BY JEREMY HAAS

* SPOILER ALERT

Horror movies are a staple in film culture. Yet it seems modern moviemakers are running out of ideas for real horror. We are seeing constant remakes of stories that need no remodeling and continuous rehashes of old ideas, all of which in an effort to make a quick buck off of teenagers with nothing better to do than buy tickets to the latest movie with an Exorcism-based plot.  One recent movie did catch my eye, still.  Despite the fact that it’s a remake, and it completely ruins the hilariously crude production values of the original, the current remake of Evil Dead really did impress me.

The original Evil Dead was released in 1981, and it starred future horror-film poster boy Bruce Campbell. The story centers on five teenagers who spend a night in a remote cabin in the woods (original, I know).  In said cabin, they stumble upon a creepy, satanic looking book accompanied by a tape of its translations.  As they play the tape weird, horrific events ensue. An evil entity possesses the teens, tormenting them until only one is left alive…and that’s the breathtakingly handsome Ash (Bruce Campbell).  Despite the typical story arc, Evil Dead was endearing because of its cheesiness and obviously mediocre production values.  Rather than taking itself too seriously, the film plays on the fact that it’s a B-movie, one that people would watch for fun rather than actual fear.  The comedy is reliant on how overdone everything about the film is, an feature that has earned it a cult following.

Despite the preconceptions it had to overcome, this remake surprised me. It didn’t try to follow the story of its predecessor shot for shot, or character for character.  It did include subtle parallels with the original that die-hard fans could appreciate, and it did keep the same basic “cabin in the woods” formula, but the newest installment did a spectacular job at being its own movie.  It’s terrifying, suspenseful, relentlessly disgusting  aspects kept me hooked for its entire 91 minute run time.

In this new Evil Dead, the main character is played by the stunning Jane Levy, who is not only beautiful, but also the only big name on the bill. Known for her work in the teenage sitcom Suburgatory, her fame makes for a good dynamic with the other four characters.

Now let’s delve into the narrative, which this remake had a little more of.  Jane Levy’s character goes to a remote cabin in the remote woods to kick her drug addiction, cold turkey.  Four long-time friends, one of who is her older brother, join her to make sure she sticks it until the bitter end.  After the back-story is established, things start to get interesting.  One of the friends, beardy-man Eric, finds the basement of the cabin, outfitted with quite a few dead cats hanging from the ceiling, along with a book wrapped in barbed wire, bound in human flesh.  Now, me, being the superstitious guy I am, would leave that book alone, but no, Eric has a little more courage and curiosity than I do.  He opens the book, and of course reads it’s few English phonetic translations, out loud, because that’s how horror movies work.  Suddenly, an evil force is unleashed, and once again, five friends are possessed and tormented until only one remains.

What really stood out about this film was it’s sickening amount of gore.  From the moment beardy-man Eric reads this little book of voodoo, Evil Dead refuses to yield.  It featured excessive blood spillage, limb removal, and super interesting ways of using household appliances as weapons of painful murder.  The first half hour of the movie fit every murder weapon used into scattered establishing scenes.  There were also a few subtle allusions to the original Evil Dead series, like Jane Levy’s “Michigan State” sweater, or nameless blonde girl’s initial reaction to seeing her friend possessed (“WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER EYES?!”)

Under any other circumstances, I would hate this movie.  It’s got the usual horror formula, along with tons of plot holes, and in addition to that, it’s based off a movie that really should not have been remade.  The reboot of Evil Dead, though, was absolutely ruthless with its gore, making me cringe nonstop for a good hour.  Serious suspense and stomach-churning bloodshed make up for the numerous downfalls, because in the end, Evil Dead wasn’t trying to do anything serious, it just wanted to put its audience into utter shock.

BY BLUE KAUFMAN

When one hears the words” based off a true story”, especially in regards to sports films, you can’t help but feel apprehensive. These stories, typically smothered by their own predictability, can be consistently counted on to feature overly sappy quotes, a happily-ever-after type narrative and of course, let’s not forget- a triumphant underdog. However, there are situations, when a sports movie is so sincere, so genuine that it surprises you with its remarkable depth. 42 is one of those movies. Having successfully survived its big-screen evolution (featuring a cast of new stars + Harrison Ford, no less!), 42 respectfully tells the tale of one of baseball’s most beloved icons.

