Four Wildcat sport teams will be looking at add more athletes this Saturday, while ACU will be hoping to grab some more incoming freshman.
The athletic and admissions departments are teaming up to garner interest in the campus and ACU sports by holding tryouts to prospective college athletes. Potential student-athletes can tryout for football, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball.
“This is for kids interested in playing a sport here at Abilene Christian,” said men’s basketball head coach Joe Golding. “I’m going in with an open mind and am going to evaluate the talent that comes out.”
While Golding is looking for walk-ons who can contribute on the court next season, he didn’t completely dismiss the idea of offering scholarship if someone wows him.
Tamara Long, the Director of Enrollment Services, thought the day would be a good idea for those students who think they can make an impact in athletics.
“Basically, we see a lot of campus visitors, and more and more are wanting to talk to athletics about playing a sport here,” Long said. “They think because we are a Division II school, it would be easier to play here. We are giving these students a day to show coaches their talent.”
Over 40 high school seniors have signed up to tryout on Saturday, but sports isn’t the only thing that can be accomplished. Long said that the parents will have a chance to arrange a college visit on that day for their kids looking to come to ACU.
Volleyball coach Kellen Mock reiterated the point of drawing interest of incoming freshman on the court and on campus.
“It an opportunity for someone who is interested in ACU, that we haven’t seen play on the road or in the offseason,” Mock said. “Because the high school season is the same time as ours, its a chance to see someone we haven’t seen that could make the team.”
For Golding, it is just about putting the best team he can out on the court next year.
“We will have the best team we can have in 2012-2013,” Golding said. “We have been busy recruiting and have already signed some good players. Hopefully, I will see some talent out here on Saturday.”
