Story of a To-Be College Athlete

The boys banged on the walls of the tunnel until the fight song being played by the marching band was no longer audible. The cheerleaders held up a big paper sign with the phrase “let’s get fired up” painted carefully in black and gold. The roar of the student section above them was inspiring. It was just another football friday night for senior captain of the Upper Arlington football team, Sam Wheeler.

Football was Sam’s life. It was his passion. Nothing made him more excited than a pancake tackle or a hail-mary to win the game. And this season was Sam’s last season of high school football. It could in fact be his last season of football ever, but Sam was determined not to let that be the case. He was a good player to say the least, and an all-around athletic kid. At five foot ten and 180 pounds, he wasn’t the biggest, but like all good athletes, he refused to let his size dictate his performance. What he lacked in size he certainly made up for in speed, running a 4.39 40 yard dash.

This year was his year. This year, Sam was going to have over 25 receptions, more than his last two years combined. On defense, he was going to make great tackles, pick off passes and have no less than one sack every game. The scouts would have to notice him. Not the Division II and III scouts, but Division I–the big leagues. The level of football Sam had been dreaming of playing since he was a kid. He had worked so hard to get to where he was... he had to get a good offer.

The season rolled on, Friday nights came and went faster than Sam anticipated, and the bears were passing game was far worse than the team had expected. Halfway through the season, Sam only had three receptions, and it was not because he couldn't catch the ball. The bears were struggling to keep their record from sinking below 500. Sam ultimately finished his senior season with just eight receptions and zero Division I offers.

Sam continued to send his highlight film to different schools, but none that he showed interest in showed interest in return. SO he waited. By January, he had been contacted by multiple DII and DII coaches about playing for their programs next year, but none of them struck his interest. By that time it was only realistic to assume that a better offer was not on its way, so Sam, with a heavy heart, began to search for an alternative option.

Prep school. That was it! Well known for their academic and athletic excellence, a year of prep school would allow Sam to continue to better his academic record and grade point average while allowing him to play another year of high school football for a prestigious program with great athletes from all over the country. Sam visited over five schools on the east coast before deciding on the one he though would suit him best–Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut. Sam worked rigorously throughout the offseason, lifting heavily five at least five days a week and working on his speed and endurance until late July when he left for school to begin preparation for the season with his new team.

From just the team's first practice together, Sam knew this was a perfect fit. He would start at wide receiver and at corner back, and he would also be the second string punter on a team chalked full of incredible athletes. The season couldn't begin soon enough. I his first game, Sam caught five passes for total of two touchdowns and 127 yards. His success continued, game after game.

In late October, as the season was winding down, Sam picked up a phone call to hear an unfamiliar voice.

"Hello Mr. Sam Wheeler, this is Craig Bohl, head coach of the football program at the University of Wyoming. How do you feel about becoming a Cowboy?"