Considering he is the only player in baseball history to have his number retired, the story of Jackie Robinson is no doubt a historic one.  Released on April 16 and Directed by Brian Helgeland (L.A Confidential) the film is set in 1947 and follows Robinson, a determined figurehead of the civil rights movement.  Newcomer Chadwick Bose, who does an impressive job in the part, plays Jackie Robinson.  Harrison Ford portrays the infamous Branch Rickey, the mastermind behind getting Robinson to sign with the Dodgers, therefore breaking the color barrier in professional baseball.

Playing a gruff businessman, Ford’s acting steals the show in his best performance since The Fugitive.  His character’s true motives (making more money) amplify the films realistic nature and prevent this easily sugarcoated topic from being patronizing.  His brutal honesty serves as a compass for the rest of the film and sets the stage for the racism Jackie Robinson must endure.

Fueled by the frustrations and limitations of a segregated era, Robinson is taunted at airports, rejected from hotels, and receives multiple death threats. Pitchers throw baseballs at his head and throughout his struggles he follows Branch Rickey’s instructions and proves ” he has the guts not to fight back.”

The casting of the Brooklyn Dodgers team is tight. Each player displays their own personality and quirks and they add to the story without ever crossing the lines into sappiness or comic relief. Their skepticism and confusion of whether or not to accept Robinson parallels the plot and blends in nicely with the overall finesse of the movies storytelling.

While the film is an eye-opener for those unfamiliar with the story, there are times when 42 can be interpreted as being too soft. Retaining a Disney-like quality, it follows a typical narrative arc and airs on the side of caution. Most of the characters are clearly distinguished as good/bad and with the exception of Pee Wee Reese (one of the teammates)- we are never in doubt of who will do the right thing.

There is one scene when Jackie Robinson is up to bat and the opposing Phillies Coach Ben Chapman (Alan Tudyk) spews antagonizing words of hatred at him. Spraying Robinson countless times with the N-word, his insults are nothing short of torment and we watch as Robinson’s resolve falters. You can feel the rage coiling up inside him as his splintered bat breaks on the ground in anger. He doesn’t fight back. That’s the kind of emotional complexity I wanted from 42, it’s too bad these scenes were limited.

Nevertheless, the few instances that capture the practicality of the pre-civil rights era do so magnificently. Coupled with cool baseball scenes and sprinkled with witty one-liners, the film floats on, providing an overall entertaining experience.

While 42 is definitely not devoid of faults, the flaws it has are forgivable. Although the movie may not have been a home run, it’s a solid double in terms of quality cinema.

Photo Credit: CHEYENNE PINO

BY LOUIS DENNIN

Volunteers from the CCHS Sound of Pride visited Pioneer Middle School from spring break through April to tutor students in Pioneer’s band, readying them for their upcoming spring concert.

The tutoring was offered to all members of the Pioneer band. The rehearsals were scheduled for after school at 3:30 pm and typically lasted an hour or two.

“It greatly benefits the middle school students because they get additional help on their instrument and other opportunities to practice their music,” Pioneer’s band director Richard Uhler said. “It also allows middle schoolers to connect to high schoolers.”

Musicians from the Sound of Pride met one-on-one with an individual Pioneer band member or with small groups of musicians.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” sophomore tutor Zara Schlimowitz said. “We worked on the kids understanding of what they’re doing, if they don’t understand what they’re doing then they’ll never do it right.”

Different tutoring methods were used by each of the Sound of Pride members, but the ultimate goal was the same, to help Pioneer’s band unlock their true potential and work out difficulties with their music before the Spring concert on May 20. The students who consistently attended tutoring sessions greatly improved on their playing.

“I helped them understand the music’s story,” Schlimowitz said. “If you don’t know what the music’s story is, then how are you going to play it?”

In addition to helping out the middle school students, the Sound of Pride benefited too. Attending these events is a way the high school can recruit incoming students into their own band. It also allows them to exercise leadership skills, which the aspiring officers of the band need to be successful. This mutual relationship between the two bands ultimately leads to a healthier musical program.

“They’re the foundation of our bands future,” Schlimowitz said. “The middle schoolers will come into high school with an idea of how the program works. They gain work ethic and a feeling of camaraderie and they feel like they’re part of the Sound of Pride.”

Working side by side, the ensembles of Cooper City High and Pioneer Middle look at the road ahead. While learning music is difficult, they see a bright future for both bands and plan to continue striving for excellence.

“When I was in middle school I was tutored by the high school’s band.” freshman tutor Sarah Reading said. “Helping them now is a way I can give back.”

