As per usual, Harriton will be sending many exceptional student-athletes to play a wide range of sports at the collegiate level. This article focuses on a handful of Rams with great talent in their respective sports to give an inside view on the college process for athletes and provide interesting insight into the journey of some of Harriton’s most hardworking and accomplished students through a confusing and exciting process.

Banner: What made you choose the school at which you’re playing next year?

 Jansen Aoyama (Soccer, Colby College in Maine): I visited a lot of schools in Division I, II and III, and I decided after some visits that I wanted to take the D3 track because of the perks that came along with that level. But the reason I chose Colby was because of my official visit. I just fell in love with the team and the campus when I stayed overnight.

Gav Rubenstein (Tennis, Franklin & Marshall College in PA): While going on college tours, F&M was the college that every other college had to live up to and surpass in my eyes. To me, F&M has a feeling that is very comfortable and makes me feel like I am home. They also have the major I am interested in studying. The coach of the tennis is awesome, and the girls are super nice and fun.

Alex Ladda (Lacrosse, Lehigh University in PA): I knew from the beginning I wanted to play for a Division I school. When I went to visit Lehigh I fell in love with the rigorous academics, the campus, and the lacrosse program. I was impressed with their philosophy that encourages creativity and originality. The lacrosse coaches were warm and welcoming and understood the necessary balance between sports and academics. After spending time with the team I felt confident Lehigh was the perfect fit.

Maura Henderson (Lacrosse, Lehigh University): Lehigh offers a great combination of great academics and a competitive team; it’s everything I could hope for in a school.

Jane Henderson (Lacrosse, Lehigh University): I knew once I first visited Lehigh that it was a perfect fit for me. I wanted to go to a smaller school, and Lehigh had the perfect number of students. And who doesn’t love having to walk up and down huge hills to get to class?

Tristan Kevitch (Baseball, Bloomsburg University in PA): There were many factors which influenced my decision to be a Husky. I wanted to play against good competition, and the PSAC is a very competitive league. I also wanted a relatively large school, along with being a driving distance from home. After seeing campus, along with meeting the coaching staff and future teammates, I knew Bloomsburg was the school for me.

Kevin Bendesky (Soccer, Yale University in Connecticut): Yale is the perfect combination of competitive athletics and outstanding academics. But I fell in love with the school when I took my visit and spent a weekend with kids on the soccer team.  Family is a more accurate way to describe the kids who play soccer at Yale, and just from my visit I felt like one of the brothers; the sense of family among the people at the school is why I chose Yale.

Daniel Schupper (Baseball, Brandeis University in Massachusetts): I chose Brandeis both for its academic excellence and its strong baseball program. I will be studying business at Brandeis, which is something I am also very passionate about. Additionally, the baseball program is one that rewards hard work and represents many things that my game encompasses.

Brian Meyer (Lacrosse, Washington College in Maryland): Washington College is a great fit for me in every way. After my visit I felt at home as the coaching staff and the current players were very welcoming.

Laura Lasprogata (Lacrosse, George Mason University in Virginia): When I visited the school, it seemed to me that it would be the perfect fit for me academically. George Mason has a new, modern campus, diverse student body, and offers a great, internationally acclaimed education to its students. When it came to the lacrosse program, the coaching staff at George Mason is passionate about improving the skills of the players as well as the lacrosse program as a whole. I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work with such experienced coaches.

Sam Schlicting (Football, Colgate University in New York): I had gone up to Colgate before I had any idea I could get recruited and fell in love. I wanted a good school in the middle of nowhere, so when they gave me an offer, it was a no-brainer.

Matt Binnion (Lacrosse, University of Richmond in Virginia): When I first went down to Richmond I instantly fell in love with the campus. I liked all the old architecture and how the campus was designed. I also loved the fact that the Richmond lacrosse program was a newer program and that I could help contribute to its success immediately.

Banner: When did you know you wanted to play at the collegiate level?

Aoyama: I knew that I wanted to play collegiately when I first realized I was heading towards that path around the age of sixteen.

