Signed and Sealed: M-A’s College Commits

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

On Apr. 12, senior Ruby Stone committed to Occidental College for volleyball. She chose Occidental because of its coach and overall volleyball program. “I’m a pretty late commit because I always felt like I wanted to play volleyball. But by the time it was time to commit early decision, I wasn’t fully ready to commit financially, so I kept my options open. I’ve stayed in touch with the coach, and I really liked the school, and I’ve always loved the program at this school. When she found out I got in regular decision, and she said she’d still really love to have me on the team, it just felt right in my soul,” Stone said. 

Volleyball has almost always been a part of her life. “I started playing volleyball in fourth grade, and then I started playing club in fifth grade, which is pretty early to start playing club, but I literally never thought twice about it. I met my best friends through the sport,” Stone said. “It’s just my entire life. I don’t know what I would be without it.”

Stone’s recruitment shows that playing collegiate sports doesn’t have to be a stressful process. “I wasn’t ever planning exactly on playing volleyball; it was just to keep my options open. I didn’t go through balancing film or anything intense like that. I had just been in contact with this coach for a long time, so the hardest part was just keeping in contact with her,” she said. 

Her advice for other student-athletes is to find what you love from your sport and community. “I think sports are a community that’s irreplaceable. If you feel like you want to keep going, you will find a way to keep going. There’s club, there’s Division I, there’s Division III, and there’s everything in between. You will find your people and find your place,” Stone said.

On May 22, senior Ava Jannink committed to Cornell University for diving. Her decision to attend Cornell was based on the well-balanced academic and athletic programs. “I ultimately chose Cornell because of how impressed I was with its balance between world-class academics, well-supported athletic teams, and a vibrant social setting. When I visited, I was immediately struck by how the team truly felt like a family, and I could tell that the athletes deeply admired and cared for their coaches,” Jannink said.

Diving has been a fundamental aspect of her life for many years. “I started diving when I was seven years old. Almost immediately, I fell in love with the feeling of flipping through the air and gliding through the water. Diving is such a unique sport because you push yourself mentally as much as you do physically,” she said. “The feeling of completing a dive you were scared to do before is one of the most euphoric feelings I have ever felt, which is why I have continued diving for 11 years now.”

Jannink’s recruitment process started slowly, but it began to flow steadily when she started communicating persistently. “Initially, I had trouble actually hearing responses from coaches through email, and it took a few weeks to hear any responses. But after reaching out a few more times, the process after that felt pretty natural, especially because the coaches I talked to were very friendly. It took some time to figure out what I was looking for, even after I had officially started the process,” she said.

Jannink has endless appreciation for her family, coaches, and teammates for the support and community they have provided throughout her athletic career. “I would like to firstly thank my dad, who has been my biggest supporter and mentor since my first day of diving. Without him sharing his passion for the sport since his college diving days, I would never have discovered the sport I’ve grown to love so much. I would also like to thank my past and current coaches, who have pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and who showed me that I am much more capable than I ever imagined,” she said. “Finally, I would like to give a big shout-out to my teammates who make every practice worth coming to, and who push me to be a better athlete every day.”

Jannink encourages other student-athletes interested in collegiate sports to take risks and be proactive. “Shoot your shot. It can be very intimidating to put yourself out there, especially to coaches at schools you may think are out of your reach, but you truly won’t know unless you try,” she said.

On Jan. 3, senior June Wagner committed to Whitman College for soccer. She decided to commit to Whitman ultimately came down to the community and academic programs. “On my visit to Whitman, we went over to this soft serve place, and it was super fun just talking to each other and joking around. They also have this super cool Columbia Law program that I can get into after just three years at Whitman,” she said.

Her love for soccer has been a driving force in her commitment. “I love the challenge of soccer every day and the community involved. Not just on my team, but I’ve gotten to know people throughout the country because we all have this crazy shared experience of women’s soccer recruiting,” Wagner said. “Every one of my best friends has come from the sport, and it’s given me opportunities to go places I wouldn’t otherwise.”

Wagner’s recruitment process was particularly challenging due to limited external support, which forced her to grow and build resilience. “Every part of it was a challenge for me, especially because I didn’t know what I wanted for so long,” she said. “My old club team was also super unhelpful; the coaches would avoid my calls or texts asking for advice or tips with the process. That took a toll on my confidence. I had to learn to overcome that and somehow come back stronger.”

Wanger wants to acknowledge her dad and her new club team for all the support they have given her. “My dad was my main supporter through it all. He would get all my flights together, give me advice on how to email coaches, and go on every single visit with me. Also, the club team I’m on now, Silicon Valley Soccer Academy, has helped me so much with my final decision and continues to support me with soccer in general,” she said.

Wagner’s advice to other student-athletes is to focus on personal interests. “Find out what you want, not what other people are going to find impressive. You can’t let other people’s opinions affect you in general. The reality is that everyone’s process and school choice is different,” she said. 

On Aug. 26, senior Paige McGaraghan committed to Wellesley College for cross-country. McGaraghan, who has run since her freshman year, sought a college where she could truly thrive and enjoy her surroundings and team. “I just happened to find a college where I was fast enough for their team, and also it was an environment that I really wanted to be in,” she said.

