UML Athletics ‘Opens the Door’ to High School Students

The UMass Lowell River Hawks hope to make their seminar an annual experience for high schoolers.

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As is, the college application process for high school seniors is a stressful experience. For athletes, the idea of recruitment and choosing a college for their sports program as well as their academics can add to that pressure. This learn-as-you-go process can leave many athletes both confused and overwhelmed about their future. But thanks to the “Opening the Door to College Sports” seminar held by UMass Lowell Athletics, the procedure has become a little easier.

“Our goal was to enlighten, inspire and enable every single person who attended this presentation to better navigate their way through what can be an overwhelming process of college recruiting,” says Men’s Soccer Coach Ted Priestly, who first came up with the idea for the seminar.

The first-ever college recruitment seminar, which took place in late April, was free for its 350 attendees. The high school students listened as members of the Athletics Department gave eight talks on all aspects of the recruitment process. Athletics Director Dana Skinner spoke first about a student’s character and how that plays a factor in varsity sports. Other faculty and coaches talked about finding a balance between sports and academics, performance enhancement, a student’s eligibility in sports and the admissions process.

Each faculty member gave the 14- to 18-year-old students a piece of information for the future they hoped would reduce stress and increase knowledge about the process, the playing and the requirements. The program was put on through endorsements that Athletics received from the MIAA, the Bay State Games, Mass Youth Soccer and other youth sport organizations. Because of its high success rate, UML Athletics hopes to make the seminar an annual event.