What does it take to play at the 'next level'?

By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
Only a select few of those student-athletes currently competing in high school athletics will go on to play in college.
Some will decide that they want to concentrate strictly on academics once they get into college. Others may want to play after high school, but they don’t have the grades to qualify.
And, quite frankly, most just aren’t good enough.
In a study by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, estimating the probability of competing in athletics beyond the high school interscholastic level, the numbers are staggeringly low.
Only 2.9 percent of high school boys basketball players and 3.1 percent of high school girls basketball players will compete at the college level.
For high school football players, only 5.8 percent will play in college.
The results are nearly the same (5.6 percent) for prep baseball players who will go on to play college ball.
In recent years, there have been a number of student-athletes who have continued their athletic careers in college, but only a handful has reached the Division I level.

Playing D-I sports
Two former area athletes who are now competing in Division I football have taken advantage of their opportunities. Former Roanoke High School standout Trimane Goddard, a starting defensive back for the North Carolina Tar Heels and a potential first-round NFL pick in 2008, said it takes more than just a little hard work to play in college.
“The main thing I say it takes to play at the next level is confidence and belief in yourself,” Goddard said. “Also, you have to work very hard. You can’t just do the minimum; you have to set the standard for others to follow because everyone is good at the next level. It’s the work ethic that separates athletes from each other.”
C.J. Wilson, a former star at Northside High School who helped lead East Carolina to a Hawaii Bowl victory, said a student-athlete must be dedicated in order to achieve success.
“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” Wilson said. “All sports at the college level are year-round, unlike high school. You have to love the sport to be able to compete at the college level.”
Trent Whitehead is one of the select few former area athletes to have signed a Division I baseball scholarship. The former Washington High School standout, who is a freshman on the ECU baseball team, said he had to make some sacrifices to get to where he is at now.
“Number one, you have to work harder than anybody out there,” Whitehead said. “If you go out and do the least you can, more than likely it's not going to happen. Number two, you have to do things to get your name out to colleges. I had to spend a bunch of my weekends and days over summer break at showcases, workouts and playing in tournaments for the Cubs.
“Number three, you have to carry yourself well when playing your sport. Go out and play hard all the time no matter how bad you may be playing or how badly things are going. Keep carrying yourself the same as if you’re playing the best you have ever played.”

Another avenue
While being a great high school player can help open some doors, sometimes the better way to go is through a club team. Current ECU volleyball star Stephanie Turner attributes much of her success to playing club volleyball.
“Actually high school volleyball was the least of my worries,” Turner said. “My total focus and commitment was towards my club volleyball team. We were ranked 15th in the nation and I considered them my family.”
Turner said she enjoyed playing, but had to make some sacrifices along the way.
“To play at the next level, you have to be 100 percent committed to what you do,” Turner said. “Throughout high school I wouldn't see my friends on the weekends. I was flying all over the world to play in qualifiers and nationals. I would leave right from school and drive an hour-and-a-half to my practice three days a week, along with conditioning.
“It takes dedication and real love for your sport. Also, on my club team we focused on respect -- respect for our coaches, our teammates, the refs, our fans and our family because they are really the ones that help us get to the next level.
“One of my favorite quotes that my club team coach always said was, ‘If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.’ He stressed the fact that it was all hard work, but ‘the harder we work, the easier it will be.’ On the team our coach’s goal was to prepare us for a college team because it was almost expected for everyone to get a full ride and go play at a D1 school, which everyone I know has. I will never forget those years because I feel like I was over-prepared as I entered college and I honestly thought it was a piece of cake.”

Don’t hold back
Lizzy Bruin, a teammate of Turner’s on the ECU volleyball team, said that if an athlete really wants to play at the next level, she needs to do whatever it takes.
“I am always saying that everything is mental no matter what the situation,” Bruin said. “If you love the game and honestly see yourself loving it in a harder and higher level, then they should go for it no matter what it takes. And although there are a lot of hard times and it is easy to lose sight of why you are working so hard, you'll understand what the hard work was for when you play on the court (or field) that you have worked so hard to get to.”

