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RHS Round-Up: 6 of Our Best Recruiting Horror Stories

By 2aDays Staff|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on January 3, 2023)

Come back every Tuesday for Recruiting Horror Stories™, athletes' first-hand stories on what can go wrong during the recruiting process.

At 2aDays, we get a lot of Recruiting Horror Stories that detail everything that can go wrong in the recruiting process. But the people who write these articles aren't immune to these stories themselves! Here are some of the best Recruiting Horror Stories straight from 2aDays interns.

1. I went on my first official visit for basketball, and unfortunately, it was more memorable than any winning game I ever played. I arrived an hour too early to the office by mistake, so I had to sit with the assistant coach until the host came-and they were not too happy I had interrupted their work. The host came and asked me if I wanted to bring my stuff to her room, and I looked down to see I had brought my basketball clothes bag, but had forgotten my duffel in the trunk! For some reason I played it off like these were the clothes I intended to bring because I didn't want to admit my stupidity. But I definitely looked more stupid walking around campus the next day in a shiny red basketball uniform. Lets just say I did not look back when I got in the car the next day.

2. It was Accepted Students' Day–I had already committed to the school, and was excited to take part in this day. I was walking into our athletic center with my coach and other committed rowers. There were many greeters inside, there to cheer on all the accepted students. As I walked in, I tripped and fell straight onto my face. Not only did I make my coach, my future teammates and future peers laugh, but I also broke my shoe. So, I had to go to the school store and purchase the school's flip flops. Now, every time that I wear them, I am reminded by everyone of that fall.

3. She (host) was blackout drunk before 9 pm and didn't leave her building. She had also drunkenly given my number to like five boys who were supposed to find me (I didn't know there was a search party looking for me until a year later).

4. I visited a school on the night of one of their biggest parties of the year, hosted by the hockey team. I felt comfortable immediately because I was staying with a former teammate of mine who was on the team at the school I was visiting. Little did I know that it was a really big deal to dress in a theme, which was coincidentally wearing anything that doesn't match or looked absolutely ridiculous together, so that's a great first impression right off the bat. Since I seemingly was going to visit the school, go to bed on time, and wake up to meet the team and the coaches, I only brought very normal day to day clothes. So I was dressed in knee high socks and a tutu (all neon colors of course) for the night!

5. One girl on my team peed her sleeping bag when she had her overnight visit!

6. I went on a handful of overnights when it was my turn to start deciding what school I wanted to play sports for in college. Let's just say that I got blackout drunk and very very lost at each and every place I visited and ended up attending none of those schools. I attended a school where I only went on a day-time tour, briefly met the team and the coach, and had a lovely conversation with everyone I met. Moral of the story? Don't get drunk and get lost on your recruiting trips as a high schooler. It will not end well.

Have a horror story of your own? Email us at [email protected]