Signed and Sealed: M-A’s College Commits

This is an ongoing article and will be updated as new athletes announce their commitments.

On Sept. 18, senior Ella Mohr committed to play soccer at Bryn Mawr College. Her decision to commit to Bryn Mawr was based on the supportive and academic community. “I picked Bryn Mawr because I loved the atmosphere on campus and the values of the team. They are a very academic school, and it is widely understood that each player is a student-athlete, so there is a lot of support to help athletes balance their workload,” Mohr said.

Mohr had known for a while that she wanted to play collegiately, which kept her motivated throughout her career. “I decided I wanted to play collegiately when I started to do regular private training sessions with Sierra Enge from the Stanford Women’s Soccer Team when I was around 12,” she said. “I was motivated to play in college by my love for the sport and because I want to go as far as I can with it and be the best player I can be.”

She didn’t have many complaints about the process, in large part because of her father and private coaches. “It can be very difficult to keep up with the many emails and to plan the best way to approach a coach, along with school research, and the process being overall stressful and sometimes overwhelming,” Mohr said. “My dad always supported me because he coached my team up until I was around 13 and started my interest in the sport. Kennedy Wesley and Sierra Enge were also inspirational as I got to see them go through college and onto playing professionally.”

She wants other student-athletes to know that everything will work out if they put in the effort. “I would say to put yourself out there, you never know what positions a coach is looking for or the type of player they want, and for the same reason, don’t get down if you get no for an answer. There is a path for everyone, and with enough persistence, you can make it there,” Mohr said.

On Sept. 16, senior Anika Carpenter committed to play soccer at Penn State Berks. Her decision ultimately came down to the school’s location and academics. “I’ve been wanting to go somewhere on the East Coast forever, and everything from the campus to the area around just had my attention from the start. I really liked the fact that although I’ll be playing D3 soccer, it’s a great school for academics, and I get to do the major I want while playing the sport I love,” Carpenter said. 

Carpenter has always had collegiate soccer as a goal, and owes much of that to her supportive family. “Honestly, I think I’ve always wanted to play collegiate soccer, but I would say 7th grade is when I realized it was actually an option,” she said. “The support from my family and friends definitely helped because having those people on the sideline cheering me on is what kept the game fun and me wanting to pursue it even more.”

Despite the support from her family, Carpenter still found challenges in the recruitment process. “There were definitely days I was so done and ready to give up,” Carpenter said. Even though it was tough, she encourages other student-athletes to pursue the process. “In the end, if you love the sport and set your mind to it, it’s all fun. Do your work and never give up. Push yourself to be the best you can be,” she said.

On March 3, senior middle infielder Ryder Kelly committed to play baseball at UC Davis. Kelly, who knew he wanted to play in college since eighth grade, chose Davis because of its location and strong program. “I liked the coaches a lot and I thought Davis was a really cool place,” Kelly said. “The baseball team is also becoming really good really fast.”

Kelly attributes much of his success to his family, including his older brother Rowan Kelly ‘24, who currently plays baseball at UC Santa Barbara. “My family really helped me get my name out into the baseball world. My brother introduced me to multiple college coaches, and my dad introduced me to my college recruiter, who ultimately helped me find the perfect spot I want to play baseball,” he said.

His advice to other students looking to be recruited is to stay persistent and take advantage of your opportunities. “Understand that everyone’s recruitment process is different, and never give up on your dreams,” he said.

On Aug. 24, senior Jocelyn Chang committed to play volleyball at Tufts University. Her decision to attend Tufts largely came down to her love for the community and the immense opportunities the school provides. “I know this sounds kind of cliche, but as soon as I stepped on campus, I felt the energy there was really positive,” Chang said. “The student body is really impressive, and they have really intense and great research programs and opportunities to study abroad.”

Volleyball has not always been Chang’s primary sport. She started out as a competitive swimmer, but fell in love with volleyball thanks to her dad sparking an interest in it. “My love for the sport grew over time, and the communities I was able to build, and the skills I got to learn have been really awesome. I’m really excited to continue to do it in college,” Chang said.

Throughout her commitment process, she had endless support from her parents and coaches. “I definitely would like to thank my parents, especially my mom. She helped me a lot during the recruitment process, and she really helped me organize everything,” Chang said. “Also, my club and high school coaches always helped me improve my game and become a better athlete.”

Her advice to other students looking to play collegiately is to be consistent and remain determined. “It’ll definitely seem very tedious and frustrating, but if you really want to go somewhere, just send a lot of emails, and they’re gonna find a time to see you. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Chang said. “It’s a long process, but it’s definitely worth it in the end.”

