A dozen high school athletes have committed to sign letters of intent to play sports at AACC in the fall.

Athletic Director Duane Herr said this year’s recruiting class is larger than usual.

And the high school students are more into the experience of signing the letters than past recruits, Herr said. “Players are asking, ‘Can we do the setup,’” Herr said. “[They want] the backdrop and the media and the posting to social media.”
National Junior College Athletic Association rules for letters have changed, Herr said. “Now the letter of intent locks a player in.”

An NJCAA letter of intent commits an incoming athlete to a community college for one academic year. Signing with AACC also means the student may not sign with any other community college.

Karin Victorio, the head coach of Women’s Soccer, said this year’s abundant recruiting class can make an immediate impact.

“We have a returning keeper but we have a girl coming in who is a backup keeper,” Victorio said. “We haven’t really had two designated keepers before, so whenever you have that competition at practice …. they’re going to make each other better.”

Victorio, who began coaching at AACC at the end of last spring’s soccer season, said she spent more time recruiting this year.

“Last year, I had to grab whatever athlete was willing to come play for us,” she said. But more of next fall’s players will be “soccer-specific recruits.”

Alana Marshall, a committed Women’s Soccer recruit, said attending AACC will give her time to figure out her future.

“I picked AACC to get my general requirements out of the way while I figured out the path I wanted to take,” the Chesapeake High School senior said.

Marshall said she had offers from schools but AACC “is close to home and has many good resources I can use to help me in my studies.”

Taylor James, a committed softball recruit, said she wants to attend college close to home.

“I want my family to be able to experience it with me,” said James, a Glen Burnie High School student. “I just didn’t feel as if I was ready to go anywhere big yet. I also am getting to play with girls I already know.”

James, who plans to major in nursing, said she believes she can help the team, but she can’t do it alone.

“It’s also a team effort,” James said. “I just want to see the team and be the best we can be.”