Removing walkons from D1 and adding guaranteed scholarships really shrunk the opportunities. Some schools completely removed anything but track distance events so they could double dip with XC. Some now carry only 2-3 total roster spots for PV. Two years ago she probably could have been a smaller D1 walk on (UCSD), or a D2 scholly. Of course the uncertainty completely stopped coaching contacts, too.

She ended up applying to 17 schools hoping at least one would hit. Rose Hulman or RPI were the only 2 with decent engineering programs that even wanted a sniff, but she didn't want to go to either one (who really wants to go to school in Rochester or Terre Haute?). Many tears later, she started looking at schools with clubs near by so she could at least continue jumping. These are slowly starting to sprout, but not fast enough. UConn and GCU both have track clubs with PV, but again who wants to spend 4 years in Storrs?

She (rightly) prioritized academics, and fell in love with Mines. She had previously reached out to the coach but was ghosted. At this point she figured what have I got to lose, so she just started sending weekly emails to the coach as she progressed through her senior season--basically I'm going to pitch a tent in your lawn until you tell me to go away.

The coach finally gave her a walk on target, which she was clearing in practice, but still basically ghosted her. When she broke her HS school record (and 2" away from the target), no response from the coach. After she had a bad day at the state meet? Nothing.

The week after state she asked if she could get a copy of the team's summer workout plan, to which the coach responded, I send that out in July.

Fast forward to last week, and she gets an email that was a mass email to the team from the head coach asking for uniform and shoe sizes from everyone, and an email from the trainer with all the physical forms (holy cow there are a lot). She responds to the coach's email with "I didn't get to your walk on height, so is this for a tryout? How much of this should I worry about?" **crickets**

Sunday she gets an invitation to the team communication platform. **more crickets** (We told her to sign up and message the coach there, but she didn't.)

Finally today the PV coach responds and tells her that they decided to give her a spot and they'd evaluate throughout the season since they don't really do tryouts.

Really weird situation, but she's excited. Even though she missed out on some of the things like the team geting preference on dorm selection and all lives in the same res hall, she gets to jump another year, and she's already been followed by some of the team on IG (the important things for teens, I guess).