When many high school athletes are asked if they’re going Division 1, they start to believe going D1 is an expectation rather than a goal they set out to achieve. Across many schools in the United States, college recruitment has become a competition between athletes. Many athletes prioritize their self-worth based on whether they are going D1. Behind all the college commitment posts lies the immense pressure athletes face to reach Division 1 sports.
The journey to go D1 is not easy for any athlete, no matter the sport they pursue. To achieve the dream of playing Division 1 sports, training begins at a young age, and parents get their kids ready to shine in front of their high school audience, hoping to impress college coaches.
While persistence and dedication to the sport are important, this constant hard work can result in a passionate athlete burning out. Despite being a junior, varsity basketball player Cayson Neely has felt the pressure to go D1. “ When you’re in high school sports, it’s like D1 or bust,” Neely expressed. “What people don’t see, though, is the anxiety that comes with seeing a commitment post every time I open social media. It really affects the way I think about myself.”
The underlying truth about Division 1 sports is that only 2% of high school athletes reach the Division 1 collegiate level. This statistic highlights the pure difficulty in reaching the coveted status.
Many high school athletes can reach their athletic goals by taking the D2, D3, or NAIA routes as well. Junior Joshua Dcruz, a member of the varsity tennis team, believes many people have to start accepting and utilizing the route of playing at a level lower than Division I in sports. “People really have to start being open-minded when talking about high school sports. Going any level lower than D1 in college athletics is still a great achievement and should be celebrated as much as going D1 is celebrated,” Dcruz said.
High school athletes’ parents, coaches and friends also play a big role in how athletes handle this pressure. Encouragement from these people should not just be centered around going D1. Athletes deserve to hear positive, encouraging words from well-wishers that show them high school sports are not just about playing at the highest collegiate level.
High school sports are not purely about going D1; it is just an end achievement some athletes achieve, and some don’t. Sports are about the experiences and memories athletes will relish and cherish for the rest of their lifetime.
