What happens for college when sports comes off the table

I disagree. That’s not what I’ve witnessed. Perhaps it was different at my kids’ school but many, many students, including top athletes, were not one dimensional. Nothing wrong with being a very competitive athlete - I know from experience - but adding to that makes one a more interesting person and applicant. I think varsity sports experience, absent being recruitable, is over-represented and won’t carry as much weight as many believe.