The 3 D’s
T.J. Midgette, a former star at Southside High School and a current track great at UNC-Wilmington, said it boils down to three things.
“There is this motto that I have about my life; I have a 3-D personality -- dependable, determination, dedication,” Midgette said. “I feel like every athlete who has made it to the next level of competition has had these characteristics. You can't have one without the other. The reason these three intertwine with one another is because they all have a lot to do with the matters of the heart.
“So many of our young athletes today have a lack of heart. There is one important thing to remember, though -- it all boils down to the athlete having support. An athlete needs support from family, friends and the school itself. When I speak of support, I don't mean in athletics alone. Support is needed academically as well because that's the main thing that is needed in order to compete at the next level. If you can't get it done in the classroom, you can't get it done on the field or on the court. It's just that simple.”

A coach’s perspective
Tami Wagaman, the head volleyball coach at Northside High School, has helped several of her athletes earn college scholarships, whether they be full or partial. Recently, Wagaman, a former coach at Southside High School, helped former Seahawk players Danielle Jarman, Augusta Johnson and Ashley Jones earn spots on the Pitt Community College volleyball team.
Wagaman said student-athletes must realize that college athletics is an entirely different entity than high school sports.
“I think it takes a lot of perseverance and dedication to the sport you love,” Wagaman said. “In high school most people play for fun and something to do with their friends. In college it is a job at times and you are given a chance to prove yourself. That usually means that you have to work at least twice as hard as you did in high school.
“Every day as an athlete you have to give 100 percent in practice and listen to your coaches, then practice on your own as well. Most athletes do not make it to the next level just performing the basics during the season. I have helped many athletes get that chance at the next level, but it meant tutoring them on their schoolwork because grades matter the most; giving them one-on-one skill practices and giving them stuff to work on at home. (It’s about) hard work and perseverance.”

Have faith
Rufus Wilson, a former multi-star standout at Washington High School and a former baseball great at Barton College, said he looked to God for guidance during his athletic career path.
“First and foremost, it takes a relationship with God so that you are able to lead and maintain a positive lifestyle,” Wilson said. “You have to never give up and continue to work at your sport even when others are sleeping at night. (It takes) understanding the importance of being a student-athlete. My favorite quote is, ‘good better best, never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.’”
Meredith Knox, a former star at Washington High School and current softball player at Anderson University, said the key word is “commitment.”
“That can be applied to everything, not just the sport you play: your classes, morals, family, friends and faith,” Knox said. “You have to juggle so much in college and then have so many curve balls thrown at you that it’s hard to stay fully committed to everything. So, it’s important to surround yourself with good friends, manage your time and the ‘next level’ will be some of the best times you'll ever have.”

Self-discipline
M.J. Williams, a current softball star at Lees-McCrae College and former Mattamuskeet High School standout, said an athlete must be dedicated.
“I think mainly to play at the next level it takes self-respect and self-discipline,” Williams said. “A lot of success depends on how hard you as an athlete are willing to work. The opportunity is always there; it is just, are you willing to take it?
“Playing collegiate ball is about accepting responsibility and making yourself work harder than the person that you are sitting next to because they are there to play. Being a college athlete is an amazing reward and it is definitely not something that is easy, but much worth it.”

Like a job
Several current college athletes stressed that athletes must be prepared to practice his or her sport year-round. Athletes have to be strong physically and mentally.
“Being a college athlete does not just involve playing a couple games here and there,” ECU softball player Beth Nolan said. “It involves practicing every day, even during breaks; it involves staying on top of your classes because you go to college to get an education; it also involves giving back to your community by doing community service.
“To move on to the next level, you have to be willing and really dedicate yourself to practices, school work and giving back to the community. If you are serious about continuing your career in college, I think you have to focus on managing your time. You can't just rely on your athletic skills alone; you have to also rely on your grades. I love being a college athlete. I am in my fourth and final year of doing so, but it is not easy. There is a reason why only some continue on.”
Jessica Johnson, a teammate of Nolan’s on the Pirate softball squad, agreed that an athlete must be strong in body and in mind.
“The number one thing is perseverance because, even though someone might be a great athlete, eventually everyone hits rough spots and must learn to work through them,” Johnson said. “Being a hard worker is sometimes not enough at the college level. You have to be smart and know that if it was easy, everyone would do it.”
Greg Palmer, a former standout at Northside High School and a current member of the Chowan College football team, agreed.
“To land a spot on a college team and compete at the next level takes a lot of determination,” Palmer said. “You have to be confident, strong-minded mentally and physically. Being an athlete is tough. It’s like a 9 to 5 job.”