Prior to cross-country in high school, McGaraghan ran track in middle school for fun. Upon arriving in M-A, she decided to join the cross-country team and fell in love with it. “I absolutely loved it. I love the team, I love the coaches, I love being able to run,” she said. Since then, she has continued with the sport and is excited to continue her journey at Wellesley College. 

During the recruitment process, McGaraghan found the process difficult to navigate, but was able to secure a spot at a college she loves. “I committed to a college that I really want to be a part of, and a program that I really want to be a part of,” she said. “It was a little tricky because I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I don’t think I would have wanted to do it any other way.”

McGaraghan expresses her gratitude to her coaches, Eric Wilmurt and Andy Pflaum, who helped her improve throughout cross-country, and to her teammates. “I want to thank the new girls as well, who make me want to keep running and help them get better. I want to thank my whole team; they’re so sweet. I love you all,” McGaraghan said.

Her advice for other student-athletes is to prioritize what they most cherish. “Make sure that you’re sticking to prioritizing things you care about and sticking to your own values in the whole process,” she said. 

On Dec. 9, senior Elise Riney committed to rowing at UCLA. Riney has had a passion for rowing since eighth grade and sought the best university to support it, leading to her commitment to UCLA. “I just knew that I wanted to develop my skills, get better, and race in college,” she said.

Riney discovered her love for rowing after her mother’s friend advised her to try it. Having found a supportive community within the sport, she soon fell in love with it and sought to pursue it at the collegiate level. “As the years have gone by, I’ve just developed and developed and developed and have gone to bigger races, more competitive races, and that’s pretty much why I continued,” she said. “Now I’m doing it in college, so that is a blessing.”

Riney found the recruitment process time-consuming and difficult, but ultimately worth it, as it led to an offer from her top school, UCLA. She credits her overall successes with the sport and her recruitment to her coaches, family, and friends. “I’m very grateful for all the support I had getting recruited and now,” she said. “My parents, my coaches, college coaches, and teachers have just helped me and supported me always. And my friends, of course.”

Riney’s advice for other student-athletes is to narrow down their universities and get to know the sports teams and the academics at their schools of interest. “Really get to know the team and how student athletes get supported in their academics as well. If they have priority enrollment, any scholarships are amazing,” Riney said.

On Oct. 28, senior Aidan Sharp committed to running cross-country and track at the University of Chicago. Sharp chose UChicago for its strong academics and strong network. “For me, my all-around experience in college is what I value most,” he said. “I feel UChicago would set me up best for success academically, athletically, and socially.”

Sharp has run his whole high school career, and the sport has held a special place in his heart, pushing him to do his best and realize his potential. Sharp credits his success to his coaches. “I also owe a lot to my high school coaches, Andy Pflaum and Eric Wilmurt, who have helped me over the last four years to develop into the athlete I am now,” he said.

Sharp found his recruitment process simple but very tedious. “It was frustrating when many coaches wouldn’t respond or would respond negatively, but I just had to stay persistent,” he said.

Sharp’s advice for other student-athletes is that who you surround yourself with matters.“[Be around] others who are like-minded and will help you grow as an athlete and an individual,” he said.

On Nov. 13, senior Yajaira Ramos-Gonzalez committed to play flag football at Chowan University. Her decision to commit to Chowan was ultimately due to the coach’s optimism about the team’s future. “She was telling me how good the team is, how big the program is going to be, especially in the Northeast, and I’m excited to experience being a part of a team that is building off of sisterhood,” Ramos-Gonzalez said.

Ramos-Gonzalez has been playing flag football for three years now. “I played club for a year, and then two years here at M-A,” she said. “I’m going into my second year playing club for a different team in the Bay Area. It’s called High Intensity.” 

Throughout her recruitment process, she had endless guidance and support from her coaches. “Coach Knowles was the biggest supporter. He believed in me when nobody else did,” Ramos-Gonzalez said. “I also want to thank Ms. Corman, because she’s the one who also believed in me when I was going through my lowest, trying to debate whether I should commit for a track or flag.”

Despite the support, Ramos-Gonzalez’s recruitment process came with a few minor inconveniences. “[Flag football] wasn’t a very well-known sport just yet around the U.S.,” she said. “Once I got to learn about college recruiting and being a part of combines, then it really gained my attention.” 

Her advice to other student-athletes looking to play collegiately is to give maximum effort, even when there are obstacles or setbacks. “Give it your all. I know it’s tough, sometimes it’s mentally tough, sometimes it’s physically tough, just give it your all. It’s the best thing you can do,” Ramos-Gonzalez said. “And focus on your academics, because they look for that too.”

On Sept. 28, junior Michael Powell committed to swim for the University of Virginia. His decision to attend UVA was ultimately due to the supportive community and its amazing education system. “I really loved the vibe that the team had and the coaches are some of the best in the world,” Powell said. “I also really enjoyed their campus, and they had everything I wanted in terms of academics as well.”

