FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO
COLLEGE SPORTS
For many high school athletes, the thought of continuing to play their sport in college is riveting and it is the force that drives many to get the best grades that they can during their senior year. For those who aren’t at the top academically, they count on sports scholarships to get them into college and provide them with the financial aid they need. Sure, it sounds simple: play a sport and you’ll get money for it. But for many athletes, it has become evident that they should not count on this possibility alone. According to US News, there is a very small amount of scholarships relative to how many athletes there are in the US - 138,000 for Division I and II sports, when there are millions playing even one sport. For those who do get the scholarships, the money isn’t always that much, and it is a full time job in order to keep what they already have.
One of CHS’s very own 271 alumni, Szymon Zegar, was lucky enough to get a sports scholarship to Holy Family University in 2012 for soccer in Division II. While he did not get a full ride like many of his peers, he did receive a significant amount of aid in the form of an academic scholarship, which has been enough to the point where his family does not have to pay much for tuition.
With the admission to college, many students and athletes alike find opportunities to become more independent, and in some cases this means going out more and straying from school work. College athletes face even bigger challenges by being forced to juggle studies, sports, and a social life, all while struggling to get enough sleep.
“For me, the transition was difficult. College soccer is a lot more physical and played at a much faster pace. High school athletics are primarily only focused on in the season of that specific sport, while college athletics are focused on year round. What I mean by this is that once the season has ended, every athlete is working out close to almost everyday with their teammates. It is much more demanding and grueling, especially preseason when you are getting in tip-top shape right before the season begins.”
While it is clear that Szymon will face a difficult next four years of his life, this student is highly prepared (thanks to Central and a strict and supportive family) to take on the challenges that college sports throw at him.
“My grades do not suffer at all, playing a sport in college has molded me into a person who is very good at organizing my time for schoolwork and sports. I find the perfect balance between schoolwork and athletics, and do not have time for many other things. Being organized is vital as a student-athlete especially if you struggle with academics to begin with. You just always have to remember to put the student part before the athlete and take care of your schoolwork. I accept the obstacles that I will have to overcome if it means I can play the sport that I love for the school that I love”.