For most 2010 high school graduates, first semester of senior year has not been treating them too kindly. With SAT’s, college applications and regular classes on their plates, Paly seniors cannot wait for second semester to roll around. But for a select few, second semester senioritis kicked-in before the school year even began. For these athletes, the anxiety that encompasses the initial months of senior year has been pushed aside because their college careers are already set in stone thanks to their excellence in athletics.

Kelly Jenks (’10), Paly varsity girls’ soccer player, set aside her college worries on March 24, 2009, when she committed to Santa Clara University to play for its Division I team. Jenks, who has been playing on the varsity soccer and softball team for all four years of her high school career, was also recruited by University of Pacific, Saint Mary’s, Cal State Fullerton, and a few schools in Florida. However, Jenks’ decision came down to University of Pacific and Santa Clara University.

“They were both similar, but Santa Clara was the whole package,” Jenks said. “When I was a little kid, I always thought it would be amazing to play there but, I never thought I would be good enough.”

Other seniors, such as Erika Hoglund (’10), Jenner Fox (’10) and Joc Pederson (’10) committed during the summer of 2009. Pederson, who will attend University of Southern California in the fall of 2010 to play baseball, committed in August of 2009. He also considered Arizona State University, University of Oregon and Oregon State. Pederson began his recruitment process by attending showcases in the summer where west coast college coaches were in attendance.

Fox, who committed to Yale University in September to play soccer, went about his recruitment process by sending emails and skills videos to over thirty coaches. Like Pederson, he also received recognition by playing in showcase tournaments, through which he received the most attractive offers from Yale and Brown University. Although Fox held both schools in equal esteem, Yale felt like a better fit.

“Both schools provided extraordinary educational opportunities and they were offering the same amount of financial aid,” Fox said. “I felt comfortable with the guys on the team at Yale, and I really liked the coach. Even though Brown’s soccer team was better than Yale’s this year I felt like I would be happier at Yale, and that I would be able to come in and make an impact on the field right away.”

For many college recruits, including Fox, the balance between school and athletics plays a large role in deciding which school to play for.

“When I was making my decision I tried putting how much soccer would affect my life at either school into perspective,” Fox said. “I figured it would take up about a third of my time, and even though Brown played a sweet brand of soccer, I liked the whole picture at Yale.”

Hoglund, who committed to play soccer at Princeton University, got a late start in the process of marketing herself as a collegiate athlete.

“I was actually really late in my recruitment and my commitment was not at all [done in] the normal way,” Hoglund said. “I went to their [Princeton’s] camp at the end of July and that was the first time they had seen me play. It was a four-day camp and at the end of the week they told me they were really interested and that they wanted me on their team and that they had a spot for me. Then they saw me play the next week at the Surf Summer Cup in San Diego. That was when I committed. It was a very, very short process.”

For all of these seniors, they have felt relieved academically since they have committed to their respective schools.

“After I finished my Yale application in September, this semester became very manageable,” Fox said. “So far, it is much easier than last year, partly because the pressure is off. I’m not constantly writing emails and I’m not studying for SAT’s. My work load is less intense.”

Hoglund feels similarly and because she committed before the school year commenced she was able to alter her schedule so that her workload would be a lot less strenuous.

“I had a full schedule this year,” Hoglund said. “I was taking seven classes and I decided after I committed to drop AP English. I hadn’t done most of the summer reading and wasn’t really looking forward to doing it, so I was glad to be able to drop it. It was a load off my schedule.”

Unlike many seniors who end up taking the SAT or ACT multiple times, Hoglund only needed to take the SAT once because of her early commitment to college.

“I only took it [the SAT] once,” Hoglund said. “I was happy with my score but not 100 percent satisfied. I was planning on taking it again this fall. But once I committed and told them [the coaches] my scores they said that was fine, so I didn’t think about taking it again.”

Although these seniors have been able to adjust their schedules since they have committed to their respective colleges, they also must maintain their grades in order to keep their spot on the team.

“The coach did make sure to tell me ‘this is a division one school but it’s not like UCLA or Cal where athletes get a free pass academically,” Hoglund said. “It’s an Ivy League school and there are certain differences between Ivy division one schools and regular division one schools. I have to maintain my GPA as well as I can and he [my coach] said C’s are unacceptable.”

Fox also must maintain his current GPA to keep his spot on the team. Pederson, although not attending an Ivy League, is also mandated to get good grades.

“They told me the worse case scenario would be if I got all C’s” Pederson said.

Along with the expectation to sustain a sturdy grade point average, committed seniors are also required to maintain their skill level in their respective sports.

“I have to workout every day,” Pederson said. “I come home from practice, hit, go eat and then I lift weights.”

Jenks also lifts weights to stay in shape for her college team.

“I am starting a weight program, not to bulk up but to get toned and to get faster,” Jenks said. “I’m trying to rev it up before summer.”

All the committed seniors receive workout programs over the summer to prepare for the level of play at the college level.

“Colleges give you summer fitness plans so you come in ready to go and are prepared fitness wise,” Hoglund said. “[They give out fitness plans] so that you’re able to keep up with college level fitness and so you are not coming in after a summer of not having played.”

Despite the hard work required to get in the physical condition necessary to compete at a collegiate level, the handful of Paly seniors who have already committed to play a sport in college are reaping the benefits of not having the constant anxieties that encompass college applications on their minds.

“People say doing college applications is like taking a whole other AP class, so that has been a major help,” Hoglund said. “My whole attitude toward school is a whole lot less stressed, and it’s a lot more relaxing just to sit back and enjoy my senior year. I have to still work hard but I get to do so knowing that the expectations aren’t as high.”

Fox has felt similar relief and feels especially lucky that he is not in the same situation as his friends.

“I feel very lucky that it worked out the way it did,” Fox said. ” I don’t like talking about already getting into Yale with my friends because most of them are in application hell and are uncertain about what schools they will by accepted by. This stress sometimes produces animosity towards my situation but always in a joking manner.”

Jenks can also relate to the relief that the other committed seniors have felt since their decision to play at their respective schools.

“I can’t imagine having to apply to like fifteen schools like some of my friends are. I think that’s crazy,” Jenks said. “I always knew that I wanted to play soccer in college and it paid off.”