The Lariat won 16 awards at the annual Sun-Sentinel High School Journalism Awards held at Hollywood Hills High School on April 30, 2013.

The awards honor the best student journalism in Broward County. The Lariat took home the following awards.

Staffer of the year- Jeremy Haas

Editorial Section- Honorable Mention

News Section- Honorable Mention

News Writer- Kyra Bacon 3^rd place

Sports Writer- Jacob Fierman Honorable Mention

Sports Columnist- Blue Kaufman Honorable Mention

Features Section- 3^rd Place

Features Writer- Jessica Weaver 1^st Place

Entertainment Section- 2^nd place

Entertainment Writer- Alex Barnard Honorable Mention

Entertainment Writer- Jeremy Haas Honorable Mention

Entertainment Writer- Stacey Pasternak 2^nd Place

Blogger/Columnist- Blue Kaufman 1^st place

Headlines- 3^rd place

Layout & Design – 2^nd Place

Best Overall – 3^rd Place

The Lariat newspaper staff won a total of 19 Florida Scholastic Press Association awards. The awards were announced at the FSPA state convention in Orlando this past weekend. Students were awarded “honorable mention”, “Excellent”, and “All-Florida” which is the FSPA’s highest honor. The Lariat placed in the following categories.

FSPA Awards 2013

All – Florida

Alex Barnard – Print Commentary

Blue Kaufman – Print Commentary

Jeremy Haas – Print Commentary

Jessica Weaver – Profile Story

Excellent

Blue Kaufman – Review

Blue Kaufman – Sports Feature

Kyra Bacon – News Story

Stacey Pasternak – News Story

Honorable Mention

Alex Barnard – Feature Story

Blue Kaufman – Editorial

Brandon Sloane – Editorial

Brandon Sloane – Sports Feature Story

Jacob Fierman – Profile Story

Jessica Weaver – Feature Story

Kyra Bacon – Sports Feature Story

Olivia Pascale-Wong – Review

Rachel Sharpe – Editorial

Rachel Sharpe – Feature Story

Stacey Pasternak – Profile Story

Photos Courtesy Of: COOPER CITY

BY BLUE KAUFMAN

Even in a little town like Cooper City, we too often get caught up in our own busy schedules. Thoughts of an upcoming exam, an appointment, or just life in general can send us into a stupor of stress, placing a wedge between us and other people nearby. However, every April, Cooper City residents gather for a couple hours to celebrate the community. Picnic blankets lay sprawled across the grass, live music floats through the air and fireworks go off, piercing the night sky with jets of bright light.  Strangers are suddenly neighbors in this festive sea of citizens, collectively knitted together to acknowledge one event: Cooper City Founder’s Day.

The Founders Day Parade down 90th is the centerpiece of the days festivities.

Founder’s Day, an event that has been going on for over fifty years, remains a well-known festival in Cooper City.  Organized by the Recreation Department, the event recognizes the city’s legacy, growth and its founder, Morris Cooper.

Purchased in 1952 by Cooper, it’s hard to believe that this sprawling area was once a vast expanse of orange groves and cattle land. Initially, Cooper advertised to sell it in the Wall Street Journal, but the land never sold due to a real estate market plunge and thus the city was born. Traditionally celebrated on the last Saturday of every April, the Founder’s Day event now serves as a way for residents to honor this history.

Luring citizens with its food, festivities and fun, Founder’s Day is arguably one of the biggest events for the city. Since its start, Founder’s Day has evolved into much more than just acknowledging our pioneer roots: It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the city’s growth.

Robert Fleischer, a resident of Cooper City for 43 years, was the athletic trainer for Cooper City High School when the school first opened in 1971. Although Fleischer retired three years ago, he still stays active as a substitute teacher for the school. The school, which originally opened with 34 students, now encompasses over 2400 and Fleischer has been there throughout the drastic changes in population. The school is planning to tear down the old building and replace it, an act Fleischer characterizes as “bittersweet”.

“I remember when this old building was first built; it was historic,” Fleischer said. “While it’s no doubt it’s worn down and in need of replacement, I will surely miss it.”

According to Fleischer, the great public schools are why so many people have moved to the city.  With high passing rates and superior academic achievement, the impressive schooling offered by Cooper City has lured many families.

“The population expansion is definitely the biggest change I’ve noticed,” Fleischer said. “It wasn’t that long ago when Stirling Road was just a dirt path.”

