Inklings
Sports
March 23, 2018
23
Senior athletes commit to Division I schools Nicole Dienst ’18
T
he day begins with a routine refresh of the email inbox. Reading a text from a high school or club coach advising which schools to look at and reach out to. Countless checks of the voicemail and missed calls to see if the college coach called you back. And when you finally see that email invitation for a visit, a voicemail from the head coach or any sign of interest, the burden and mental taxation of the recruiting process begins to melt away into feelings of joy and pride. Part of the recruiting process is trying to find a school that is academically and athletically appealing to the student athlete. For many who want to be recruited, years of training, countless visits to different schools and giving up summers for camps, clinics and showcases are necessary. Some of the division one Staples commits are a testament to the true grit and dedication required. This process is beginning earlier and
earlier, especially in the lacrosse world. I’m so glad I stuck with it because it is the Abby Najarian ’18 commost rewardmitted to Lafayette Col- “The recruiting process was ing,” Najarian lege in the middle of her definitely hard and needed said. “I’m looksophomore year, being a lot of commitment, but I’m ing forward to seen by college coaches so glad I stuck with it.” learning more beginning as early as the about lacrosse -Abby Najarian ’18 summer going into ninth at the next level grade. “The recruiting and really bondprocess was definitely hard and needed a lot of commitment, but
Photos by Ella Bayazit ’20 Graphics by Katie Howard ’19
COMMITTED COMMITS (left to right) Evan Zinn ’18 committed to Johns Hopkins University as a freshman, Meghan Johnson ’18 will be attending University of Delaware and Abby Najarian ’18 is committed to Lafayette College whose overall lacrosse record is 3-3 this season.
ing with my new teammates.” Similarly, Evan Zinn ’18, Staples’ boys lacrosse player and Johns Hopkins University commit, was sought after beginning in middle school. He currently ranks number seven in the country for the class of 2018 by recruiting website Recruiting Rundown. Zinn especially allocated an intense level of commitment to the recruiting process. “I’ve always worked hard to be the best lacrosse player I could and by doing so, I was fortunate to get noticed and recruited by many college coaches,” Zinn said. “I definitely had to sacrifice may summers traveling around the east coast for tournaments with my club team, the Long Island Express North, but clearly it was worth every minute.” For other sports, the recruiting process can be much different involving consideration of other variables. Eden Schumer ’18 who is committed to Duke University for rowing experienced this, having to send voice recordings of herself, while navigating her teammates in a race, to interested college coaches. But despite this difference, Schumer describes the recruiting process similarly to that of the lacrosse players. “To continue doing something I love is exciting, so no matter what the college transition is like, that part of my life will be constant and supporting me in whatever I decide to study, ” Schumer said. “It took everything I thought I was ever capable of.”
March Madness launches both nationally, at Staples that comes in and does some damage,” Oliver Lindenbaum ’19 said. “We have strong guard play, and our leaders are paving the way for the rest of the players.” As the regular season for college basAfter a disappointing season last year, ketball comes to an end and spring ap- professional oddsmakers are now favorproaches, people from all over the world ing the second seed Duke Blue Devils to and of all ages dial in for the annual NCAA go far into the tournament because of the college basketball tournament, March addition of Marvin Bagley who recently Madness. March Madness is a tourna- came back from a knee injury. “I believe ment which seeds different teams based the Duke Blue Devils will continue their on the outcome of their regular season strong season and bring another Naand conference tournament performance. tional Championship to Durham,” Duke This year, universities that are popular baseball commit Chad Knight ’19 said. among Staples graduates have made it into Students participated in their own the tournament and are heavily favored. March Madness on March 15 in the StaSchools including Villanova, Duke and ples gym. They emulated the bracket forMichigan all received high seeds and sur- mat of the NCAA tournament and seedvived the first weekend of the tournament. ed the 16 teams according to how many Marshall Heiser ’18, an avid college games they had won and lost during the basketball fan and son of two Villano- season. Rec’s March Madness is a douva alumni, believes that March Madness ble elimination tournament where games will be particularly interesting to watch are divided by freshman playing sophthis season. “This year will be an incred- omores and juniors playing seniors. ible showing of basketball because there Team Rossi/Lonergan came into the are not clear favorites to win,” Heiser tournament ranked number one oversaid. “Every team has lost more than a all, but by the end of the first day of the few games so there is no alpha dog team.” tournament, they fell to the number eight This year, “This year will be an incredible seed Eigen/Gabor. “It was the Big East an amazing game played has two showing of basketball because by Eigen/Gabor,” Grifn u m b e r there are not clear favorites to fin Kass ’19 of team Kass one seeds, said. “They attacked the Xavier and win.” paint and controlled the Vi l lanova, -Marshall Heiser ’18 ball for the entire game. that experts I thought this game was believe could win the National Champi- the most impressive rec game all season.” onship. Other teams that were believed The number two seed, O’donnell/Portto make it far into the tournament are man, came out on fire winning their first the Kansas Jayhawks, the Virginia Cav- two games before playing the number aliers, the North Carolina Tar Heels, the three seed, Zinn/Levi. Team O’donnell/ Michigan State Spartans and the Purdue Portman started the game on a 9-2 run Boilermakers. After the first weekend of by hitting four shots. “The whole gym the tournament, Xavier, North Carolina thought it was over; little did we know and Michigan State were all eliminated. that the game had just started,” Gabe Wick The most surprising upset was the over- ’19, who was watching in the stands, said. all number one seeded Virginia Cavaliers Team Levi/Zinn took over the next losing to the sixteen seeded UMBC Re- 10 minutes to win 25-20. They built their trievers. This was the first sixteen seed lead by continuously feeding Harris Levi to ever beat a one seed in the history of ’18 who finished the game with 14 points. the tournament that dates back to 1939. Team Reale, a junior team, won Due to the potential for upsets, many all three games and will face team Staples students expect that the nation- Zinn/Levi in the Finals on March 22. al champion won’t be a number one or “This game will be a hard fought battle,” number two seed. “I believe that this year’s Uri Catton ’18, a rec basketball fan, said. Michigan Wolverines team who won the “The guard play on both teams is unbeBig 10 Tournament will be an upset team lievable in Mason Reale and Harris Levi.”
Zach Feinstein ’18
Photo by Charlie Colasurdo ’18
REC MADNESS Will Burch ’18 participated in the Rec
March Madness Tournament on Thursday, March 15. The final game will be played on March 22 with Team Reale vs. Team Zinn/Levi.
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