Rubenstein: I have been playing tennis since I was three years old so it has always been a big part of my life. When I started thinking about college during my sophomore year, I thought about all of things I wanted to do in college, and at that moment I realized that I wanted to play competitively in college. I then started the process with my parents and my coach by listing the schools I would most likely be interested in attending, and then went from there.

Kevitch: I’ve always made it one of my top goals to be a collegiate athlete; however I knew I wanted to play at the next level at the start of high school. Entering high school I knew I had to practice way beyond the average high school athlete if I wanted to play at the next level.

Schupper: I knew I wanted to play college baseball since I was really young. I would say since the first time I picked up a ball, because I knew playing in college just meant more time to play the game I love. Collegiate baseball is also another way for me to compete at a higher level at the thing I’m most passionate about.

Meyer: It has always been something I wanted and I realized in high school that I could play in college.

Banner: What does it mean to be a Division I athlete?

Bendesky: I never got caught up in the label of the division. Yale is Division 1, but if I loved a different school more I would have been okay playing division 2 or 3. With that said, achieving the privilege of playing Division 1 college athletics was far from an easy task. It means that the hours of practice and games for the last decade have paid off. And I anticipate the level of commitment will only escalate over the next four years.

Lasprogata: To be a division one athlete you have to put in lots of effort, want to get better, and work hard. I expect it to be much different than high school or club sports; much more intense and much more expected out of each individual person. However you’re going to be surrounded by a bunch of others who are there for the same reason you are, and all challenges will be conquered together.

Ladda: I feel a Division I athlete needs to be truly committed to the sport they are playing. There is a large time commitment to the sport, which means the athlete must know how to manage their time in order to effectively balance their academics and the sport. I anticipate that my days will be very busy but rewarding.

Binnion: I am truly honored to have the opportunity to be a Division 1 athlete. I have worked extremely hard throughout the years to get to where I am, with the help of many people along the way. My parents and coaches pushed me and without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. I anticipate college sports to be harder than high school, but I believe that I will be prepared as long as I continue to work hard.

M Henderson: Since I started playing sports competitively, my dream was to be a D1 athlete. I think it means taking what I already do to the next level and doing things to reach my maximum potential. I’ll get to play kids who have worked their whole life to get to this point, just like me.

Schlicting: I don’t think being a division 1 athlete changes much outside of sports. I know it changed a lot of people’s perception of me during football and basketball season. Opposing teams thought I was better than I really was. As for next year, I’m a little nervous. Everyone at the next level is the biggest baddest player from wherever they come from.

J Henderson: I’m excited to get to the next level of lacrosse by playing at Lehigh. It will take hard work and dedication to be able to play at the college level but it will be fun.

Banner: What do you anticipate playing in college will be like?

Schupper: I anticipate playing in college will be a higher level and faster-paced game. Guys are stronger, throw harder, and run faster. The speed of the game is definitely quicker. Because of this, a lot more off-the-field work is required. Hours in the weight room are definitely imperative. I am used to a high volume lifting schedule though, and am looking forward to the challenge.

Rubenstein: I am so excited to play in college. The team is a lot of fun. They are super close and encouraging of one another, which is really nice since tennis is often an extremely individual sport. The team is also very competitive in our conference but keep a strong balance between that and having fun. Tennis will also be a great stress reliever for my classes in college.

Meyer: College lacrosse is much faster than high school lacrosse; I will have to get stronger and faster to really excel. I look forward to competing for a national championship for four years as Washington College is a very competitive lacrosse team.

Kevitch: I anticipate college baseball to be very different than high school baseball. Watching my brother go through four years of college football at Bucknell University gave me a good understanding of what playing a sport in college is like. I am expecting it to be like a job. A job that I have to balance with school and homework. It will also be different because I will be on my own. Not having my Dad at all my games and driving me to practice will definitely be a shock to me. However, I am ready for everything Bloomsburg has to offer and can’t wait for next fall.

