Meet This Year’s Athletic Commits

By Rachel Grooms

Tai Bhalla

“I’ve always loved this game and nothing stood in front of it,” senior Tai Bhalla said. Bhalla will play Division I soccer at Longwood University next fall. He has dreamed of playing professional soccer since age four. “It’s the sport I grew up with and what I was surrounded with.” Through an extensive process of attending recruitment camps, reaching out to coaches and visiting schools, he achieved a major milestone on the way toward his goal. Bhalla’s advice for aspiring collegiate athletes is to focus on balancing school and sports and to “make as many connections as you can.”

Peyton Jones

“I never debated quitting,” senior Peyton Jones said, and is committed to play basketball at Rochester University. Jones has been playing basketball since first grade, and credits her success to the support she recieved from her mother and brother. By reaching out to schools, attending camps and participating in showcases, she sparked coaches’ interests. Along the way, Jones encountered struggles to balance schoolwork and basketball but is grateful to her teachers, teammates, and friends for helping her balance both obligations. She advises that prospective college athletes work hard both on and off the court, and that rejection and setbacks are bound to happen. “It is important to stay dedicated to your sport while also maintaining good grades and being a well rounded individual.”