BY JACK COYLE, Reporter
College athletics have changed drastically in the past few decades, from rules and regulations, to gear and drug tests. It has been said that college sports have changed more in the past ten years than pro sports have changed in fifty. The newest change though,recruiting athletes at a younger age, has stirred some controversy. Although there were rules enacted, or a phone call until their senior year, recruiters have found ways around this. Freshman athletes still get contacted, including some that attend Kaneland High School.
Anthony Holubecki, freshman baseball player, has been playing for ten years and has encountered college scouts at combines and games.
Yet another young athlete at Kaneland, Dylan Vaca, has also been scouted by colleges. Freshman athlete Vaca has chosen
basketball as his sport. Vaca plays for many teams, including The Illinois Panthers and Team Young and Reckless(who are ranked fifth in the state). Dylan has been the subject of a few scouts, including Milliken University and Quincy University, who come to a lot of his games.
These two particular athletes seem to not have any specific college picked out.
“I’ll go anywhere I get offered,” said Holubecki.
He led his Wasco team as a leadoff and later in the season as a power hitter. His team the Seminoles won the 14U national title two years ago is using Holubecki as one of the main components to rebuild their team.
Ellie Dunn is another underclassmen feeling the presence of college scouts.
“I have received letters from U of I, Kansas State, and Indiana University,” Dunn said. “They saw me last year as a freshman during my club season and seemed interested. Playing club helps get yourself out there and is beneficial.”
According to US News, one surprising thing about colleges is that over 1 million high school boys play football, but there are only 19,500 football scholarships available for college. There is a similar statistic for girls as well. Nearly 603,000 girls compete in
high school track and field but there are only 4,500 scholarships available, which is were the saying “I’ll go anywherethat I’m offered” comes from.
These students have been dealt a lucky hand, but it does not come with out hard work, and these young athletes have just that drive.