the sisters decided that they would try swimming, as it was a
long winter season that was similar to the cheer season. With
no prior competitive experience, the two of them quickly
became the best team swimmers and team leaders, and they
were rewarded with a trip to the state swim meet. However,
they were barely recruited.
The Division III school closest to their home (although just
across the state border) that showed the most interest in them
invited the twins and their parents for a visit. The twins loved
the coach, the school, and the swim-team guides they met.
In the interview with the coach after the campus tour and
before their visit to admissions, the coach told them plainly
that she wanted both girls on the team. The family discussed
with the coach the cost of sending the twins to the private
college. Even though the family had been frugal and owned
a modicum of assets, the father made it clear that he couldn’t
afford to send them without considerable help. The twins were
not his only children. The coach encouraged the family to join
(an NCAA rules violation) her in a trip to the admissions and
financial aid offices (their admission and financial documents
had already been received by the school). During the meeting
at the financial aid office, the coach explained (this type of
meeting and discussion is an NCAA recruiting rules violation)
to the combined admissions and financial aid officers that
she would be pleased if both girls could join the swimming
program, but that the costs for both of them to attend would
be prohibitive. The financial aid officer asked the father what
it would take for both girls to come to the college. “Two for
one,” was his answer and, as I taught him, he then remained
quiet. After a long, tense silence, the admissions officer finally
replied, “We can do that.”
144 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide