Titan athletes step up to college level

Titan student athletes are going to all corners of the country, from Hawaii to Pennsylvania to Alabama to continue their athletic careers. Thirty two Papio South athletes will be playing at every level, from Division 1 to NAIA, as well as Junior Colleges. Division 1 athletics are the highest level an athlete can play at. NAIA schools are smaller schools, and many are private. JUCO’s are 2 year institutions that help student athletes get on their feet and prepare them for higher levels of playing.

     Out of all the athletes signed to a college, eight are going to a Junior College. According to Athletic Director Jeremy Van Ackeren, the JUCO route is a path students can take to mature as an athlete.

     “I think if kids aren’t physically mature enough yet to play at a level that they want to play at, whether it’d be Division 1 or Division 2, then that’s probably a good route to grow,” Van Ackeren said. 

New high school graduates can spend the two years to grow and mature as athletes, but also as students. Another reason high school athletes may attend a junior college, according to Van Ackeren, is to seek academic assistance.

     “They have academic people that help kids in junior college, because they understand that that’s probably the reason they’re there,” Van Ackeren said. 

JUCO schools also have been known to help some of these athletes get to the Division 1 level. At some points in the recruiting cycle for coaches, usually later in the cycle, JUCO athletes become the best option for these schools. Late in the recruiting process, high school athletes usually aren’t available. That is when JUCO prospects become the best option.

    “You’re not going to find a high school kid in May or June. It’s not gonna happen. All the high school kids are probably gone. So I’m going to jump on a JUCO and see what I can find,” Van Ackeren said. 

Baseball player Brady Fitzpatrick is headed to a JUCO to further his athletic career. Fitzpatrick is attending Johnson Community College in Overland Park, Kansas. Johnson CC currently sits at 5th in the NJCAA Division 1 rankings, the team ranking system for JUCO schools. Johnson has been a successful school in the past, and according to Fitzpatrick that was part of why he chose to go there. 

     “Knowing that I am going into a school ranked in the nation gets me excited. Seeing this, I know I have to come into college and work my tail off every day to continue the success of the program,” Fitzpatrick said. 

A winning history was something Fitzpatrick looked for in a team. He believes the national attention that Johnson CC receives indicates a strong program.

     “The success of the school did play a role in my decision. Their rankings and record are a direct correlation to how well this coaching staff is at developing players,” Fitzpatrick said. 

     Hawaii volleyball signee Stella Adeyemi shared different reasons for heading her own direction. 

     “The University of Hawaii aligned with my goals, and talking with the coaching staff, I knew that I would be in the best environment to grow not only as an athlete, but as a student as well. The Hawaii community is very enthusiastic about the game of volleyball, and it’s a very exciting place to be,” Adeyemi said. 

     Adeyemi didn’t ignore the success of the Hawaii program. The Hawaii volleyball program has been a name always at the top of the Big West conference, a conference full of teams on the West Coast. They have finished first in the Big West conference the last three years. Adeyemi is ready to contribute to the team’s success.

     “I know that Hawaii women’s volleyball has a history of winning the Big West conference multiple times. I plan on adding to the culture the program has built by adding my work ethic,” Adeyemi said. 

     There are many reasons a student athlete might decide on a school beyond a team’s success. Facilities, education and location are all factors in choosing a college. According to Van Ackeren, JUCO schools are upgrading when it comes to their facilities.

     “JUCOs are trying to improve their facilities to make it look appealing for people who are on the borderline of wanting to go to four-year school,” Van Ackeren said. 

If an athlete decides to go to a JUCO, they can stay there for as long as two years. Another appeal of the Junior College route is the possibility of moving up to a higher level, including Division 1. If an athlete believes they have the talent but aren’t yet ready to compete at that level, Van Ackeren says the JUCO route is a path to take.

     “If I go to a JUCO, do I have a chance to go play Division 1? If I do and I think I do, then I’m gonna go here first cause I’m not quite ready,” Van Ackeren said. 

For Fitzpatrick, Johnson CC has pushed multiple baseball players into Division 1 baseball, and later on the minor and even major leagues for baseball. That is another reason he is headed to Overland Park. 

     “Knowing that they have produced great baseball players helped make the decision easier. You always hear about the great reputations of these schools, but to see results for yourself makes it better,” Fitzpatrick said. 

Adeyemi doesn’t see any negatives in her own decision to go straight to Division 1. 

     “Going Division 1 is the highest level of competition any student athlete can play in college, and being part of the small percentage of people to do that is a privilege,” Adeyemi said.