By Eilley Wannarka

For those interested in playing sports at the next level, there is a process of undergoing the recruiting journey.

Starting July 15, juniors face their first major milestone in the college sports recruiting process as offers begin to come in. But a lot more goes into that process prior. 

To start the journey, it is important to be diligent and not let rejection hold you back when finding the school for you. “Coaches will ghost you sometimes, then immediately answer,” Bellbrook High School senior and soccer player Sean Markland said. “You just got to move on, and stay persistent.”

“Have a public recruiting profile on Hudl. Then the next thing is to get your social media cleaned up, that is critical,” Bellbrook High School athletic director Charlie O’Dell said. “Get rid of anything that doesn’t make you look like the most serious student and the most serious athlete.”

Your athletic talent is worthwhile to college coaches, but your consistency and attitude at school, in the weight room, and during practices are all factors universities look at when choosing the athlete they want to offer a scholarship to.

O’Dell notes that when college coaches reach out to him and high school coaches, it is important for them to tell the truth when talking about an athlete’s position to play in college.

“High school coaches have to be absolutely truthful with their answer because their reputation is on the line, too,” O’Dell said. It breaks trust with the college coach if an athlete is nothing like what a Bellbrook High School coach praises them to be.

“College coaches bet on their families on these decisions,” O’Dell said.

With the stress that comes with the long process of finding the perfect place for each individual athlete, it’s important to remember that there is a possible fit for athletes at different levels.

“If you were a decent high school athlete, with good grades, then there is a place to play in college,” O’Dell said.