This year, over 17 Athens senior athletes have committed to more than 15 different colleges and universities to continue their athletic careers. These dedicated athletes have spent the past four years or more working towards this achievement, but the road is far from over. 

“The signing process itself is a little stressful, but overall it feels super rewarding and validating of the work I’ve put in over the years. I couldn’t be more excited to keep swimming at the next level. The entire signing and recruiting process is long and tiring, but it is very worth it. It’s a lot of phone calls, emails, and trips,” said Jackson Scheiber, a senior committed to the University of Minnesota for swimming.

The process of committing to a college for athletics has many steps, and it’s not the same for everyone. Many students will reach out to colleges and send them introductions and highlights for the school to look over. There is also the chance of the school reaching out to the athletes, which most people know as scouting. 

“I reached out to the schools. It was hard for me because my major is small–  animal science is what I’m majoring in, and not many schools have that,” said Maeli Gleason, a senior committed to Rutgers for track and field. “So I had to reach out to them because I had offers from like, D2s and some D1s… But I couldn’t even tour or talk to them because they just didn’t have my major. So the schools that I wanted to go to, I had to reach out to.”

Most Athletes have decided to play in-state or at schools close to N.C., but there are a few who are stretching out across the country. Athletes like Jackson Schieber, who is heading up to Minnesota in the fall, and Phoenix Gewlas, who’s headed to Ohio to play soccer for Capital University.

“I’m very optimistic about the new setting, but also know I will be homesick at times. It is a mix of emotions, but overall, I am excited and will be in close contact with everyone back in N.C.,” said Gewlas. 

Many people are involved in the process of signing, one of whom is Travis Seese, the athletic director at Athens. Seese mainly deals with the signing ceremonies, which are the events where seniors sit down with their coaches and family, and officially sign with the school that they’re going to play for.  While Seese handles the ceremonies, the coaches and the players themselves are the ones who handle the majority of the actual recruiting process.

“My part is more or less setting up for the signing ceremony.  I usually defer to coaches on that since they are the ones that have built a close relationship with athletes over their time at Athens and have seen the athletes day in and day out at practice,” said Seese.  “College coaches will ask me about what kind of person the athlete is, but in terms of what kind of athlete they are they want to talk with their coaches.”

For all senior athletes, signing to a school is a monumental step forward for their careers. It guarantees their ability to play at the collegiate level and shows them the results of the hard work they’ve put into their sports over the years.

“I’m looking forward to exploring a new city and making new friends while being able to play the sport I love,” said Gewlas.