Samo students pathways to athletic success
Malia Kabwe, Staff Writer
Many know how difficult it is to build a career as a professional athlete. Samo students who have played sports over the course of high school have varying goals: some simply wish to exercise, some want to play in college, and some even want to become professional athletes in the future.
Students who want to be professional athletes should excel in high school academically and athletically to get scouted for colleges with quality sports programs. Joining sports camps or clubs will help students sustain their skill levels during off seasons. Young athletes should participate in their sports year-round, not just while the sport is in season. In addition, traits of perseverance and determination are important for anyone pursuing such a competitive field. To go pro you have to be the best of the best. This means putting extra time into training for your sport. Samo student, Riley Howard (’23), hopes to play professional soccer in his future. To do so, Howard has spent much of his time training and playing for college coaches.
“I want to go pro because it has been a passion since I was little and is one of my biggest goals. To achieve that goal, I am working hard to train everyday, attending trips like I am right now to Germany and other places, as well as playing in front of college coaches so that I can play college soccer and potentially get to go pro from there,” Howard said.
Brielle Minor (’23) plays on the varsity girls’ basketball team here at Samo. Minor wishes to play for the WNBA after college.
“I want to go pro because I grew up watching and playing sports, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I am looking forward to playing in college to get me there,” Minor said.
Like Howard and Minor, most students who wish to become professional athletes start by joining a reputable college team. Playing on a varsity level would be impressive to college scouts especially if they joined at a younger age. Student athletes often ask when scouts are coming to a game to prepare themselves to perform at a high level. Players also videotape many of their games in order to compile a highlight reel to provide for college teams.
College provides opportunities for athletes to enhance their abilities as well as build discipline that will be expected of them in the professional leagues. It is also important to maintain positive relationships with college scouts and coaches. Players who have good relationships with their coaches or athletic directors build connections that help them with networking for their future. After an athlete is scouted for a college team, they usually attend drafts for professional teams. Although athletes do not necessarily have to play on a college team to go pro, in many cases it can increase their chances of success. For instance, players of popular college sports, like basketball or football, are likely to have televised games. For players, having televised games can be a huge asset to help them gain exposure to national leagues. Overall, professional sports is highly competitive and it requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice to meet your goals.
Joe Walsh/ Contributor