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Sondheimer: Santa Margarita High changes how it celebrates college-bound athletes

Swimmer Teagan O’Dell (left) and softball outfielder Jillian Torres of Santa Margarita High will be signing grants in aid with Cal and Notre Dame, respectively, as a new era in college recruiting begins. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

National letters of intent have gone the way of typewriters, rotary telephones and dinosaurs. They are being replaced by a document known as a grant in aid, where the college is supposed to spell out in specific terms scholarship money to be received and eventually name, image and likeness funds to be dispersed whenever the NCAA and others settle their legal issues.

High schools are thinking creatively how they plan to honor seniors receiving sports scholarships in this new era when letters of intent no longer apply. Santa Margarita has come up with a name for its new day: “Athletic Commitment Celebration.”

It will happen three times a year, starting Nov. 13, when seniors other than football players can start signing a grant in aid.

The grant in aid is so new that two highly regarded Santa Margarita athletes who committed more than a year ago, swimmer Teagan O’Dell and softball player Jillian Torres, weren’t even aware of the changes other than the letter of intent has disappeared.

“Honestly, I don’t know because they just changed it,” said Torres, who committed to Notre Dame.

Asked if she had discussed NIL considerations as one of the top swimmers in the nation with her future Cal coaches, O’Dell said, “I have not. The plan is to start talking about it next spring before I get there.”

For one glorious day, amid balloons, signs and thankful parents, at least 45 Santa Margarita students and perhaps more will get to celebrate the enormous amount of hard work and sacrifice made over many years by finalizing the college recruiting process and accepting congratulations…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/sondheimer-santa-margarita-high-changes-113032059.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-10-30 11:30:32

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