<p>There are enough anecdotes on CC on how good athletes were encouraged to apply to Caltech, but did not get in, even when they had good profile (High SAT, good grades, some science EC’s etc.).</p>
<p>Taking AP science and math classes in itself does not show a passion for math and science. Again it depends on the circumstances. If you go to a school where very few AP’s are offered and there are no other opportunities for reserach, but you can show why science excites you, then you have a chance. If you go to a school where students routinely win the Intel and all you have is a couple of science AP’s, your sports capabilities will not help. </p>
<p>Sports might help, but only on the margins. If the coach recommends a candidate and the committee is deciding between two candidates, the one with sports may get through. In other words as pointed out by hamsandwich, the coach cannnot get a student in, they cannot say that I want this candidate. They can give the admission committee a list and the admission committee alone makes the decision. The admission committee might decide none of the people on the coaches list make the cut. The coach is not even informed if their candidates made it or not (as in a previous CC posting). They know only when the student contacts them.</p>