<p>My daughter is home from her 3rd OV, which almost didn’t happen. My daughter was at her Regional Championship swim meet and was scheduled to fly out from there, 3 hours from home, Friday night after finals. Meet start was scheduled for 5:00pm, flight was 7:30pm, so we thought it was all good. Well, meet start gets pushed back to 5:30pm, then there were delays, so we were freaking out! Of course, this is the last flight out. My daughter finishes her swim at 6:54pm, jumps into the car soaking wet and changes in the car as we rush to the airport. I pulled into departures at 7:03pm, she jumps out, grabs her carry-on and runs to the gate! Thank goodness, she made it through security and was at the gate before they closed it. Talk about stress!!! </p>
<p>Anyway, she had another great visit, ending with a very nice offer. She will be calling coach from OV 2 (Ivy) to see where she stands and if there is no promise of Likely Letter on December 1, she will sign the NLOI on Thursday. And if she decides on #3, her best friend, who received a scholarship to the same school for swimming, will be joining her there. </p>
<p>And, icing on the cake, we found out last night that she qualified for States, despite a less than stellar swim at finals, I’m sure due to the anxiety of the flight situation. So it has been a good weekend for us!</p>
<p>Just what you need fishymom, a little MORE stress in your life! I hope she does well in her State event, goes to her dream school, and everything is decided in December. When it is all over, you’re going to wonder what you used to do in your spare time. ;-)</p>
<p>Another day, another episode of As the Athletic Recruiting World Turns, with all the plot twists and sub-plots.</p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago we had the cell phone dropped in the toilet, now we get the swimmer changing in the car, flying through security, and running like OJ through the airport.</p>
<p>Congratulations fishymom and fishydaughter and, through all the stress, try to savor the process. It is truly priceless.</p>
<p>Thank you all! My daughter is mulling it over, but leaning towards signing. Her main concern is being in an urban environment, but I think she will learn to love it. I spoke to the coach this morning and she said all the right things, which is important to me. It really sounds like an environment that my daughter will thrive in athletically, as well as academically. </p>
<p>On a related note, my daughter’s NLI arrived FedEx today. No postage on the return!!</p>
<p>I don’t even know what she is supposed to do with it. She ran right for a pen, I said, “wait!” Doesn’t she have to wait to sign it until Thursday? And should she sign it at school, or with her club coach? No fanfare here, that’s for sure ! LOL …sigh.</p>
<p>Sounds like y’all have made a good choice. Review the attached just to understand the implications of the LOI. This doesn’t mean don’t do it. Just be aware.</p>
<p>Wilberry - You should absolutely push the coach and athletic director to having some type of ceremony or something. There may be other athletes at the school that she can have a celebration with as well. We had a ceremony at my son’s school last January, and nobody knew that it did not coincide with the signing date, nor that he was signing a picture of Sponge Bob Squarepants. Of course people wanted to know how much his Ivy athletic scholarship was for. My answer…“full ride baby” ;-). </p>
<p>It was for the athletic dept, academic program, school and community that they ran his picture and newspaper article about the “signing” in the city paper. Sometimes it takes a little “hinting” from a parent to make these things happen, but I’m glad I suggested it to his coach & guidance councelor. My son is quiet and reserved, but I think he appreciated it. You only get one shot at it, so enjoy it while you can.</p>
<p>bballdad - I love the NLI sucks article. Too funny and too real at the same time.</p>
<p>fenway - my daughter was on Facebook and saw that the softball girls are having an official signing (their coach was the regional coach of the year, see how that works ) on Wednesday at school and a basketball girl is going as well. So I think my daughter is going to tag along with the three of them. She’ll just confirm with the softball coach tomorrow. Her guidance counselor also happens to be her school coach, so she’ll talk to her as well. I’m sure it will be fine. I hope!</p>
<p>wilberry - that is great! I thought from your “no fanfare” comment that you/seh were bummed about it. Sounds like you have it covered, and congrats on her signing. Your daughter & family has alot to be proud of.</p>
<p>I guess it’s because her sport gets no respect in general - the scholarships are lower, the media coverage is practically non-existent, and the yearbook entries for other sports go on and on about second and third team for the conference, and don’t even mention first team in her sport !! It’s very frustrating especially because our school used to have one of the best football teams in the state, so that’s all you ever hear about. Here’s my daughter, working at least as hard, for ten months out of the year, and getting no recognition.</p>
<p>So it will be nice.</p>
<p>And by the way fishy - apologies for hijacking your thread! Handing it back over to you!!</p>
<p>Soooo excited for your dear student and the big signing!!! Woot woot!!
Such a big week all around! Congrats and hug your dear one for me! Keeping fingers crossed for this weekend and States.</p>
<p>Fishy, What great news! Very exciting to be nearing the end of this journey with a great option, and a NLI waiting for your daughter I also love how it can be the very last OV that offers up the school that is ultimately the best fit/match. It is as if all of the other OVs are helping to educate the student so that when they see/feel what it is they want, they absolutely know it. Again, congratulations!!</p>
) on Wednesday at school and a basketball girl is going as well. So I think my daughter is going to tag along with the three of them. She’ll just confirm with the softball coach tomorrow. Her guidance counselor also happens to be her school coach, so she’ll talk to her as well. I’m sure it will be fine. I hope!</p>
I also love how it can be the very last OV that offers up the school that is ultimately the best fit/match. It is as if all of the other OVs are helping to educate the student so that when they see/feel what it is they want, they absolutely know it. Again, congratulations!!</p>