s/o How common is it to letter in a varsity sport as a freshman?

[Anonymous]

My son was a HS and college (D3) swimmer. We live in a different area, but our HS had no JV. Everyone made the team, but many didn't swim the main events. Only 1-4 place scores points. In my kids HS, letters were given to most, if not all. Kind of like trophies. Nobody wears a letterman jacket anymore so they don't mean much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of my sons lettered as Freshman. They are good at their sport, but won't be playing in college or anything like that.

What sport?

Wrestling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you make the varsity team, you will likely letter.

Some coaches outright do not let Freshman on varsity. Even if they are good players, they want a more mature team.

Other coaches don't care. It's not uncommon either way.

Hmm - I used "letter" and "varsity" interchangeably. I thought if you were varsity, you letter (clearly I did not do athletics in school).

Anyway, here's a time.

50 Yd Freestyle 23.00

a 23-second 50 yard free would be record-breaking if he is 13, as you mention in your earlier post. That is extremely fast for 13, even for 14. He likely won't place in high school meets with that time (but only because he will be swimming against 15-18 year olds) but presumably he continues to drop time and will win when he reaches 15-18 years in age.

The NCAA mens 50Y free record is 17.63, fwiw.

Just curious though, most high school swim seasons are over in the winter -- so did he get flagged in 8th grade for next winter? And, making varsity as a freshman in swim is likely nbd, as most schools don't have a JV or freshmen team (since the age group is 15-18). However swimming a 23 SCY 50 free is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you make the varsity team, you will likely letter.

Some coaches outright do not let Freshman on varsity. Even if they are good players, they want a more mature team.

Other coaches don't care. It's not uncommon either way.

Hmm - I used "letter" and "varsity" interchangeably. I thought if you were varsity, you letter (clearly I did not do athletics in school).

Anyway, here's a time.

50 Yd Freestyle 23.00

a 23-second 50 yard free would be record-breaking if he is 13, as you mention in your earlier post. That is extremely fast for 13, even for 14. He likely won't place in high school meets with that time (but only because he will be swimming against 15-18 year olds) but presumably he continues to drop time and will win when he reaches 15-18 years in age.

The NCAA mens 50Y free record is 17.63, fwiw.

Just curious though, most high school swim seasons are over in the winter -- so did he get flagged in 8th grade for next winter? And, making varsity as a freshman in swim is likely nbd, as most schools don't have a JV or freshmen team (since the age group is 15-18). However swimming a 23 SCY 50 free is amazing.

The national record for 13/14 age is 19.76 for SCY 50 free (Michael Andrew is a phenom who turned pro at 14).

[Anonymous]

Nobody wears a letterman jacket anymore so they don't mean much.

Does this mean, not really big deal for college submissions? as long as the kid is involved in sports and all-around-well-rounded, varsity letter doesn't have an edge on college resumes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Nobody wears a letterman jacket anymore so they don't mean much.

Does this mean, not really big deal for college submissions? as long as the kid is involved in sports and all-around-well-rounded, varsity letter doesn't have an edge on college resumes?

Lettering is very common, but you should still put it on college applications. But it’s not going to get your recruited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nobody wears a letterman jacket anymore so they don't mean much.

Does this mean, not really big deal for college submissions? as long as the kid is involved in sports and all-around-well-rounded, varsity letter doesn't have an edge on college resumes?

Lettering is very common, but you should still put it on college applications. But it’s not going to get your recruited.

If we speak about swimming, would an athlete with 21 sec 50FR from USA swimming meets and other official college cuts have the same consideration for colleges without high school competition experience and “lettering”?

[Anonymous]

So if he is a freshman and not yet 14, I would imagine he skipped a grade? If so, he is a year younger than everyone (or more). Pretty good!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if he is a freshman and not yet 14, I would imagine he skipped a grade? If so, he is a year younger than everyone (or more). Pretty good!

Idk where he lives but we live in VA with a 9/30 cut off. My son has an August bday, went on time, and will turn 14 a few weeks before starting HS freshman year. Could be the same with this kid - it’s still only May.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if he is a freshman and not yet 14, I would imagine he skipped a grade? If so, he is a year younger than everyone (or more). Pretty good!

Idk where he lives but we live in VA with a 9/30 cut off. My son has an August bday, went on time, and will turn 14 a few weeks before starting HS freshman year. Could be the same with this kid - it’s still only May.

But it's May of his freshman year and he is still 13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if he is a freshman and not yet 14, I would imagine he skipped a grade? If so, he is a year younger than everyone (or more). Pretty good!

Idk where he lives but we live in VA with a 9/30 cut off. My son has an August bday, went on time, and will turn 14 a few weeks before starting HS freshman year. Could be the same with this kid - it’s still only May.

But it's May of his freshman year and he is still 13.

Sorry he turned 14 this month- op

[Anonymous]

It depends on the team and the school. We got letters for being on the varsity team at my high school. I was not one of the best or even in the top half. I don’t know anyone who thought it was an honor or something to put on a college application. It was like a participation trophy at the end of the season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if he is a freshman and not yet 14, I would imagine he skipped a grade? If so, he is a year younger than everyone (or more). Pretty good!

Idk where he lives but we live in VA with a 9/30 cut off. My son has an August bday, went on time, and will turn 14 a few weeks before starting HS freshman year. Could be the same with this kid - it’s still only May.

But it's May of his freshman year and he is still 13.

A few clarifications- it’s May of his 8th grade year. He will enter HS this fall and swim on the varsity team.

[Anonymous]

How does he know he will already be on varsity when he is still in 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does he know he will already be on varsity when he is still in 8th grade?

Because they had the tryouts earlier this week (he’s in Texas, maybe that’s when they do them?)