Panther Prints | Issue 4 | May 2020

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16 • Sports PESHPRINTS.COMFit to commitSenior athletes share college recruitment experienceby Sevval Erenkolith the school year drawing to a close,Wa select group of athletes await seasonkickoffs with their new teams. Afteryears of keeping their eyes on the ball,they’ve finally scored by signing onto collegesports and launching their careers asprofessional athletes.Senior football player Dunia Ilunduearned a full-ridemerit scholarship toLamar University, aDivision I school. Thewide receiver playedsince elementaryschool before realizinghe could turn hishobby into a profession.At the start offreshman year, Ilundumade it his missionto advance to collegefootball.“I was naturallygifted, but I’m not thebiggest guy,” Ilundusaid. “So it wasalways either workor quit — that wasmy mentality.”Not everythingwent as expected. Inthe summer beforehis senior year, Ilundusustained a foot andankle injury that disruptedhis practice.Instead of waiting tofully heal, he returnedto playing becauseas a starter, he feltthe need to supporthis team. Ilundu expressedhow he wasuneasy that manyplayers on varsitywere starting seniorsand the quarterbackposition wasn’tfully occupied.“Everybody thoughtwe were going to beterrible because wehad so many greatseniors graduatingand we were all young,” Ilundu said. “I hadexpected offers to start rolling in but theseason didn’t go as planned. My recruitingslowed down because we were playing sobad[ly]. Everything halted.”Ilundu and teammate senior Danny Armsteadtook mattersinto their own handsand produced videohighlight reels fromtheir football film.Photo by Brooke ShawSenior Dunia Ilundu plays against Lake HighlandsHigh School at the Cotton Bowl Stadium Sept. 6.They sent the videosalong with their resumesto hundredsof coaches across thenation. When some ofthe coaches gave them offers, word spreadabout the athletes. Although the two hopedto attend the same university, Armsteadeventually signed to Central Arkansas, alsoas a wide receiver.“It was a hard process, but it workedout in our favor,”Armstead said. “Wedidn’t want to payfor college so we justdid what we neededto do.”Outside of school,softball player seniorCarson Armijo’s competitivetravel team,Impact Gold, helpedher gain recognitionfrom colleges. TheUniversity of California,Los Angeles(UCLA) reached outto her after seeing herpitch and play boththe infield and outfield.The Division Ischool invited Armijoto attend the UCLAElite Camp and shewas subsequentlyrecruited during hersophomore year.“I was always lookingat colleges closerto home [but UCLA]came out of nowhere,”Armijo said.“As soon as I sawthem, I knew I wantedto go to [there].”Although the seniorathletes indicatedthat they experiencedhardship in the courseof committing to acollege team, all threefeel the process wasworth it.“It can get really discouragingsometimeswhen you don’t getthe recognition or attentionfrom colleges that you want,” Armijosaid. “I had to learn to deal with rejectionand [that playing competitive sports] is acharacter builder. I believe that even if youdon’t go to a D-I, everyone has an opportunityto play in college. If you put your heartand mind to it, you can do it.”Photo courtesy of Jim JohnsonSenior Carson Armijo pitches against McKinneyBoyd High School at a home game March 20.
@PESHPRINTS Sports • 17Spring sports spotlightby Fatima MalikPhotos by Johnathan GonzalezSenior Riley Niksich takes his turn batting forthe baseball game against Rockwall Feb. 17. “Wehad a bit of rivalry with them as they were a verytalented team like us,” Niksich said. “Both gameswhere we played them featured a lot of emotion.”Senior Kai Vuong attends bowling practice Feb. 4.“If I could get another year to be with those peopledoing the thing we love I would, but sadly my highschool bowling career is over and I may never getanother practice session like this again,” Vuong said.Junior Ashley Waters blocks the ball during theJV girls’ soccer game against Allen Feb. 25.“Those hits don’t look like much but when it’scold and you are out there in shorts and a shortsleevedshirt, it’s a stinger,” Waters said.
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Page 3 and 4: ContentsLocal businessesadapt topan
Page 5 and 6: @PESHPRINTS News • 5New normalLoc
Page 7 and 8: @PESHPRINTS News • 7Modern pandem
Page 9 and 10: @PESHPRINTS Feature • 9PANTHER PR
Page 11 and 12: @PESHPRINTS Feature • 11human tou
Page 13 and 14: @PESHPRINTS Feature • 13Online re
Page 15: @PESHPRINTS Sports • 15Sports sea
Page 19 and 20: @PESHPRINTS Opinion • 19Temporary
Page 21: @PESHPRINTS Entertainment • 21Ear

Panther Prints | Issue 4 | May 2020

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