Eric Sondheimer, the Los Angeles Times high school sports beat writer and a perceptive observer of the changing high school sports landscape, was among the first to report on the increasingly difficult choices high school athletes have to make between playing for their club or high school sports teams. Sondheimer, in a 2008 SportsLetter interview, noted the growing number of sports clubs and said, “We're getting to the point now where they debate what's more important: high school sports or club sports? In certain sports, that debate is already over. The club sports have become more important to get a college scholarship in soccer, girls' volleyball, and softball. It's headed that way in basketball."
Et tu, boys volleyball? In today's LA Times, Sondheimer writes about 6' 6" Michael Beals of Manhattan Beach's Mira Costa High School, who received a scholarship offer to play volleyball at 19-time NCAA champion UCLA, despite having never played for his high school volleyball team. It was the first time in UCLA Assistant Coach Brian Rofer's 20 seasons recruiting volleyball players that he has signed a player who didn't play for his high school team.
Because the two sports share a season, Michael, an avid baseball fan, played baseball for his high school team and volleyball for his club team. After signing his Letter of Intent to play volleyball at UCLA, Michael thought he'd try out for his high school volleyball team. He made the team, but will have to beat out two seniors for a spot in the starting lineup. Said Michael, "I still love baseball. I'm a big fan ... I guess I'm just a volleyball player now."
Comments