April College Recruiting Newsletter 2025
April 30, 2025
Welcome to the Kings Hammer April College Recruiting Newsletter! The club is excited to work with you to accomplish all of your player’s goals for this upcoming soccer year, on and off of the soccer field. Each month, we will be providing this resource to help you navigate the craziness that is the college recruiting process. We hope you find value in this newsletter and we are excited to assist in this exciting process for your family!
In this month’s College Recruiting Newsletter, we’re breaking away from our typical formula to acknowledge the changing recruiting landscape and explore what we can learn from the Cam Ward story and I Love To Watch You Play’s Asia Mape.
Few Paths Are Straight, and No Two Paths Are Exactly Alike
With the growing influence of International student athletes, the transfer portal, the return of a modified “school-year” age group in the 2026-2027 season, the road to college soccer is definitely changing. As those changes impact the Kings Hammer players striving to become collegiate Student-Athletes and their options, the club will continue to support, educate, and advise players through the process.
Today is a reminder that no two paths are exactly alike, and few are always straight.
Exploring Cam Ward’s Story: “From Zero Stars to No. 1” from I Love to Watch You Play
“What Cam Ward’s Story Teaches Every Youth Sports Family” by Asia Mape
” When the Tennessee Titans called Cam Ward’s name as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the football world saw a new franchise QB. But for those of us in the youth sports world? We saw every kid who’s ever been overlooked… and every parent who never stopped showing up.
Because Cam Ward didn’t grow up with stars next to his name. In fact, he had zero.
That’s not a metaphor. He was literally unrated by recruiting services—no stars, no buzz…But Cam kept working. Kept believing. And so did his parents. Calvin and Patrice Ward never missed a game.
What Youth Athletes (and Parents) Can Learn:
There’s more than one path to greatness. Cam didn’t take the traditional route—and look where it led.
Don’t panic if your child isn’t the star right now. Cam wasn’t either.
Support > Spotlight. His parents didn’t push, they showed up. They trusted his growth, not his stats. “
Click here to read the full story from I Love To Watch You Play.
Only 2% will play Div 1, 100% walk away with something bigger.
On the I Love To Watch You Play instagram, Asia Mape posted the above image. She wrote, “Not every kid will get a trophy. Not every kid will play in college. But every kid who shows up to practice, who pushes through a hard day, who steps onto a field, court, or mat—walks away with something bigger. Confidence. Resilience. Accountability. Joy. Friendships. Discipline. Courage. Belonging. Leadership. Perspective. Memories. A reason to believe in themselves.”
She continued, “This is what youth sports are really about. It’s not just about who makes it—it’s about what they make of themselves.”
The path for every player will look different. lt is important to remember that no matter what comes of our aspirations, this sport provides us other valuable things we take into so many aspect of our lives.
Click here to view this post and the I Love To Watch You Play Instagram.
UPCOMING SPORTSRECRUITS WEBINARS
RECENT COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Congratulations to the most recent Kings Hammer soccer players to make college commitment decisions! Remember to post your commitment to your Sports Recruits account, send a commitment photo to info@kingshammer.com, and include or tag your club’s local Kings Hammer page on any social media posts so that we can be recognize you for your achievements!
Gregory Jackson (KH Swan City) Warner University
Dillon Govekar (KH New Albany) – John Carroll University
Bella Arboleda (KH Swan City) Southeastern University
Aidan Fowler (KH Swan City) Warner University
Conner Thorn (KH Lexington) – Midway University
Elyse Waggoner (KH Xenia) – Wilmington College
Reagan Buchert (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of Tennessee at Martin
Gideon Campbell (KH Swan City) Warner University
Anna Downs (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – John Carroll University
Rachel Gellner (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Marian University (IN)
Andy Ferring (KH Lexington) – Asbury University
Macey Blanton (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Northern Kentucky University
Parker Byland (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Northern Kentucky University
Madeline Mescher (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Case Western Reserve Universityhttps://sportsrecruits.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8TOW0rHkTDKjadmMQjiYiA#/registration
Trinity Pierce (KH Swan City) – New College of Florida
Grady Kirian (KH New Albany) – Capital University
Sadie Yapp (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Austin Peay University
Ashley O’Brien (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Murray State University
Lillian Spurgin (KH Swan City) – Bluefield State University
Nolan Leverage (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – John Carroll University
Roman Whorton (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Bluffton University
Liam Haswell (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Heidelberg University
Gabrielle Pitsic (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Transylvania University
Maliyah Fayson (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Indiana University Columbus
Ashley O’Brien (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Murray State University
Ava Schier (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Ohio Wesleyan University
Sarah Beachy (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Ohio Northern University
Emalyn Arnold (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Indiana University Kokomo
Mylee Smith (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of the Cumberlands
Bailey Murphy (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Walsh University
Nyah Migal (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Radford University
Isaac Sager (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of Mount Union
Delilah Martinez Otero (KH Swan City) – Daytona State College
Maria Nielsen (KH Swan City) – Pasco-Hernando State College
Sophie Paul (KH Lexington) – Georgetown College
Emily Rollins (KH Bay United) – Eckerd College
Corinne Hanna (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – University of the Cumberlands
Justin Acree (KH Lexington) – Owens Community College
Dakota Clark (KH Xenia) – Marietta College
Sierra Clark (KH Xenia) – Marietta College
Aby Shannon (KH Swan City) – Emmanuel University
Joanna LaForte (KH Murfreesboro) – Truett-McConnell University
Kaitlyn Daley (KH Murfreesboro) – Western Kentucky University
Izelee Kerns (KH Cincinnati/NKY) – Western Michigan University
Emma Hartmann (KH Cincinnati/NKY) -Hanover College
Lexi Reynolds (KH Lexington) – Oberlin College