Powell has been swimming for longer than he can remember. “I first fell in love with it because I had lots of fun in the water and with my friends on the team. As I got older, I stuck with swimming because I found that it was something I was really good at,” he said. At the same time, Powell really enjoyed the competitiveness of it all. “I had people around me who were competitive, so I wanted to get better to beat them. Now I do it for all the same reasons, with friends and competition,” he said. 

Throughout his recruitment process, Powell had trouble remembering to respond to schools and coordinating times to meet and discuss with his coaches. “It was hard to find time to talk to coaches and keep track of replying to the schools I had interest in,” he said. Although there were some difficulties along the way, some parts were easier, like traveling to the schools to check them out. “An easy part would have to be going to the recruiting trips, because the teams planned out everything I could do while I was there,” Powell said.

During Powell’s recruitment journey, his parents were the first people there, helping and guiding him the whole way. “My parents drove me to every swim meet even when some were hours away. They always woke up early to help drive me to morning practice every day,” he said. “I would also like to thank my coaches as well for helping me become the best swimmer I can be.” 

Powell’s advice to other student-athletes hoping to play collegiately in the future is that failure is crucial to improvement and that coaches will always want the best for you. “Failing is the most important part of the process. You have to fail in competition and in practice, and just keep going. I’d also say to trust the process and your coaches. They know what they’re doing, and if you feel like there is a problem, like a real problem, then voice it to them,” Powell said.

On Nov. 22, junior Graham Martin committed to the U.S. Naval Academy to play golf. Martin’s decision was primarily because of the larger commitment that comes with the U.S. Naval Academy. “My whole life, I feel like I’ve had this desire to do something and be impactful in my life, and going to the U.S. Naval Academy fulfilled this dream for me,” he said. 

Coming from an athletic family, Martin felt a lot of pressure over his decision to play golf, but he has been incredibly dedicated throughout his career and only continues to grow. “I come from a tennis family with both my dad and my sister playing Division 1 tennis, but by the time I was 10 years old, I split off with tennis and picked up golf. It wasn’t until eighth grade that I really started taking golf seriously, which meant playing tournaments and practicing every day,” Martin said. “I faced a lot of backlash with people always questioning whether it was a real sport or thinking I was joking when I said I played, but I’ve practiced almost every day for the last three years and kept grinding.”

His recruitment process luckily came without much difficulty, but the ultimate decision was still a complicated choice. “I had assistance from many people in my recruitment process that kept things running smoothly, and I always tried to respond on time, but for me the hardest part was the decision. I was offered to play golf at a couple of other schools that I would’ve dreamed of going to not too long ago, and with the deadlines I was given, it was really hard to make a choice,” Martin said.

He owes a large part of his golf journey to his dad and is incredibly grateful for the endless support he has given. “As I get older, I realize that my dad is one of the only guys in my life who wants to see me do better and be greater than him. He covered all the expenses, drove and flew with me for hours upon hours to these tournaments, and was always there when I struggled,” Martin said. “All the greatest lessons I learned are from him, and even though there were times when I questioned his teaching methods, it always worked out.”

His advice to other student-athletes is to be as open as possible when considering your choices. “Visiting as many schools as possible will widen your perspective on colleges and will help you find what you truly want. I wouldn’t get too caught up in the statistics or what other people tell you, but instead find a place where you can see yourself being happy even when you’re not playing your sport,” Martin said.

On Nov. 15, senior Katie Cueva committed to UC Berkeley for pole vaulting. Her decision came down to the combined level of Berkeley’s athletics and academics. “I committed to Cal because it has an incredible pole vault program, a team and coach I’m really excited about, and the academics I’m looking for. I don’t think I’ll find a school that’s a better fit for me,” Cueva said.

Even though she hasn’t been competing in her sport for too long, her love and passion for pole vaulting are endless. “I started my first track season as a sophomore coming off of a year and a half-long injury, and at the same time, the school reopened our pole vault program. I got an email from coach Aisha advertising it and decided to try it on a whim,” Cueva said. “I loved it and eventually decided to take it seriously, training year-round with a small side quest to compete in a women’s decathlon the summer before senior year.”

The recruitment process presents numerous challenges, especially for a newer athlete like Cueva. “It was really stressful to navigate the different timelines that schools were on with their recruiting and pass up some opportunities to wait for better ones. Because of how new I was, I also wasn’t really sure what caliber of schools would end up being interested in me or even which division I would end up being recruitable to,” she said. “I talked to a very wide range of schools and ended up being able to commit to one that I didn’t even think was a possibility for me.”

During the stressful time, she was grateful to have the support and guidance of her coach. “I want to thank my coach, Will Eggers, for coaching me entirely from the ground up. He’s the person responsible for teaching me how to vault, training me into a Division 1 athlete, and most importantly, for helping me fall in love with the sport,” Cueva said.

Her advice to other high school athletes is to find what you love. “My advice is to not be afraid to try something new, but ultimately to stick with something that you really love and are passionate about. You never know what you could be good at or fall in love with, and it’s so much easier to put in the work for something you enjoy,” she said.

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 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.”