Athletes who commit to play sports in college often capture attention with their commitment posts on Instagram and signing days, but there is also another kind of college athlete that demonstrates the determination required to succeed in collegiate sports: walk-on athletes. Several Menlo alumni have been able to walk onto Division I teams, facing unique challenges and triumphs.
Malia Chavinson (‘23), who plays water polo at Brown University, explained that the sport has always been crucial in her life. “I’ve never known what it’s like not to be an athlete. I’ve been competing at a high level since I was really little,” Chavinson said. “I’ve never known a school day where I don’t go to two to three hours of practice and lift and film. So I think scheduling or my day-to-day life doesn’t look or feel much different from high school to college.”
Choosing to attend Brown University was no easy decision. Chavinson had offers to play water polo at other schools where she could play an integral part in their programs. Yet, she decided on Brown — where she received no athletic backing in admissions — due to its excellent academics. After deciding that Brown was where she wanted to further her academic journey, Chavinson was recruited as a walk-on to their water polo team in May of 2023.
A challenge for her was adapting to her role on the team. Given Brown’s position as a strong DI water polo team, getting playing time was initially difficult. “Being able to reframe my mindset from always having been confident in my ability to then adapting more of a growth mindset on overcoming obstacles or not meeting my expectations was hard at times,” Chavinson said.
Chavinson believes that her experience walking on to a collegiate sports team was a beneficial decision because it meant she chose a school she loved for both its academics and athletics. “You have to ask yourself, would you still be happy at that school if you broke your leg or the coach quit, and suddenly your program isn’t the same?” Chavinson said. “First and foremost, it’s finding a school that fits you, and then athletics should be the secondary concern.”
After breaking his ankle right before his senior season and not being able to play basketball, Will Eggemeier (‘23) had a much different journey to playing collegiate sports. Eggemeier walked on to Boston College’s varsity basketball team at the start of his sophomore year. “I took my freshman year to focus on academics and had a year off from basketball [on top of my season off my senior year],” Eggemeier said. “I worked out this whole summer, intending to make the team.”
An especially difficult transition for Eggemeier was adjusting to the high level of collegiate basketball, especially after two years off from playing. “The pace of play is so much faster, and it’s so much more physical,” he said.
Regardless of the challenge of adjusting to the pace of the game, Eggemeier’s time with the team has been something he has always dreamed of. “Seeing my jersey hanging with the number 21 and my last name on the back was surreal,” Eggemeier said. “That’s when it hit me that I’m playing college basketball at an ACC school, which is ridiculous especially considering where I was last year — not playing basketball at all.”
Eggemeier believes that all high school athletes should try to play at a collegiate level if they are passionate about their sport, regardless of whether or not they undergo the recruitment process. “My biggest thing is just go for it. You never know what’s going to happen. Send as many emails as it takes. Just go all out for it. The worst thing that could happen is they say no.
[…] But I would say go for it because it’s an incredible experience.”
