Senior Annie Katuska up to bat at the plate
For many high school seniors, committing to a college is a huge moment, both exciting and nerve-wracking. For senior athletes such as Annie Katuska, Terrance Yarbrough, David Haas, and Henry Stimson it wasn’t just about picking a college that best fitted them academically—it was about a place that supported them through athletics. Here is how each of their journeys differed from each other and what their decisions mean for their futures.
Annie Katuska: Softball Dreams to College Reality
Annie has been involved in the world of sports since she could remember, starting her softball journey at the young age of five or six. Coming from a family rooted deeply in sports, her introduction to the game was like love at first sight. “My family was really into baseball and super passionate about the sport,” Katuska said. “So I just started it and liked it.” Playing both club and school softball, she developed her skills over the years, but the recruiting process wasn’t easy.
Balancing both softball and volleyball was exhausting, especially when picking which one she wanted to pursue in college, but ultimately she decided to commit for softball. Her efforts led to offers, and after visiting schools she chose Amherst College, where her family has strong ties.
“Amherst was everything I was looking for, like academics and softball,” Annie said. The decision felt natural, given her family’s connection to the school and its alignment with her goals.
While she doesn’t plan on playing professionally, Annie knows her future is full of possibilities. For now she is focused on making the best of her college experience and enjoying her dream of playing college softball.
Terrance Yarbrough: Overcoming Doubts
Growing up, Terrance played multiple sports such as soccer, baseball, and basketball, but overtime basketball became his passion. “It was one of the few sports I played,” he said, reflecting on his early years. When choosing a college, it wasn’t just about athletics for him. “The education, environment, and coaches made Hanover feel like it was home,” he explained.
One of the toughest challenges he’s faced has been proving himself despite being undersized. “I had to prove everyone wrong who doubted me,” he shared. But his hard work paid off after receiving his first offer from Hanover. “I finally felt like I made it.”
Looking forward, his goal is to keep improving his game. “Get better at my skill and craft and have a great college career,” he said when asked how he plans to keep his game sharp in college. He emphasized that all of his growth doesn’t only come from the work he puts in, but also the people whom he surrounds himself with to help build his character
If the opportunity comes, he would be open to playing professionally, whether it’s in the NBA or overseas. “If it provides the chance, I’d take it,” he said. For now, he’s focused on having a great college career and making his family proud.
In the end, Annie Katuska committed to Amherst College for softball, choosing a school that aligned with her athletic and academic goals and is looking to enjoy her college experience. Terrance Yarbrough, who overcame doubts about his size, chose Hanover College for the support environment, with aspirations of taking his talents to the professional level.
David Haas: From Backyard Baseball to College Commitment
David’s love for sports began at a young age, and grandpa played a major role in early development. “Yeah, actually my grandpa way back in the day, he taught me how to throw and swing,” David said. Ever since those moments from the early ages of 4 or 5, he found joy in baseball.
As he approached highschool, he knew that he was going to need to make a decision on what sport he wanted to commit to. He ultimately decided he wanted to play baseball after his freshman year when he also played on the freshman basketball team. His decision to play at the next level was not only influenced by desires to play, but also by him wanting to attend somewhere with a great education. “I paired that with the desire to go to a high level academic school,” he explained.
Although it’s been a fun journey though, it hasn’t been without challenges. “The most difficult part is not losing hope,” admitted David. He continued to talk about how hard it can be to maintain hope in a sport where even the best of the best fail more often than they succeed. “Especially if you have a slump or you pitch a couple of bad games in a row,” he said, but through his career he has learned to persevere through those tough moments.
During the summertime of his junior year, David had a wake-up after going to a baseball camp at Colby college. “I trained really hard for a month or so before that,” he said, and his hard work paid off when he threw harder than ever before. It was at this point that he realized he had the potential to compete at the collegiate level.
Now entering his senior year and being committed to Grinnell College, he has ambitious goals for his college career. “Being a starting pitcher on a college baseball team is no small feat,” he said, but he is determined to earn that role and be a consistent starter. He also understands what responsibilities come with being a college athlete on and off the field. “A big thing that comes with college is a responsibility to your team, not just on the field, but also in training and studying,” he said. Now being committed, he is eager to embrace new challenges, knowing that his work ethic along with his responsibility will help him grow as an athlete and as an individual.
Henry Stimson: Making Waves
For Henry, swimming has been a lifelong journey that’s been both exciting and a solution to his childhood asthma, and has led him to having a future career at Colby College. Inspired by his older sister, he started swimming at the age of five, and now does it like a profession.
When choosing a college, he prioritized academics and athletics to guide his decision. “My priority was a great school, one with really supreme academics—somewhere I probably couldn’t get into without swimming,” he said. The school’s resources allowed him to pursue his sport without compromise.
There’s no good journey without challenges though, and the same goes for Henry. One of his most difficult moments came when he suffered a lung tear, taking him out for almost a year. “I’d never really been used to being injured,” he said, thinking back to the difficulty of his recovery process. The injury happened mid-practice, and he didn’t realize until breathing became difficult due to oxygen leaking from his lungs. Though the setback was far from minor, he persevered and came back stronger than before.
He felt he’d leveled up at the age of 12, when he started to see significant improvement in his speed. Now being 18 his goals are clear: to win at the NCAA level and continue his development as an athlete and individual. “I think just taking every challenge one at a time and learning as I go,” Henry said. With his determination, he is bound to make an impact at Colby, both in and out of the pool.