Among the herd of first-year Camels are the freshmen student athletes. What prompted these students to choose Connecticut College as the school that they would play for? What role did recruitment have in this decision?
For Zach Punt ‘15, one of six freshmen on the men’s soccer team, recruitment played a large role in his ultimate decision to come to Conn. Punt began this process the fall of his senior year at Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut. “I was first contacted by the coach for Conn following the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association’s 2010 All-Star game,” said Punt.
After exchanging emails with the coach, Punt set up a meeting to tour Conn, go to a soccer game and stay with a member of the team. “My visit really sealed the deal for me,” said Punt, “The team was very welcoming, and I really liked the classes I visited, as well as Conn’s campus.”
Later that fall, Punt made a verbal commitment to Connecticut College. “A verbal commitment essentially says that I will play soccer for the college and it implied that I would apply early decision to Conn.” Punt did, in fact, apply early decision and was admitted in the winter.
Heather Rochford '15 (Photo from Web)
Rob Spencer ’15, a freshman on the men’s water polo team, had a different recruitment experience. Spencer, who swam and played water polo at Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland, for four years, underwent an extensive process of college athletic recruitment. “I was being recruited by a number of Division I schools for swimming going into my senior year of high school, but I decided to quit intense, year round, swimming to focus on water polo,” said Spencer, who was named an All-American in Water Polo during his senior year of high school.
“I had been looking at many Division I schools, but Division III was more appealing,”he said, “I emailed JJ Addison, the water polo coach, about the program.” From there on, Spencer and Coach Addison exchanged emails. “When JJ told me that he was building the program up again and that he would like me to be a part of it, that was all I needed to hear.” The chance to be a part of an exciting new program, coupled with his feeling that Conn was a good academic fit, prompted Spencer to apply early decision.
Women’s Cross Country runner Heather Rochford ‘15 did not choose to apply Early Decision because of her sport. “I emailed the coach after touring Conn and becoming interested in the college,” said Rochford. After they had been in contact, Coach Ned Bishop invited Heather to come to Conn College for a visit to tour the school again and meet the team.
Rochford, who ran four years of cross country at Red Bank Catholic High School in Red Bank, New Jersey, then applied regular decision to Conn. “After I was accepted, the coach sent me a log to follow over the summer, as a part of the team, to prepare for the upcoming season,” she said.
Each athlete also commented on the transition from high school to college athletics. “The level of intensity of college soccer is on an entirely different playing field than high school,” said Punt. Rochford agreed, and said that “running cross country in college requires a much larger sense of commitment and personal dedication than high school cross country.”
Despite their differences in becoming athletes at Connecticut College, Rochford, Spencer and Punt, all emphasized that being on an athletic team at Connecticut College has been a very rewarding experience. “I felt welcomed at the very beginning of the year” said Rochford. “Having the team made the transition into college smoother.”
Spencer also has found that being an athlete at Conn has positively influenced the start of his freshman year. “Being on water polo has been great. It’s gotten me back into shape, and I’ve made very good friends through water polo,” said Spencer, “Also, it has made me really focus on academics.”
Rochford also shared this sentiment and noted that running cross country at Conn College has really forced her to manage her time well. Punt agreed, saying, “Playing a sport at Conn has forced me to be very productive. When I’m not at soccer practice or going to games, I know that I have to use my time to get my work done.” •