Aoyama: I think college soccer will be difficult because of the size and speed of the players; having said that, I think I will be able to smoothly adapt to the new style of soccer.

Banner: How did you balance school and sports in high school, and how are you planning on doing that in college?

Schlicting: Time management wasn’t my strong suit, so there were a lot of late nights, but to be honest I think I did worse without sports than with. When you’re in season, everything is on a tight schedule, and you have to use every moment wisely. Out of season I didn’t know what to do with all the free time, so sometimes I ended up doing nothing. I’m not sure what to expect next year, but hopefully I’ll manage ok.

M Henderson: I don’t know how to answer this because I’ve never not done it. I can’t imagine just going home after school. I’ve done it maybe 10 times since seventh grade. It forces you to keep yourself organized, so I guess I just learned to make sure I don’t save everything until the last minute.

Bendesky: Balancing school and soccer has always been possible with time management. I try to eliminate procrastination, and work efficiently. I know I’ll have even less time over the four years, so I’ll need to be even more organized in my time management.

Ladda: In high school I have always played a sport each season and have learned that organizing and planning ahead is very helpful. In college I plan on following the same strategies and continuing to work ahead and use my time effectively.

J Henderson: I think time management is how I balance school and sports. You just need to make sure not to waste time during frees. I think next year I’m going to have to make sure not to put off work until the last minute.

Binnion: Balancing school and sports is a challenge in high school and I imagine that it will also be in college. I really try to do as much work as I can in school so that I won’t have too much to do when I get home later. Once you get into a routine it gets much easier to manage your time and get your work done faster.

Lasprogata: I’ve always played lacrosse and field hockey throughout my high school experience so far and I play for school as well as my club teams. For me I always just have to take advantage of any free time I have during school or after school to complete my homework. However, by playing sports it keeps me on task because I have no time to procrastinate. In college, they plan your schedule around your practice times and give you priority for classes. They also provide free tutoring as a division one athlete, which will be used to my advantage. I don’t think it will be too much different than high school.

Banner: What would you say to a kid hoping to commit to a school for your sport?

J Henderson: Recruiting process for lacrosse has gotten earlier and earlier so players need to make sure that they are being seen. Overall, I think people just need to make sure that they continue to play the way they know how. A school will love you for the player that you are. The little things matter to show that you are determined to succeed. Make sure to be in shape and take time to work on your stick skills.

Lasprogata: For someone who is looking to go to school as a division one athlete they have to be willing to get better and put in the work. You also have to work hard getting recruited by reaching out to coaches and going to camps and showcases.

Ladda: I would say that you need to make sure that you truly love the school and can see yourself at that school with or without lacrosse. In addition, make sure you feel comfortable with the coaches and that they have your best interest in mind. Spending time with the players and the team will help you see if they have similar goals and expectations as you.

Schlicting: There’s so much advice I’d like to give, but the things that stand out are: work hard for the team, and good things come to you; don’t make excuses for why you can’t, hard work does pay off; you don’t have to be flashy to be good, as one coach put it, “I want a work horse, not a cool kid;” and lastly, you have to find a little fire in you, that drives you. Whether it’s the love for the game or just having a screw loose, you have to have something that keeps you going.

M Henderson: Good things don’t happen without effort. If you put the work in, good things will happen. Hit the wall, go for a run, it goes a long way.

Binnion: If you are looking to play lacrosse or any sport in college you need to choose a school that meets all of your academic and athletic goals. The coach also plays a huge part in what school you should chose. If you don’t like your coach then you’re going to have a long four years.

Bendesky: I would tell him or her to aim as high as you can and fight to go to the school of your dreams.

And there you have it! Over 2700 words about a process people spend the majority of their childhood working towards. The senior athletes in spring sports have now resumed practice in preparation for their final seasons as Harriton Rams. Cheer them on as they look to bring more glory to Harriton’s accomplished athletic program before they head off to college. The Banner wishes the best of luck to all of Harriton’s athletes in college!