To high school students across the world, March is a critical period for deciding what they want to do for the rest of their careers. For students who are more athletically inclined, the gate to greatness through college sports is wide open. Diamond Bar High School seniors Chloe Cadelina and Malcolm Bell have solidified their decisions, each committing to schools they are to be attending post-graduation.
Though she received numerous offers from Division I and II schools outside of California, her preference was to remain local while furthering her career at Chapman University.
Cadelina will attend the Division III school in Orange, CA next semester with a scholarship.
“[Chapman University] wanted me as a player and a student, and I really wanted to be able to play collegiate tennis staying in California,” Cadelina said. “With Southern California being the most competitive section for junior tennis, it’s really hard to receive a scholarship. Chapman was a perfect match for me.”
Training five days every week and participating in several competitions, Cadelina has taken home many awards contributing to her current success, from the Mt. Baldy League Championships for both the singles and doubles divisions, as well as the league’s singles MVP.
In 2022, Cadelina was also ranked as one of the top 20 female tennis players in the entirety of Southern California.
“I think it’s a great privilege to become a collegiate athlete and be part of a team. It has been my lifelong goal to play for a team, and I couldn’t be more excited,” Cadelina said. “With constant practices and training sessions, I’m confident that I’ll stay ready for the collegiate level.”
Similarly, Bell will be playing basketball for California State Polytechnic University of Pomona starting this fall. Many schools had shown interest in recruiting him, such as California State University of Dominguez Hills, Cal Poly Pomona and Chico State. However, Bell chose Cal Poly Pomona for the team atmosphere and the school’s proximity to home.
“[The recruitment process] was pretty exciting, but also somewhat stressful,” Bell said. “You’re constantly thinking about whether you’re performing well enough for schools to take an interest in you. It can take a toll on you mentally, but I feel like it was just another chance for me to grow.”
Due to a shoulder injury, Bell is currently unable to play at the top of his game. But once he fully recovers, he will be working out with his future teammates during the summer and entering the weight room more often to build up his conditioning.
“Everyone on the [Cal Poly] team treated each other like family and that was really important to me,” Bell said. “I’m really excited to spend time with the guys on the team and start classes at Cal Poly.”