What was your recruiting situation before working with me, and what were the challenges you were facing? 

 

Before working with Coach Jess, I handled almost 100% of my recruiting. I contacted coaches, made my emails, and had to create my opportunities. When I was playing with my previous travel team, our coaching staff didn’t have any personal connections with any coaches, so it was a challenge in the sense that I was kind of on my own when it came to reaching out to coaches and trying to pick up on how they felt about me as a recruit. With my current team, our staff has a lot of connections, but they tend to be more concentrated in the Northeast. I wanted to play ball in the South, so I typically ran into the same issue. This constantly made me stressed, and there were definitely some nights I would be crying and wondering if it was even worth it.

 

Did my guidance impact your process? If so, how?

 

Absolutely. I felt so much less stressed throughout the whole process, not only with the recruiting itself, but also mentally. You were able to talk me through some things. I ended up realizing this big huge issue I was worried about really wasn’t a major problem, and sometimes not even a problem at all. You asked me questions about colleges I wouldn’t even think to consider, and some ended up being determining factors for me.

 

How did I help you during the process, and what made the biggest difference in you getting recruited (ex: building your list, identifying and empowering your strengths, identifying good fits, opinions of university, area/softball program/coaching, communication help, direct coach outreach, etc)?


 

I feel like the biggest difference you made in my recruitment process is your connections. Having connections to colleges and universities all across the East Coast helped me expand my list and gave me more chances to figure out what I did and didn’t like about a college or environment. I was trying to get in contact with George Mason for a while, and all it took was a quick text from you to find out that they didn’t have money to provide for me, which helped me cross them right off my list. I feel like you tended to receive a more straightforward answer from coaches than I did, and that was something I definitely valued to help find my next home. When it came to communicating with coaches myself, it was stressful trying to come up with what to say, and you definitely eased that stress. You were able to tell me exactly what to say, what not to say, and you even got on the phone with me to practice saying no to a college.

 

Did my guidance impact your process? If so, how

 

Absolutely. I felt so much less stressed throughout the whole process, not only with the recruiting itself, but also mentally. You were able to talk me through some things. I ended up realizing this big huge issue I was worried about really wasn’t a major problem, and sometimes not even a problem at all. You asked me questions about colleges I wouldn’t even think to consider, and some ended up being determining factors for me.

 

Where are you now, and how do you feel about the outcome of working together?

 

Now I am committed to Saint Leo, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I feel grateful that I was able to work with you and make my recruiting process so much smoother. Working with you was genuinely a blessing, and if I could go back, I would have started working with you right at the beginning of my recruitment journey. 

 

Where are you now, and how do you feel about the outcome of working together?

 

Now I am committed to Saint Leo, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision. I feel grateful that I was able to work with you and make my recruiting process so much smoother. Working with you was genuinely a blessing, and if I could go back, I would have started working with you right at the beginning of my recruitment journey.

1. What was your recruiting situation before working with me, and what were the challenges you were facing?

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My recruiting situation was mostly throwing everything I had at the wall and hoping something would stick. It was tough to tell what was working and what wasn’t. I was mainly having a hard time getting coaches to see me and going to camps with little visibility.

 

2. How did I help you during the process, and what made the biggest difference in you getting recruited (ex: building your list, identifying and empowering your strengths, identifying good fits, opinions of university, area/softball program/coaching, communication help, direct coach outreach, visit or phone call prep, confidence building, etc)? Did my guidance impact your process? If so, how?

​

As soon as I started working with Coach Jess, there was an instant change. We were able to target schools more intentionally, and we increased the number of times I was seen. Coach Jess not only supported my goals but also went out of her way to help coaches understand who I was as a player and person. The biggest help for me was meeting with Jess [and Amelia] to prepare for phone calls and visits. Planning beforehand was big for me as it helped me control my end of the conversation and helped me properly represent what I wanted. Overall, her help made my process less stressful and more exciting.

 

3. Where are you now, and how do you feel about the outcome of working together?

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I’m going to be starting my Freshman year playing softball at Long Island University. Though it wasn’t a conventional track to where I’m at, I honestly couldn’t be happier. I’m so excited about this next stage of my academic and athletic career. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am without Coach Jess.

1. What was your recruiting situation before working with me, and what were the challenges you were facing? 

 

Before coming to Thunder and meeting with Jess, I had a general idea of what I was looking for in a college. My situation was different because going to a service academy was my top priority. However, I was struggling to get the attention of the coaches I was constantly emailing.

2. How did I help you during the process, and what made the biggest difference in you getting recruited (ex: building your list, identifying and empowering your strengths, identifying good fits, opinions of university, area/softball program/coaching, communication help, direct coach outreach, visit or phone call prep, confidence building, etc)? Did my guidance impact your process? If so, how?

​

Jess was an incredible help throughout the process of building my college list. She took the time to understand exactly what I was looking for: a school with Division III softball, a Political Science major, and an ROTC program, and used that knowledge to identify a wide range of colleges that fit my criteria. She also helped me make connections that I would not have been able to make on my own, putting me in direct contact with coaches I had struggled to reach, often within minutes. Jess went above and beyond by inviting those same coaches to the Best Four Exposure Clinics at the Fieldhouse, giving me a valuable opportunity to showcase my skills and interact with them in person. These clinics played an important role in allowing me to get in front of coaches and strengthen my recruitment process.

The guidance I received from Jess and the coaches at Thunder had a meaningful impact on my process. They consistently encouraged me to keep an open mind, which allowed me to explore a wider range of opportunities instead of fixating on one specific college. Because I wasn’t set on a single outcome, I was able to evaluate each option more thoughtfully and with greater confidence. When it came time to make my final decision, I felt prepared and supported, knowing that Jess and the Thunder coaches had helped me reflect on what I truly wanted and identify the school that would be the best fit for me academically, athletically, and personally.

 3. Where are you now, and how do you feel about the outcome of working together?

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I am now preparing both physically and mentally for cadet life and college softball at the United States Coast Guard Academy. I am incredibly grateful for Jess and everyone at Thunder, because I would not be where I am today without their support and guidance. Working with Jess removed much of the stress and negative energy that often comes with the recruiting process, making it feel more manageable and focused. Having the opportunity to sit down and talk about recruiting with someone who was not my coach or parent gave me a fresh perspective and helped make the process feel far less daunting. By breaking down my priorities and tackling the process head-on, we were able to move forward with confidence, and now we get to plan my signing day!