As the 24–25 school year draws to a close and seniors look forward towards next steps, six students are continuing their academic and athletic careers at the following universities: 1) Nate Patzer: Mens Soccer, Carroll University 2) Erich Lotter: Mens Swim & Dive, College of Wooster 3) Kaymin Phillips: Womens Track & Field, University of Purdue-Fort Wayne 4) Andrea Perkins: Womens Track & Field, North Central College 5) Serinity Metcalfe: Womens Basketball, Madison College 6) Mary Jane DeWeerdt: Womens Rowing, University of Minnesota.

Kaymin Phillips committed to Purdue-Fort Wayne for track and field—hurdles specifically. However, more drew her to the school than just athletics.

“I think what drew me to Purdue Fort Wayne is definitely the facilities, [like] the apartment-style dorms,” Phillips said. “But team-wise, I would say there was no ill intent anywhere and every single athlete treated everybody like family.”

Phillips started track early on in fifth grade, and ultimately stuck with the sport.

“I started track because I liked racing kids on the playground,” Phillips said. “I realized I was good at it, so I wanted to join a club team where I could train for it.”

Track and field is divided into different events. Phillips runs hurdles, an event that requires a lot of technique. 

“My freshman year I was super clumsy and I fell a lot even in practice,” said Phillips. “[This season] I’ve been dealing with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of small injuries but right now it’s looking up.”

Erich Lotter, who’s committed to the College of Wooster’s swim and dive team, also had to think carefully about what schools matched his needs.

“I was looking for a small liberal arts school where I could just keep swimming and [Wooster] fits exactly that,” Lotter said. “Wooster [has] great academics and an amazing campus.”

Lotter’s love for swimming began at a young age, ultimately driving him to continue the sport in college.

“My dad signed me up for swimming when I was probably six or seven years old and I have been in it ever since,” Lotter said.

Over the course of his swimming career, this year was a highlight for Lotter.

“Senior year was real fun, we lost a good senior class last year, we still had a really great season and good placements at conference and sectionals and state,” Lotter said.

The league in which each program belongs to is also key to deciding the best possible school.

“[Purdue Fort Wayne] is in the Horizon league, and they just had conference,” Phillips said. “I think they are second or third in the conference but hurdlers right now are … top of the conference.”

Likewise, the division each program is classified as can shape the experience each athlete will have.

“[Wooster] is a D3 school, which means it is a smaller school,” Lotter said. “It’s not going to be as rigorous as a D1 team but it’s still going to be a lot of hours and work like you would  expect.”

After choosing the right school, an important step in the commitment process is meeting the coach. Many of the student-athletes sought out an early connection with their future coach to achieve a successful transition and build a key relationship.

“The coach [at Wooster], Rob Harrington, he is just a great guy,” Lotter said. “I’ve been in contact with him for a while. We’ve had some phone calls, and [when visiting] I’ve enjoyed meeting some of the swimmers there and the coach himself.”                  

With some of the sports programs beginning in just a few months, preparation is vital. However, the transition from high school sports to college sports is a significant undertaking.

“I took some time off of swimming after the senior season,” Lotter said. “I guess the biggest challenge for college [is getting] back into swimming, and [getting] back into shape over the summer before fall season.”

Although senior year hasn’t ended yet, the student-athletes are considering their future after college-both in terms of their sport and their education. 

“I don’t know if I see myself going into the Olympics or anything,” Phillips said. “But I am going to college for political science and communications, so I do want to kind of work in the government in some shape or form.”

Lotter also considered his college career and what would follow it.

“At the moment I’m looking at majoring in economics, and I think that is something I will stick with but it could obviously change,” Lotter said. “For swimming, I think I’d probably just swim through college and I don’t know after that.”