Are athletes recruited like other colleges?

My sons were "blue-chipped" athletes in a non-revenue sport (guess which one!). Of course, it was a long time ago, but some of the circumstances will remain the same.

Note: stayed with his recruited sport one year, then became captain of a club team sport later, which he loved. No harm, no foul.

The other stayed for three years but realized he cared much more about his GPA and taking 27 credits in one semester, 16 of which were in advanced lab sciences, he felt his time was better spent in intramurals.

If you have questions, please PM me -
 
fencersmother said:
My sons were "blue-chipped" athletes in a non-revenue sport (guess which one!). Of course, it was a long time ago, but some of the circumstances will remain the same.

Note: stayed with his recruited sport one year, then became captain of a club team sport later, which he loved. No harm, no foul.

The other stayed for three years but realized he cared much more about his GPA and taking 27 credits in one semester, 16 of which were in advanced lab sciences, he felt his time was better spent in intramurals.

If you have questions, please PM me -
Click to expand...
Thank you!
 
If you daughter receives an appointment, encourage her to try to walk on to the swim team. Several swimmers sometimes do this each year. Those who are recruited typically hear in the summer before their senior year and do an official visit to the school. Coach Converse is one of the best swim coaches in the country, he is fair and honest and would give your daughter a chance. My son swam for the Men's team, and each year they all had to " try out again" some non recruited athletes were able to secure spots on the team. Keep in mind each team can only roster 24 swimmers, and they typically travel only 18 to 2o athletes to meets. This is called a travel squad. So if your daughter walks on she would be within the 24 athlete limit of the team. Sometimes, swimmers only swim a year or two at AFA, then spots open up. Swimming is a challenge at this school because of the academic load. There are also many opportunities that a cadet can take advantage of outside swimming. Good Luck to her and I hope she gets and appointment.
 
Thank you, I truly appreciate your response. She has done a lot of reading and research on Coach Converse and strongly desires to be coached by him. She is a distance swimmer but also does IM's and fly. She believes swimming for him will help her reach her full potential.

She only started looking at AFA this past July so everything is so new to us.

Looking forward to an appointment
 
If she does get an appointment, I recommend that she contacts him before BCT and let him know of her intent to try to swim. That way he can tell her if and when this is possible. During BCT the swimmers usually get together with their coaches once or twice to swim and unwind a little. All Cadets swim at BCT but the team athletes usually will swim together. Keep in mind this in not practice just swimming to ensure proficiency and determine needs. If they get together he could include her to meet other swimmers. Not sure if they still do this during BCT, but I think they do. As soon as school starts, which is right away, they do begin training so she will need to be present then if he gives her a green light.
 
Contact the coach as soon as possible. Many athletes for non-revenue sports, even though "recruited" will still have a try-out, and even then, some will look at the academic, military, and other responsibilities, and say, "Sports! No way!" It's ok; she won't "lose her scholarship."
 
fencersmother said:
Contact the coach as soon as possible. Many athletes for non-revenue sports, even though "recruited" will still have a try-out, and even then, some will look at the academic, military, and other responsibilities, and say, "Sports! No way!" It's ok; she won't "lose her scholarship."
Click to expand...

The coaches know who she is they have been in contact with her over the past several months, they didn't recruit her, just told her she would be a good fit to the team. We will contact again when she gets her appointment.. Trying to stay positive here.
 
OK, just to be sure:

Your DD is a junior now? She needs a nomination, then an appointment. (See lots and lots of threads here on how that process plays out, even/especially for athletes).

It's a bit different for non-revenue sports. Check out the sticky above.
 
fencersmother said:
OK, just to be sure:

Your DD is a junior now? She needs a nomination, then an appointment. (See lots and lots of threads here on how that process plays out, even/especially for athletes).

It's a bit different for non-revenue sports. Check out the sticky above.
Click to expand...

She is a senior, her application is complete has a Congressman nom. It's just that last year she had no idea that she would pursue this rout, in July she was invited to visit USNA she loved it there, beautiful place. After that she started looking into the academy's and talking to people. Her nomination was for all three after starting all three apps. she decided she only wanted AFA so never finished the other apps. Later she got an email from West Point asking her if she was going to finish her app, and if she had lost her interest to let them know. So she did.
It's been hard for her to seek out plan b because she so wants AFA but she understands this is a must. She is on berecruited.com and has had emails come in everyday. STILL only wants AFA.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top