The big dream of competing in athletics at a top university has become a reality for three Seattle Prep students. Even though this is an exciting process, there is pressure of being admitted as well. Although a student athlete may verbally commit to a school, they still must meet admission requirements and academic qualifications. Juniors Hayden Downer, Beckett Archer, and Win Chandler have verbally committed to top schools Ohio State, Princeton, and Duke and are ecstatic about their future in sports and academics.

Beckett Archer, who has verbally committed to playing lacrosse at Princeton, has had a personal connection to the university. “It was where my dad went to college, so it has always been a dream of mine,” Archer said.

His family has been a big inspiration to him and his endeavors in lacrosse. His brother has inspired him to go Division 1 and has supported him through his recruiting process and college and is a big reason why he has pursued lacrosse to this extent. From a young age, Archer has played lacrosse. He currently plays for the club team, Mad Dog National Black and West Elite alongside Chandler where he found a strong support group of coaches and teammates, fueling his passion and drive to achieve these dreams. Since Archer’s brother plays for John Hopkins and went Division 3 for football, it was natural that he went through the same recruiting process himself, trailing in his brother’s footsteps.

Win Chandler faced a decision between two prestigious schools: Princeton and Duke. Although he felt certainly lucky to have both schools show interest in him, ultimately, he chose Duke, drawn to the school’s culture and sense of belonging. Similarly to Archer, Chandler was influenced by his older brother, a lacrosse player at Hobart University.

Although both athletes have verbally committed to the school, it does not mean they are off the hook. “We still have to maintain good grades, but the colleges are definitely more focused on athletics,” Chandler explained.

Hayden Downer has been asked to play softball at Ohio State University. Downer started her recruitment process when she was 13. She described it as, “pretty stressful not knowing who would contact you, but I knew I would end up where I wanted to be.” Similarly to Archer and Chandler, the recruitment process was long, but she said, “after you can start communicating with college coaches the process goes pretty fast.”

Downer’s decision to commit to Ohio State gave her a clear vision of what her future could look like. “At Ohio State I could envision myself becoming the best player I can be.”

Additionally, Ohio State’s renowned nursing program and its strong athletic support made the university a perfect match. She is motivated and feels a sense of purpose as high school comes to an end. “There is a clear plan, and knowing what I’m working towards really drives me,” Downer explained.

As these three juniors patiently await the exciting opportunities close within their reach, they remain committed to building skills in both their academic and athletic pursuits. These students show how hard work and passion can lead to a future of opportunities. Archer said, “We are lucky to have this kind of decision-making process for college and we have worked really hard for this.”