Like the school, the Founder’s Day event has also evolved. Originally the festivities, which were small, compared to today, were held on the Cooper City Elementary School grounds. In 1989 the event was moved to CCHS and later to Brian Piccolo Park in 1990, where it has remained since.  Despite the development, the core purpose of Founder’s Day remains the same.

“It’s definitely an important event,” Fleischer said. “It’s a chance to reflect on the city and to appreciate how far we’ve come, even if it’s only for a little while.”

The Cooper City 50th anniversary time capsule shows some of the city's history.

For this reason, the recreation department works hard to make the event a success. Linda Good, the head of the department, hastily prepared for this year’s Founders Day, which took place on April 27^th.

“When planning Founder’s Day, we try to keep to traditional events that families enjoy, while also incorporating new ones,” Good said.

This year’s Founder’s Day included a parade, BBQs, egg tosses, raft races, food and game booths, sporting competitions, a blood mobile, fireworks and much more.

“Many look forward to the event all year,” Good said.  “It is a wonderful time to spend time with friends and neighbors and I encourage everyone to come out and have a good time.”

Photo Credit: CHEYENNE PINO

BY JEREMY HAAS

Sitting behind multiple cameras in front of the CTV room’s green screen, I feel a strange feeling, something that’s unusual when working with high school students, and that feeling is professionalism.  I am currently working with senior and CTV president Mitchel Worley on his latest directorial endeavor: a short film called Quietus. Specifically, I am acting in the movie, as a character named Riley, but more on that later.  The real focus of this project is Worley himself, who spends every day of shooting doing a real director’s job, and that is, quite simply, directing.  For Quietus to conform to his vision, Worley has recruited many of his friends to help.  On the first day of shooting, he had an assistant director, editor, cameraman, boom-microphone operator, and even a script supervisor present.  Through it all he lead the group with a finesse that truly shows maturity and pure devotion to his work.

Quietus is a “mockumentary” style short film that follows one student’s mission to create his own amateur documentary about death in lives of high school students.  The three subjects, who act as the three main characters of Quietus, are Veronica, Jed, and Riley.  This trio grows close and experience romance, arrest, and even death throughout the story.  Like I mentioned earlier, I play Riley, who is a fairly typical seventeen-year-old kid, except for his terrifyingly religious mother, who causes serious problems in his life and ends up playing a pivotal role as the not-so-typical villain of Quietus.

“Quietus deals with a lot of serious topics, but its biggest theme is death,” Worley said, “So it’s definitely going to be a serious film,”

This film is long overdue, considering Worley’s lifelong passion for movies.  Growing up, he spent most of his time watching classics, obsessing over Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and Jurassic Park, until he was an absolute powerhouse of movie trivia. Worley inherited his interest in film from his mother, who is a passionate camerawoman, the type of woman who “would shoot home videos all the time” as Worley puts it.  When he was little, he followed her around, hassling her to let him use her camera.  The day he was old enough to use one, he found himself taking over her role as the family moviemaker.

Worley realized his desire to be a director while taking Janessa Puig’s mass media class during freshman year. That class introduced him to a whole new world, a career that he would soon pursue passionately.

“I remember watching the ‘behind the scenes’ DVD extra’s of movies, and when I saw the director, just calling the shots and creating an incredible film, well, that’s when I knew what I wanted to do,” Worley said.

It was in Worley’s sophomore year that he really took action.  Alfredo Pichardo, the school’s TV production adviser, chose him to join CTV.  Since then, he has seen three generations of CTV students come and go, including his own class of 2013.  Worley has been heavily involved in CTV, going to STN, the national TV production competition three years in a row. This year, as president of CTV, Worley put his destiny to direct in place.  Besides Quietus, Worley has made one other short film, a piece about the Internet phenomenon “Slenderman.”  The movie was called He’s Watching and it aired as CTV’s annual Halloween special.  That horror flick served as a learning experience for Worley, who isn’t too proud of the way procrastination and mediocrity found ways into the production of He’s Watching.

“One thing that happened with He’s Watching is that we were writing scenes right before we shot them, which is really something you shouldn’t do,” Worley said.