On July 30, senior Kylie Winters committed to play volleyball at Southwestern University. Her decision to go to Southwestern ultimately came down to the community. “I went to their camp this June, and the second I stepped in, everyone was like, ‘it’s a Cali girl,’ they were just so nice and welcoming, my type of people. They all gave off my vibe, so I knew this was the school I wanted to go to,” Winters said.

Volleyball has always been Winters’ main sport, and she had known for a while that she wanted to play collegiately. “I started playing club volleyball in fifth grade, and I’ve had a really great experience. I started off as a setter, then I switched to libero, but I’ve always loved volleyball,” Winters said. “Since middle school, I’ve wanted to play in college. It’s just been my goal.”

She owes a lot of the ease that came with her recruitment to her coaches. “My assistant coach, Coach Andy, helped me get in touch with Southwestern, and she was always supporting me when I got stressed,” Winters said. “Also, Coach Mark. He was always there for me and always gave me good advice.”

Her words of wisdom to other student athletes looking to continue their careers are to stay consistent with communication. “You have got to put in the work. I sent emails once every two weeks, which seems like a lot, but once you narrow down your list, it’s so easy.” Winters said. “Stay in communication with coaches. Just keep talking to coaches and you’ll find your school.”

On May 26, senior Scarlett Shenk committed to UCLA for rowing. Her decision to go to Los Angeles revolved around its stellar reputation and athletic programs. “I chose UCLA because it had an equal balance of academics and social opportunities,” Shenk said. “Also, the amenities and support you receive as an athlete are incredible.”

Shenk, who only started rowing in her junior year, was able to find success quickly and compete at a high level. “I had previously played water polo for nine years and was being recruited for that, but I fell out of love with the sport,” Shenk said. “After, my friend who rowed kept asking me to try it out, and when I finally gave it a shot, I loved it. With the muscle and endurance I had built up from water polo, I could apply it all to rowing.”

Her advice to other students seeking recruitment is to be confident and determined. “One really important value is faith. Believe in yourself and strive to achieve your goals. It will be hard, but it’s always possible to succeed.”

On May 15, senior Addison Finn committed to swim for UC San Diego. Her decision to go to San Diego was based on its prestigious academics and supportive environment. “The location was beautiful and had amazing STEM and biology programs, which is what I plan to pursue in college,” Finn said. “Also, when I visited UCSD, I not only felt that the team was warm and welcoming, but I felt a sense of belonging that I didn’t feel at other schools I visited. I walked away from it, really seeing myself being a part of that team in college.”

Finn, who began swimming competitively at the age of five, credits much of her success to her coaches and teammates. “My club coach and club teammates who had previously experienced the college recruitment process were incredibly helpful. They were truly the reason that I was able to navigate this process and find a school and swim program that I love,” she said.

Despite having a complicated recruitment process, Finn never hesitated in her dedication to play in college. “It takes a lot of effort to do the research and talk to coaches to find the program and school that is best for you and that you can see yourself at,” Finn said. “The recruiting process is definitely very tiring, but can also be very rewarding. I’ve had a love for swimming my entire life, and I couldn’t ever see myself not swimming.”

Her advice to other students looking to be recruited is to be persistent and keep an open mind. “The process can be exhausting, time-consuming, and at times disheartening—but in the end, you’ll find the school and program that truly fits you, maybe even one you didn’t expect.”

On May 15, senior Hailey Preuss committed to swim for the University of Pennsylvania. Her decision to attend Pennsylvania came down to its rigorous academics, and supportive, yet demanding team culture. “When I visited, I felt welcomed and was able to connect with the team very well,” Preuss said. “I feel like I will be challenged academically and athletically, which is what I was looking for.”

Preuss, who knew she wanted to swim in college from a young age, credits much of her success to her family. “My parents were huge support systems for me during the entire recruitment process. They helped me with research, preparing for meetings with coaches, and overall talked a lot of things through with me,” she said.

Despite support from her family, Preuss’s recruitment process did not come easily and involved a lot of stress. “While it is ultimately rewarding to be recruited, it took up so much of my time. It can be easier when you know exactly what you want, but if you don’t, you’re looking at such a huge pool of colleges while also trying to figure yourself out,” she said.

Her advice to other students looking to compete collegiately is to be resilient and punctual. “Start researching and thinking about your priorities early. Recruitment is hard, so remember to be persistent, tough, and social.”