Among the flood of college acceptances, star Campolindo athletes have received sports scholarships to various colleges around the nation.

Scholarship recipients include baseball players Austin Rei, James Marvel, Cole Rider, and Josh Cushing, soccer player Val Magerum, water polo player Gracie Fowler, and cross country and track runner Carrie Verdon.

Campolindo Athletic Director Bob Wilson said the number of athletes who received scholarships “is higher this year mainly due to the outstandingly talented senior baseball group.”

Wilson said the scholarship grants can vary from several thousand dollars to full rides, which may be worth $40,000 plus.

According to Margerum, “You don’t need to have to be a ball hog or be the hero that scores every time [to receive a scholarship], but you have to show that you have a winning mentality.”

Cushing said, “getting a scholarship was never my goal as an athlete.  I think it is important to be doing something you love and put everything you have into it.  When you really dedicate yourself to something good things tend to happen.”

According to Rei, colleges recognize “hard work, dedication, and extra work when nobody is watching, as well as choosing which showcases go wisely.”

The athletes received interest from colleges prior to their senior year.

According to Margerum, “A verbal commitment is non binding, but when you sign the letter of intent as a senior, you are signing a document that binds you to the school and to the sports program.”

Cushing initially received college offers as a sophomore but he didn’t make his decision to attend the University of Washington until this past summer.  He said, “I signed my national letter of inten this fall, which binds me to go the the University of Washington upon acceptance.” University of Washington was Cushings first choice.

Fowler officially committed to Loyola Marymount University earlier this year.  She said, “It’s pretty cool knowing that I get to keep playing the sport I love at a D1 level for four more years.