When senior Nate Tolles next steps up the plate, he will no longer be wearing the purple and white of the Piedmont team, but instead the red and gold of the Claremont McKenna baseball team. In the coming fall, Piedmont seniors across the country will be playing the sports they having been playing for much of their lives on their colleges’ teams.

Tolles said that he has wanted to follow this road ever since he was a young child.

“I’ve wanted to play in college since I was ten or so, which is when I realized people [could play baseball] in college.”

Senior Gabe Watson said that he started playing football by joining the flag football team in middle school, and has been passionate about the sport ever since.

“I’ve always wanted to play football in college ever since I started playing [tackle football] as a freshman,” Watson said.

Watson said that his recruitment process was a difficult one, exacerbated by an injury he sustained to his leg.

“Overall it was fun to talk with different colleges and weigh out my options, but also was nerve-racking as there was a lot of uncertainty around where I would be able to play football in college for a long time,” Watson said.

Senior Jackie Roland also spoke to the difficulty of the recruiting process. She said that due to multiple injuries to her knee, she had to miss most of her junior year season, which is the main time for volleyball recruiting. In the end, however, she managed to end up at one of her favorite colleges.

“I have loved Pitzer and the Claremont Colleges for a very long time, so now getting to go to Pitzer and play there is such a perfect balance for me,” Roland said. “I really couldn’t be more happy about it.”

Tolles said that his recruitment process to join the team has allowed him to enjoy playing baseball even more.

“Recruiting was rough for a while because I was injured my freshman and sophomore year and didn’t play at all, but I went to at least 10 prospect camps and showcases,” Tolles said. “It has been a big time commitment for me and it’s become my passion again like it was when I was younger.”

Senior Jenny Hosler also said that her sport has been a positive influence in her life.

“Rowing has taught me how to be a good rower, but also a good contributor to society,” Hosler said. “I’ve learned how to work hard and I’ve learned how to manage my time effectively. I have also made my best friends at practice.”