According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, nearly eight million students currently participate in high school sports, but only around 480,000 compete as NCAA athletes. These numbers help put into perspective just how difficult it is to get a roster spot at your top school, and why the recruiting process is a science of its own. 

Verona High School offers fourteen varsity sports, and has a large athlete population. With the school having this many athletes, it is not surprising that across all sports many participants are aiming to compete in college. From an outsider perspective this might appear to be a simple task, but in reality it is a difficult and demanding process. 

VHS junior Bridget Lonsinger recently made a decision that has been on her mind for most of her life; she committed to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Richmond. After beginning this process in eighth grade by starting to attend college camps and try out for regional, all star and world teams, Bridget finally decided on where she would take the field for four more years after high school.

“I began playing lacrosse in kindergarten and realized by second grade this was something I was passionate enough about to play in college. It was something that bonded my whole family and brought us all together and it was always a place where I could not think and just play my sport for fun,” says Bridget. Bridget credited her parents and two older siblings with inspiring her to pursue her goals.

“Being the youngest I always wanted to play with them but in order to do that I had to be as good as them. They would teach me their tricks and the three of us would always practice until we all got it perfectly.” 

Maggie Lonsinger (‘20) and Jack Lonsinger (‘21) both play Division I lacrosse at the University of Connecticut and Bryant University, respectively. Having both gone through the recruiting process, they were helpful to Bridget. Jack reflected on the lows of the process and its difficulty, but looking back, says that he misses the excitement of getting a phone call or interest from a school. Maggie, Jack and Bridget made their decisions, but many students at VHS are still undergoing the grueling process. 

“I wish I knew that this process is not as glamorous as it seems on social media,” says Brooke Reinecker, VHS junior. “There is a ton of work put into it and you have to be willing to do it.” Brooke has played soccer since she was four and throughout her eight years playing on club teams realized that she wanted to play in college. She started researching schools her freshman year and spent most of her summer going into junior year attending camps and visiting schools. This is not even the most time consuming aspect, considering the hours it takes to watch film and create highlight videos, according to Brooke. She  addressed that the process has many overlooked obstacles but says, “Right now I’m nearing what seems to be the finish line but patience is key in the recruiting process and what you’re working for will come with time.”

It is obvious that it takes dedicated and strong-willed athletes to partake in the taxing process of getting recruited. Although it is stressful and makes it very easy to question yourself, Jack Lonsinger said it best when he advised, “Don’t let anyone else’s success and commitments make you question yourself. The process is different for every person and ultimately you will end up where you are meant to be. Even if it takes a little bit longer or looks a little different it is your process and will all work out.”