Support group
Joe Davis, a Washington native and current basketball player at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, said that an athlete should surround himself with those who have similar goals.
“I think it has to do with hard work and always trying to put yourself in the right situation and with the right people who have the same mindset as you,” Davis said. “I believe the number one thing in making it to the next level is hard work and dedication and making the sacrifices needed to achieve your goals. Our coach makes us memorize a quote every day before practice and one that stood out to me and relates to the subject matter was, ‘if I had seven hours to chop down a tree, I would spend six hours sharpening my axe.’”

Character counts
An athlete may have all the tools necessary to play at the next level. However, Gina Valenti, a former star at Washington High School who is now competing at Lees-McRae College, said character plays a big factor.
“One must be a good sport,” Valenti said. “At a running camp I used to attend, the head coach told us that he would rather take a slow person who was coachable and a good sport as opposed to one who is fast and does not have good sportsmanship. Word travels faster about your attitude than your skill.”
Valenti also said that athletes shouldn’t be afraid to take a risk or be aggressive in trying to land on a college team.
“One must also be willing to take chances,” Valenti said. “I wasn't sure about going to a school so far away, but it is the best decision I have made yet. Also, talk to college coaches yourself. You don't have to wait for them to contact you, and it makes a great impression on the coach for showing the initiative to talk to them first. And always talk positive. Coaches want to see that you are upbeat and excited about the sport.”
An athlete might have the raw skills to perform at the next level, but that doesn’t guarantee anything. Northside High School athletics director Keith Boyd, who is also the head football and baseball coach, said an athlete needs to be willing to listen to his coach.
“You have to have great grades, a good SAT score and the natural athletic ability or size that can't be coached,” Boyd said. “Another characteristic that will enhance an athlete’s chances is the character and humility to allow a coach or mentor to help them fine-tune the skills that have been given to them. In two words, ‘be coachable.’
“Great character may not get you to Division I ball alone but with hard work, both in the classroom and on the athletic fields, and better than average talent, the chance to play at a small school is attainable.”
Washington High School football coach Sport Sawyer agreed that college coaches look at character just as much as skill level. He said high school teachers and administrators can help shape an athlete’s character.
“At Washington we have a great faculty and administration who help out not only athletes, but all students prepare beyond high school,” Sawyer said. “The faculty here is super in supporting students to be prepared for college. It does not matter whether you are a Division I, II or III athlete, this is an accomplishment you should be proud of. This means you have used your God-given talent to advance yourself on the playing field as well as in the classroom.”

Getting there, staying there
Landing on a college team is only half the battle. It takes hard work, determination and a strong work ethic to stay on the team.
“I think you have to have passion about what you are doing and have dedication,” former Williamston High School and ECU standout Kevin Roach said. “Nothing in life comes easy and nothing is just handed to you; you have to work and continue to push yourself to achieve greatness. As my dad always preached to me, ‘there is always someone, somewhere, working hard to be better than you.’
“Also, you have to be humble and be a team player. If you are blessed to have the chance to go to the next level, you can’t let it go straight to your head. The best teams in history may not have had all the talent and superstars, but they fought for each other and played together. I believe that athletics is an excellent gateway to learning about life. As I look back on my career, athletics has played a huge role in building the person I am today. Always follow your heart and stay positive.”
J.J. House, a former standout at Williamston High School and current baseball player at Elizabeth City State University, said it’s important to “stay true to yourself.”
“Managing your time and making sure you make the right decisions are the most important things as far as being successful in college,” House said. “Dedication to your sport and yourself are key in the pursuit of college athletic success.
“If you want to be great, you have to be willing to do great things on and off the field. Yes, people falter and they have their skeletons but, in the end, if you make the decision to become a great person and you are willing to work for what it is that you want in life, then everything will take care of itself.”