I also played a role in He’s Watching, so I experienced the stress first hand.  Since there was no shooting schedule, the crew was scarce much of the time, and finding every member of the cast on a given day of filming was rare.  There was really no planning, no set script, and many of scenes for the movie were taped in the few weeks leading up to its air date.  The night before film aired was beyond hectic, with an editing session that took nearly twelve hours.  In the end, though, He’s Watching was finished on time, and for a movie with so many complications, it came out pretty well.  Worley, being a perfectionist, is critical of his work, but he did finish a full 20 minute long short film.  That’s something most high school students can’t say.

“What I was going for was extremely scary, and what I got is, in my opinion, pretty mediocre,” Worley said.

As I sat there, reciting my lines for these two cameras, I felt something real.  The heat of an intense lighting kit lingered on my face and I looked up from this scene to see a dedicated crew, hanging on every word of one guy.  Worley seems to have what it takes; a perfect balance of passion, talent, charisma, and determination is putting him on the path of becoming a successful director.

“I want to be able to say that when I was in high school, I made a short film and actually liked it,” Worley said.

BY DANIELLA ASPURU

American rapper, Tyga released his third studio album Hotel California on April 9^th, 2013.  The album features hit singles such as “Dope” and “Molly”. On this album Tyga included collaborations with a-list rappers such as Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Future, 2 Chainz, Wiz Khalifa, the Game, and even Tupac.  With all these artists laying down tracks the album is bound to be a hit.

On Tyga’s last album Careless World: Rise of the Live King he proved to his fans and critics that he can rap about meaningful things and not just a party lifestyle, which most rappers have grown accustomed to.  With Hotel California, Tyga isn’t too sentimental with his lyrics and a majority of the songs have little substance.  In “500 Degrees”, Tyga lets listeners know how rich he is and manages to describe and list all of his material possessions.  In “Get Loose” we hear the same thing again when Tyga informs us that he can buy anything he wants without a problem. While a good two thirds of the album is pretty shallow there are a few good songs. In “Diss Song”, Tyga scratches the surface of getting deeper than just money and women. He describes his rise to the top and the struggle he went through, fighting for his family and being able to support them, taking them out of a poverty-stricken situation.

Most songs have an up-tempo and fast beat which is typical Tyga. This style is what makes his music popular and that’s ultimately the goal of any recording artist.  They’re the type of tracks you just want to sit down and vibe to.  Even if you forget the lyrics, you can still appreciate his beats.  The album has its ups and downs just like any other album.  The lyrics have no real meaning or substance to them but the beats do a good job of hyping up the listener.

BY BRANDON SLOANE

WARNING: May Contain spoilers

On Halloween night of 2010, AMC aired the pilot episode of the post-apocalyptic drama series The Walking Dead.  Since that fateful night, the show has captured hearts of millions of viewers and has become the most watched drama in basic cable history. With a stellar first two seasons, there were lofty expectations accompanying the release of the third. Fortunately, Robert Kirkman and the rest of The Walking Dead crew were able to exceed anything fans could have hoped for and produced the best season of The Walking Dead yet.

The main story arc of the season centers around our lovable gang of zombie slayers led by Sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his battle against Phillip Blake, or as he is known by his comrades, The Governor (David Morrissey). The Governor, who takes on the role as the antagonist, is the leader of a civilized and “walker”-free community called Woodbury, located in Georgia. We first come across The Governor and Woodbury when Andrea (Laurie Holden) and her new friend Michonne (Danai Gurira) are taken in to the community after Andrea falls ill. She is amazed that in a world full of chaos and bedlam that there is still a safe haven where traces of how the world used to be exists. Although his intentions seem wholesome to the naked eye, the season progresses, and we come to find that Woodbury and The Governor are laden with evil secrets.

There are a few very significant changes that help elevate season three to new heights. For starters, the implementation of more action-packed fight scenes helped to liven up the episodes. Whereas in the past, a lot of each episode would be centered on the characters conversing with each other and not particularly doing much, the new season is chock-full of adrenaline-filled battles between Rick’s prison gang and The Governor’s henchmen. The constant threat of war from The Governor keeps both the characters and the viewers on their toes throughout each episode.

Additionally, characters that had played minor roles in the past, experienced growth and became dynamic and important parts of the show. One example of this is how season three places a much larger role in the hands of Andrea. In the past she had been viewed by the others as somewhat of a nuisance who only complained and didn’t know her place in the group. In the new season, she serves as the gateway between Woodbury and Rick’s community and works to mediate their differences to avoid bloodshed. Serving also as The Governor’s love interest, she feels conflicted about whose side to take in the conflict. Having to balance her old and new lives successfully proves to be quite the challenge for her throughout the season.

