To many, the recruiting process is a rather mysterious thing.  Those who don’t directly experience it seem to believe that “getting in” has a completely different meaning when you sign with a collegiate sports program- but that’s not the case.

Many Hackley students have been recruited by top colleges over the past few years for their exceptional talents both in the classroom and on the field. In this year’s graduating class, seven students committed to colleges, including Tufts University, American University, and Cornell University. However, the recruiting process doesn’t always start just before your senior year.

Junior Sammy Mueller will join the University of Virginia’s Class of 2020 as a Division One Women’s Lacrosse player. Her recruitment process began in the summer before her sophomore year.

“I started getting attention from college coaches during the summer going into my sophomore year, and some more at the beginning of sophomore year. But the majority of schools started showing interest in the beginning of the summer going into my junior year,” Sammy said.

She began playing lacrosse after she and her sister, Ally Mueller (Hackley Class of 2014),  were given sticks for Christmas by their uncle, a former professional lacrosse player.

Soon after she got her first lacrosse stick, Sammy entered into the Pelham Rec program and then moved onto a small travel team. Now, she plays for a “pretty intense travel team known as Metro Magic.” Her team practices once a week and attends tournaments all throughout the Spring and Fall. Sammy has also been a member of the Hackley Varsity Lacrosse team since her Freshman year.

In the summer of 2014, her recruiting process came to a close after a marathon of camps and tournaments. “I had basically 21 straight days of lacrosse,” she said. On July 3, she verbally committed to UVA, but had made her decision a few days prior.

Sammy said that the Hackley Girls Varsity Lacrosse coaches, Mrs. Leffler and Mrs. Stanek, were invaluable in her recruiting process and that she’s “very thankful for all they’ve done.” Her outside coach was also incredibly helpful.

As far as school this year goes, Sammy has to maintain good grades and make sure she stays out of trouble to ensure her spot. This fall, she will sign a National Letter of Intent to make her commitment to UVA official. When it comes time to apply, she still has to submit an application. “Many people think that my admissions process is incredibly different, however, I basically have to apply like everyone else. The difference is I only apply to one school, and I know what the letter is going to say when I open it.”

Sammy is not the only student to commit as a Junior. In February, Morgan Connor announced that she will be playing Field Hockey for the College of William and Mary, another Division One school. Last year, Joanna Miller committed to American University to play soccer.

This year’s recruiting class includes the following: Joanna Miller, American University Soccer, James Firpo, Tufts University Lacrosse, Kierstin Chu, Northeastern University  Swimming, Tyler Curran, Emory University Swimming, Erik Bostrom, Johns Hopkins University Swimming, Sam Welch, Cornell University Lacrosse, and Claire Gomba, Middlebury College Track and Field and Cross Country.