Division I dreams materialize for student athletes

By Ethan Vargas ’23

As the Class of 2023 prepares for graduation and completes college applications, some students, especially student athletes, dream of what it’s like getting into a Division I school.

Known to have the best college athletes, especially in popular sports like football and basketball, DI schools have big sports facilities. There are over 300 DI schools that cover a variety of sports from football to volleyball to baseball.

It’s not simple to move from high school sports to the DI level of college sports. On average, high school athletes can maybe have a

2-percent chance of playing their sport at the DI level. Having the opportunity to play DI can also differ depending on which sport they play.

One Riordan alumnus, Tom Harlan, had the opportunity to commit a DI college, Fresno State University, to play baseball.

But becoming a DI athlete has to start here at Riordan. Harlan believes, “the most important thing that Riordan has taught me through my four years was that discipline and structure were important. Not just in college, but in life.”

Zion Wells ’23 recently signed to a DI school, Davidson.

“I’ve always aspired to play sports on the college level, but to get the chance to play at the DI level is unreal.”