The recruiting of high school athletes is a very daunting but exciting process that all future college athletes have to go through. Wakefield in particular has had a great reputation for producing next level athletes such as University of South Carolina quarterback Connor Mitch, Marquette volley ball star Gabby Benda, and the legendary  NC State and Tennessee Titans wide receiver TJ Graham.

The class of 2015 is no slouch either. Athletes such as tennis player Blaine Boyden, better known as Bo, and soccer player Kat McDonald will soon find themselves in the limelight at big division one schools next year.

“After I narrowed my options down, my top five were Georgia Tech, University of North Carolina, Georgia, Duke, and Alabama,” said Boyden.

Going to any one of the colleges listed would mean competing in some of the top college tennis programs in the country.

Kat McDonald has an incredible list of her own to brag about. “Schools that have shown interest in me include Virginia Tech, Clemson, Duke, App State, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Auburn,” said McDonald.

So much goes into choosing the right school and both of these athletes have made their decisions on where to attend. Boyden will be attending University of North Carolina and Kat McDonald will be attending Duke.

Talent such as Kat’s and Bo’s has been coming out of Wakefield since the school was founded. Coach Cooley, Athletic Director, has seen more successful athletes come through the school than anyone.

The recruiting process is fun, but can also be tough to handle. Schools pressure athletes to commit to their school and this can add stress onto an already difficult life decision.

“Schools would say things like ‘I know we’re giving you an offer, but we don’t stop recruiting, so if you make a decision now, it would make it easier on you and us,” said Boyden.

Bo however understands the school’s concerns. He realizes that if an athlete wanted to continue waiting to decide, another athlete could take his or her spot.

The pressure to commit does have some perks. Athletes, according to NCAA regulation, are allowed to go on unofficial and official visits to the schools of their choice.

While these visits may be fun, it takes more than just athleticism to get the attention of the colleges. Wakefield football and basketball coach, Trent Wilson made it clear in his book It Takes More Than Film that character is a key factor in being recruited.

“The question becomes… If someone were to ask your teachers, your neighbors, or your coaches about your character… what would they say? The reality is that we all have bad habits or things that we want or need to change,” said Wilson.

When it comes to character, Wakefield athletes appear to remain studious and respectful. Based on the status of the schools Bo Boyden and Kat McDonald are attending next year, character seems to be at the top of their list and has paid off in their recruiting experience.

These athletes have the motivation and believe they are ready to compete in college, but they understand that there are always new goals to set and new obstacles to overcome.

“I’m ready for the college level, but there is a lot of area for improvement,” said Boyden.