The Divide Between Collegiate Sport Divisions
Aaron Smollins (Staff Writer)
To be recruited to a Division I or II athletic program is an accomplishment for any highschool student athlete. According to the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), the percentage that differentiates Division I and II in any sport is extremely low. To put it into context, seven percent of high school athletes play a varsity sport in college across all three divisions. The probability of continuing your athletic and academic career at a Division I and II university are about the same, falling at about two percent.
However, there are some differences in both the recruiting process and the workload when comparing the two divisions. Coleen Davenport, athletic director at Samo touches on the hardships of playing at the Division I level.
“The workload as a Division I athlete is a lot. When in the recruiting process you have to think about if it is a legitimate option. Division II is the way to go if you are looking for a more balanced college experience,” Davenport said.
Many athletes who are striving to play at the collegiate level and to play Division I envision playing in grand stadiums with thousands of people watching in the crowd. At the Division II level, however, schools may not have as big of a student population as Division I schools so games have less attendance. This is something that affects students' decisions when looking into Division II schools for their sport. Multi-sport student athlete Brielle Minor (‘23) talks about her point of view on the Division I and II recruiting processes.
“Recruiting is definitely a very interesting experience with lots of turns. I’d say the main difference between the two is what fits best for you. Division I also seems to have an earlier commitment period than Division II so you have to get after it definitely. Overall I think it’s important to love the school as well as the sport no matter what division,” Minor said.
There is also a misconception that the skill level needed for Division I and Division II are drastically different. Davenport explains the tendency of athletes to overlook Division II.
“Many student athletes overlook Division II and other levels seeking NIL (Name Image Likeness) deals in Division I athletics. Student athletes have lost their vision of having a balance and use Division I as a stepping stone to become professional,” Davenport says.
Many people are under the impression that only Division I athletes can earn NIL deals which allow athletes to partner with brands and companies to profit off of themselves. This belief is false as NIL deals apply to all athletes in all divisions.
The rigor of Division I’s workload, daily practicing, and being on TV comes with a lot of pressure. Some find it hard to juggle the rigorous practices with general school studies. Davenport uses her experience at a Division II school and having family members play at the Division I level to describe the differences between the two.
“You have to consider the pressure and criticism you will face playing on live TV in front of thousands of viewers multiple times a week. Being at a Division I school is a job and as someone who has family who have experienced Division I athletics, it is not as pretty as it looks on TV,” Davenport said.
Regardless of the division you play at, making a Division I or Division II athletic roster puts you among the elite athletes in the country. Depending on where your priorities are, being at a Division II school may be a better choice in regards to keeping an academic and athletic balance. Division I however is more rigorous and the workload can easily become overwhelming. In any division, the overall college experience is different when playing a sport, but in order to accomplish professional aspirations, sacrifices must be made to reach the next level.
