Senior Sportsman

BE+YOURSELF+-+Taylor+Crowder+%2812%29+playing+golf+at+Desert+Mountain+Girls+Golf+home+course+Eagle+Mountain.+Her+advice+to+underclassmen%3A+Just+be+yourself+and+do+all+you+can+do+to+prove+yourself+to+the+coaches+that+you+are+worth+being+on+the+team.+Taylor+is+committed+to+play+college+golf+at+Paradise+Valley+Community+College+this+fall.

Chris Paul

BE YOURSELF – Taylor Crowder (12) playing golf at Desert Mountain Girls Golf home course Eagle Mountain. Her advice to underclassmen: “Just be yourself and do all you can do to prove yourself to the coaches that you are worth being on the team.” Taylor is committed to play college golf at Paradise Valley Community College this fall.

Anissa Matkin, Staff writer

Hundreds of students at Desert Mountain participate in fall, winter and spring sports. Some members of teams are saying goodbye to their teammates, heading down a new path into adulthood. One of those paths is towards athletic scholarships and continuing their passion for sports.

“I think the best terminology to use is self discipline, motivation and the love of competition as the core values that our athletes embody when they determine to go to college and play,” said DM Principal Dr. Hirsch. “That means they prioritize their sport, and they keep their bodies healthy.”

Senior Taylor Crowder has accepted a scholarship to Paradise Valley Community College to continue her passion for golf which started four years ago with her grandparents.  

Advice I would give to underclassmen would be to just be yourself and do all you can do to prove yourself to the coaches that you are worth being on the team,” said Crowder, who will continue her passion for golf and will be studying interior design and is ready to attend Paradise Valley Community College. 

I’m most excited about what I can bring to the table and to meet new people,” she said, “and see where life takes me during college season.” 

Colleges love self starters who see an unfulfilled need in school or community, create a solution, market it, manage it and show your results.

— Mrs. Dorsch, DM's College and Career Center coordinator

College and Career Center coordinator Mrs. Dorsch’s said that every sport is different in their recruiting process. As of this year, 17 seniors will be accepting scholarships to different colleges around the country. 

“Sometimes the coaches come to you, other times kids have to put together highlight videos and send them out,” Dorsch said. “Some sports start recruiting as early as freshman year, and some you have to wait, like swimming, college swim coaches literally can’t talk to kids until June of their sophomore year.” 

The Desert Mountain student body should be well rounded regardless of athletics, said Dorsch, adding that ensuring extra activities and grades are acceptable for a college to see is important. 

“Quality is more important than quantity, and in-school and out-of-school are equally impactful.  Pick activities you have passion for.” said Dorsch.

“Take leadership roles whenever possible and do what you can to make improvements to your cause,” she said. “Colleges love self starters who see an unfulfilled need in school or community, create a solution, market it, manage it and show your results.”