By Morgan Day

For the people who have played sports in high school, but didn’t manage be signed to a college, or those who play the sport for fun and want to keep doing that–good news! Despite what many people think, there are options after high school.

Pursuing college athletics is expensive if you’re not offered a scholarship, and is very difficult if you are not well known by college coaches due to exposure.  So what’s the option for the kids who enjoy playing their sports but are not as popular, or simply just want to keep playing, no matter where it is because they love the game?

There are many club and intramural teams that welcome players, experienced or not, into their arms, for less money and with the potential to form lifelong friendships.  Intramural sports programs provide students an opportunity to take part in a variety of competitive and recreational sport activities. You may encounter leagues for men’s, women’s, or mixed teams.

Club teams allow players to get together regularly to play the sport that they love, and do not meet as often or for as long as varsity teams. Club teams are usually managed and run by players themselves, including travel, fundraising, scheduling, and practices. Club teams bridge the gap between intramural and intercollegiate athletics by providing competition at specialized levels, participation in tournaments, and opportunities to practice. Although some clubs remain solely recreational, most are highly competitive.

Senior Chris Bonnen, who has wrestled for all four years of high school is considering doing intramural and club sports, but mostly looks forward to coming back to Central and helping to coach. “I don’t plan to keep wrestling after this year, but I will more than likely come back to help coach next year’s team.”

Another senior, Morgan Meredyk, has played softball for all four years of high school is not going on to play in college; however, she plans on being involved in walk-ons and maybe club sports.  She is content with the fact that there are many other options for her to keep playing the sport that she loves.  “I’m not too worried about it,” she said, “I’ll find a way to keep doing it since I love it.”

In the end, remember that it is not the end of the world if you don’t get drafted or try out for a college team.  It is easy to keep going, despite what many people think.