aragon for the past five years. “Depending on where I get in, I’ll do crew in college. I’ll end up walking onto a crew team, compete with them year-round, and hopefully compete in IRAs [Intercollegiate Rowing Association],” says Bowman.

He adds, “[If rowing is not offered,] maybe I’ll try and do skiing, depending on if there’s snow.”

Multiple-sport athletes, like senior Kevin Hahn, must pick one sport to play competitively when they enter college. “Two-sport athletes aren’t that common in college anymore. I feel like most schools would rather have you focus on a certain sport,” says Hahn.

A top basketball and baseball player, Hahn has received looks from multiple schools, but must choose which sport to pursue. “I’ve been getting more looks for baseball, so maybe baseball, but we’ll see how it goes after the season’s over. I’m waiting to see if I get any offers.”

Hahn has even considered walking onto a Division I school’s team if he doesn’t attend a school for sports. “I’ve definitely thought about it. I’d probably want to come in contact with the coach before that time, just so he could know me and I could know him, and see how the program works.”

For soccer-playing senior Claire Tatlow, the level of competition at the school she goes to will decide how she pursues soccer. “I’ll try out for the team if I go to a Division III school. If it’s a Division I or Division II school I would see if there are any club teams, and if there aren’t, then I’ll play intramural,” says Tatlow.

“I think it would be fun to play in an adult league after college,” she concludes.