Another character that really comes into his own is Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs), Rick’s faithful son. Having experienced a life filled with walkers for well over a year now, Carl becomes hardened by the dark world and no longer acts childish and scared. He has many moments in the season where he demonstrates both his bravery, and his ruthlessness. The most significant moment in Carl’s metamorphosis is when during a walker outbreak in the prison, Lorie goes into labor and has her child. Without the accommodation of modern medicine, Lorie needs to have a C-section and promptly dies upon the surgery. In order to prevent Lorie from turning into a zombie, Carl has to shoot her in the head. The traumatizing experience of shooting his own mother shatters Carl’s innocence. After this moment, we see Carl as a more pugnacious and violent character that seemingly relishes in his bloodshed involvement.

But by far the most intriguing aspect of the new season is the evolution of Rick and how he tries to keep the community together and alive. He was famously quoted at the end of season two as saying “This isn’t a democracy anymore.” This is the attitude he takes into season three, as he becomes a much more hard-nosed and brutal leader. And after experiencing several life-shattering events (sorry guys, no spoilers here!), he has to rediscover his sanity to save everyone from The Governor. It is a testament to Lincoln’s acting ability that he is able to cover the spectrum of emotions as Rick Grimes throughout the season.

Outstanding dialogue, a top-notch supporting cast, and a delectably evil new enemy are components of the brilliant concoction that is season three of The Walking Dead. Fans have already begun to count down the days until season four premiers this coming fall. Hopefully, the show is able to continue its streak of excellence and entertain viewers worldwide.

Senior Trent Austin was recruited by Stetson University to play on their soccer team. Photo Credits JP PORTRAITS

BY A.J. KURZMAN

Being on a college team is the dream of many high school student athletes.  They’ll strive to succeed and push themselves every day until their ultimate goal is achieved.  However, along that path, comes a major obstacle:  getting recruited by colleges.  The recruiting process is a rigorous experience, but with the right plan in place, it’s not as intimidating as it appears.

The first steps on this road are undertaken as an underclassman.  You want to get your name out there any way possible, and the most popular and easiest way in this day and age is social media.  Video tape all of your games, compile a highlight reel, and post it to YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter.

Next, think about your top choices for schools you’d like to attend, and perform in camps and clinics for those schools during the summer.

Senior Fallon McLaughlin started working on this as an underclassman and is attending Brevard Community College on a softball scholarship.

Senior Fallon McLaughlin was recruited by Brevard Community College to play softball.

“That’s how it all starts.  Do whatever it takes to get your name out there.  Go to showcases and always try to stay in constant contact with coaches you meet.” McLaughlin said.

The next steps come as a junior.  First and most importantly is to make sure not to slack off academically.  After all, there are many people that are good at sports, but not that many that can maintain good grades while keeping up with their athletics. Also participating in volunteer work or other clubs also helps to make you stand out.

Once your schoolwork is in check, it’s time for college visits.  The two types of visits are ‘official’ and ‘unofficial’.  Official visits are any visits to a college or university paid for by that institution.  This includes transportation, accommodations, meals, and entertainment.  Each high school athlete is restricted to a total of 5 official visits, and no more than 1 per school.

Unofficial visits are ones where you or your parents pay all of the expenses.  There is no limit on how many unofficial visits can be taken.  Make sure to talk to your high school coach about what schools they might recommend for you so you can plan your visits. Unofficial visits start as a junior.  Make sure to get the coach’s entire contact information and send him thank you and follow up emails for the time.  With the right performance and a little luck and persistence, the colleges may start taking an interest in you.

Senior Trent Austin knows from experience and is attending Stetson University on a soccer scholarship.

“I had to constantly put myself out there and try to get in touch with many coaches.  Then after an ID camp at Stetson, the coach contacted me the following week.” Austin said.

When senior year comes around, the bulk of the work is over and it is decision time.  This is when it’s time to start official visits to schools that you are interested in. Make sure once again to thank the coaches for their time and constantly follow up on your actions.  After all the visits, try to eliminate some schools to make the final decision a little easier.

“To anyone who wants to get recruited, just remember:  stay positive, dedicated, and always keep in contact.” McLaughlin said.

Although the recruiting process is a demanding one, it’s also a very rewarding experience.

“Make sure you’re always persistent because coaches wont just reach out and contact you first.  It is a stressful and long process but if you put the effort in, it is totally worth it to be able to play your sport for another four years.” Austin said.