Matthew Shrake Once again, an ample number of Latin student-athletes have decided to continue their athletic careers in college. Compliments have been ongoing throughout the year, especially after the recent signing day, where five athletes officially committed to specific college athletic programs. It is obvious that it takes hard work, talent, and much more to get to the point where these athletes are right now. To learn more about college sports and the preparation for it, I asked my two teammates and co-captains, Alec Kotler ‘18 and Keaton Bubala ‘18, a few questions about the recruiting process and what went into finally signing with Carleton College and DePauw University. I wish them the best of luck on their athletic paths. Q: How did you receive enough exposure to be recruited by colleges? Alec: I went to showcases where over 100 college coaches were in attendance. Keaton: Receiving exposure is probably the most time consuming aspect of being recruited. It requires 4 hour road trips for a 2 hour workout, and plane rides for a half-day combine in-front of coaches. Most of the time, it is meeting the right person at the right time and being persistent enough to keep in contact with them. Q: What was your college/university’s role and impact on your recruitment and signing? Alec: The school’s main role that helped me sign was that many coaches know about Latin, and it was attractive to them to have a Latin-educated player in their system. Keaton: I was pretty late in terms of the commitment part of the process, but I knew the [University] pretty well because my sister has been there for two years already. There was no advocacy needed on their part because already knew how great of a school it was. The school definitely had a huge role because it lives up to everything that I wanted in a school, baseball aside. I learned that while finding a school to play at is important, it is equally important to find a school that is a good academic fit for you. Q: Are there any very important lessons that you will take with you into your college career? Alec: The best lesson I know is to just keep working super hard. Keaton: I learned many life lessons during this process that can also serve me well both throughout college and the rest of my life. I had to take a lot of criticism and I had a lot of people tell me that I had to improve. That pushed me to work even harder, and I realize now if it weren’t for that sometimes tough criticism to take, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Q: Finally, have there been any people that have majorly impacted you on this path to college baseball? Alec: All my coaches and teammates I have had have impacted me on this path to college baseball by just continuing to inspire me to be better. Keaton: Yes, everyone in my life has had an influence on my decision to play baseball. From the coaches that I have had the opportunity to work with to the constant encouragement from my teammates and their families.  ]]>