As the Class of 2026 submits their college applications, a few senior student-athletes find themselves in a different kind of waiting game: anticipating their official acceptances to the renowned institutions they have verbally committed to. After twelve long years of rushing to practice after school, hours long road trips on the weekends, and squeezing homework into every spare minute, these athletes are finally approaching the finish line. Let’s see how these future college athletes are feeling as they gear up for the next chapter, and learn more about what the recruitment process taught them about themselves.
Alex Osterloh ‘26: Claremont McKenna College
Senior basketball standout Alexander Osterloh has officially committed to Claremont McKenna College, a Division 3 school in southern California known for its rigorous academics and competitive basketball program. Osterloh says he has been playing basketball “for as long as [he] can remember,” and his passion for the game has been constant since childhood. From first grade, he’s competed in AAU leagues, spending years sharpening his skills and learning what it means to be dedicated. Now Osterloh leads the Sacred Heart offense as the point-guard.
When it came time to make his college decision, Osterloh was drawn to Claremont McKenna for both its strong academics and its team culture. He said, “I was fortunate to have a lot of options, but I thought Claremont McKenna fit me best. It has one of the best economics programs, and I really like the team and the guys I met there.”
Beyond stats and ambitions, Osteloh carries lessons that extend past basketball, saying, “You always have to be working hard, no matter what… if you’re only motivated by what others are doing, you’ll burn out.” His advice to younger athletes is simple but sincere: “Run your own race. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.” Osterloh’s balance between drive and perspective displays why Claremont McKenna is gaining more than just a player; they’re gaining a leader. Go Stags!
Anabelle Yujuico ‘26: Colorado College
With her tenacious and resilient personality, it’s no surprise that Anabelle Yujuico has committed to continuing her athletic and academic journey at Colorado College — a competitive and highly successful Division III program. Yujuico has only been playing volleyball for four years, but she has been surrounded by the sports world all her life. She competed in gymnastics for much of her youth, then she shifted to diving for a few years, before ultimately falling in love with volleyball in 8th grade. Since then, Yujuico has spent hours in the gym dedicating time to perfecting her craft. She recalls the recruiting process as “very draining, as it is for most people.” During junior year, bearing the responsibility of leading SHP’s Girls’ Varsity Volleyball team, Yujuico found herself skeptical about playing in college, and she “wasn’t sure how far [she] wanted to take it” at that point. However, once she became comfortable leaning on her teammates and coaches, she “found [her] love for the sport” again.
Yujuico began seriously considering pursuing a college volleyball career in March of her junior year — a little later than most, which “[narrowed] down the list a little.” She spent this past summer at various camps in schools. She was drawn to Colorado for the location and its academic system, saying it will “allow [her] to thrive.” Ultimately, it was the feeling from the team and the coaches when she visited that pushed Yujuico to commit on her official visit — an outcome “she wasn’t expecting” going into that weekend. Yujuico has ambitious goals for her tenure at Colorado. She wants to become the first person in their program history to reach 1,000 digs. There’s no doubt that with her strength, determination, and immense self-awareness, this is an achievable feat.
As she looks ahead to her graduation this coming May, Yujuico says all Sacred Heart students and athletes “will find the right place,” and “whether you’re in the recruiting process or applying, everyone has their own path and whatever happens was meant to happen to you.” Don’t dwell on what could’ve been, because “you’re on your own path.” Go Tigers!
Charlotte Weber ‘26: Georgetown University
Charlotte Weber announced her commitment this past summer to Georgetown University, and there’s no doubt she will continue to serve up success for herself in the next four years. Playing tennis for fourteen years, Weber has learned to “never give up” because “tennis is a mental sport.” It’s that mental toughness that allowed her to earn her current Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR) of 8.6 at only seventeen years old. This puts her a mere 3.4 points away from a ranking on par with pro female tennis players.
Weber recalls her mom as her inspiration for playing tennis, and she felt a call to follow in her footsteps of playing DI tennis at LSU. Weber spent the months of her recruiting process attending showcases in various places, including Los Angeles and New Jersey, playing matches and showcasing her skills in front of potential future college coaches. After the DI contact period began on June 15th before her junior year, Weber came into contact with Georgetown, who informed her that they’d liked what they’d seen at a previous showcase. She officially committed to the admissions process after visiting this past July, and now she is in the midst of the waiting period to get her official acceptance.
Weber, who just closed out her final season of SHP Varsity Tennis with a CCS Championship title, anticipates the welcoming team setting that awaits her at Georgetown. She has set a goal to become the first women’s tennis player at Georgetown to win the Big East Conference.
As Weber looks back on her tenure at Sacred Heart and forward to what awaits her in the nation’s capital, she encourages SHP students and athletes to “control what you can control, and always have fun,” because that’s what will keep you going at the end of the day. There is no doubt that Weber will ace all obstacles in her path during her next four years. Go Hoyas!
