unhooked admission at top LACs seems close to impossible

Obviously there’s a range of competitiveness and admissions effect. I know Swarthmore, in fact, does recruit, because I know some kids recruited there, although I think it’s pretty obvious that no one goes to Swarthmore to focus on sports. There are lots of non-NESCAC, non-Patriot schools that have competitive teams, although they may concentrate on one or two strong teams. Hence Davidson in basketball, or Union in hockey. I don’t know how competitive schools like those are in other sports. I have the impression that the Maine LACs care about team sports, but I don’t know exactly how much. Those of us who have been on CC awhile will remember curmudgeon’s basketball-playing daughter, who was recruited by Rhodes as well as Amherst (and some Ivies); Rhodes also pursued a young friend of mine who was a borderline D-I talent in a team sport (who was intrigued but ultimately went with a NESCAC college).