Entering high school, trying out for the team, making the team, performing well, practicing every day, receiving offers, and touring campuses to be interviewed by your dream school. This is the dream for many high school athletes, but with coronavirus numbers higher than ever and schools switching to online for the fall semester, there are many questions on how junior or seniors will be recruited.

Student-athletes like Amelia Myrhvold are experiencing this firsthand.

“Usually [they] have recruiting trips to see how everything works, but we haven’t been able to do that,“ says Myhrvold, a senior on the Wakefield Swim Team. Her commitment isn’t decided yet, but Washington and Lee seem to be her strongest pick.

“It’s harder to connect with [recruiters] because you can’t really go to school, but you can still email and go on Zoom with them.”

But for people who have committed, it hasn’t been the same journey.

Josh Sosanya has committed as a linebacker to Wake Forest.

“Coronavirus hasn’t made too much of an impact for me,” Sosanya said. “I was able to commit before the coronavirus hit. I can’t really visit the school as much, but I am still able to contact coaches on social media, phone calls, and text messages. You can handle what you can handle. It is a coach’s job to recruit you. If you fit the part and your grades are right, you’ll get found.”

Not only has social distancing impacted players, but it’s also taken a toll on coaches.

“As teachers and coaches, we are used to interacting with students and athletes on a daily basis,” said Coach Stevens, basketball coach for Wakefield High School. “We’ve had to change how we go about our day to day instruction and how we attempt to build connections.” 

He encourages seniors to stay positive, motivated and focused.

“I think it’s harder to reach out and know that you’re actually making an impact,” Stevens said. “For us, team chemistry and a family atmosphere are two things we try to build so not being in person has made that more difficult.” 

Underclassmen who are hoping to one day play at the collegiate level may heed the advice of Coach Stevens.

“Focus as best you can and continue working on your game, strength, conditioning, grades,” said Stevens. “Do your research and be realistic about schools you think you could play at, reach out to those coaches, see what they are looking for and what their recruiting looks like during COVID-19.”