Being an athlete at ISB is one thing, but being an athlete at a college is another. University athletes have to be in top shape, often performing in front of thousands, a stark difference from IASAS games. Other changes include the difference in intensity and having to balance their personal and academic growth with their athletics. We asked the four former ISB athletes, all of whom graduated last academic year, about their experiences going from ISB to college sports in the United States.
Hadley King — West Point Swimming
“I have built some of my strongest relationships through college swimming. When I’m at my lowest and exhausted, it’s my teammates that keep me going. College athletics is so much more than the sport itself. It’s about the growth, mental toughness, and connections you get to gain throughout your four years.”
Cameron Rhode — University of Arizona Track & Field
“The student-athlete experience is a challenging and exciting journey. You must perform at the top level in your sport while maintaining your academics and social life. Often times it gets difficult, but you are on your own now in college and have to take responsibility for yourself. In the end, the lessons and experiences learned from being a student-athlete are super valuable and will help guide you throughout life.”
Dhruv Patel — Calvin University Swimming
“College swimming is a different breed. I could sit here and tell you that its hard work and discipline that gets you there, but at this level it’s about becoming obsessed with the details and finding ways to get faster. The best thing is that you have 30 other guys who are on the same page as you are!”
Nate Scranton — Bethany Lutheran College
“Switching from playing at ISB to playing at a competitive college has major culture shock. You will be playing significantly more games, having significantly more practice, and you won’t have the same free time as in high school. To succeed in college, it is vital for you to really love what you are doing. There will be days were you don’t feel like playing, but you will need to push through. Another part of succeeding in college is staying healthy because you will be playing more games and have a longer season. Staying healthy is by far the best thing you can do for yourself. Utilize all the different methods of recovery and definitely don’t over look sleep and rest. They are essential!”
