By: Alan Yost
Here is a case of Wrestler A vs. Wrestler B: Wrestler A and Wrestler B just made the 2007-2008 State Tournament and both were extremely successful at the tournament. Both wrestlers are around the same height and weight. Wrestler A has a 3.5 GPA and Wrestler B has a 2.7 GPA. Which wrestler do you think a college coach will choose?
Achieving good academic standing is the best way for a student-athlete to maximize his opportunities. Before athletic ability, before individual awards, the first thing a college coach looks at is grades and test scores.
Good grades and test scores can do more than just open doors; they can often help a wrestler obtain more money. A wrestler who is able to receive academic scholarship money is very lucrative to a college coach. For example, instead of athletic aid covering half of tuition, if a wrestler is qualified academic aid may cover the other half. In this case a coach will have freed up athletic money which helps the whole program. Since NCAA Division III colleges cannot give athletic scholarships, most of the money student-athletes receive at these institutions is academic based.
Remember that education is your top priority as a high school and a college student-athlete. Maintain good study habits and seek extra help if necessary. Make sure that you take the ACT and SAT early and more than once, as the NCAA can combine your highest sub-scores. Lastly, the most important thing is to get a copy of the 2008-2009 NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete from your high school guidance counselor. This guide includes directions on how to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and lists the required core courses you must take if you plan to play college athletics.
