West Springfield sends several high achieving athletes off to play intercollegiate sports every year; this graduating class is not looking to buck the trend.
WS verbal commitment announcements are popping up on all forms of social media. Scrolling through Twitter or Instagram and seeing “I am so excited and blessed to announce my verbal commitment to [insert college] so that I can pursue [insert sport] at the next level for four more years…!!!” is no longer a rarity.
WS senior Jared Lyons verbally committed to play baseball at George Mason University in the fall of his junior year, but apparently that is not considered early in the committing world.
“Dude it’s crazy, for baseball there are eighth graders who are already (verbally) committed,” said Lyons.
With more early commitments; however, come more decommitments. This can happen under the condition that the athlete has merely given their verbal, not written recognition of intent to commit to one college. Decommitment happens for many reasons: the athlete finds a ‘better deal’, the coach leaves, or the program is defunded.
“I was not comfortable with decommitting when it happened, because I didn’t know where I was gonna go,” said senior Teresa Weir, “but I am now looking at other schools, [so] it’s just nice to get to know my other options and not be confined so early to one school.”
Weir, who verbally committed her junior year, was put into this situation when the soccer coach at the college left — with that her commitment dissolved — by NCAA rules.
Depending on the standards a student/athlete has for the sport’s program and school, finding that perfect combo can be difficult. To WS junior Nick Hartnett finding the perfect school came this summer when he went to a football camp at The Virginia Military Institute and soon after he verbally committed to play for them. Everything he was looking for could be found at VMI.
“I have always been interested in the military and I have always wanted to play college football – plus it is a D1 program,” said Hartnett.
The not-so-pretty side to committing is the infamous ego boost that can come along with it. However, WS athletes are defying that stereotype with integrity about their decisions to commit.
“Committing really humbled me and it makes me want to set a good example for those who also want to commit,” said Lyons.
The recruiting process to play a sport in college is said to be stressful, time consuming, emotional, and overwhelming, but in the end — completely worth it.
“So much work went into this [recruiting process] and I am happy I know where I am going — that it’s over,” said senior field hockey player Molly Kilkar.