Rudy Shearer- Class of 2025, a future winger from Lake Michigan College, realized his passion for playing soccer at the collegiate level the summer before his senior year. He wasn’t quite ready to give up the sport and began reaching out to coaches of schools he was interested in.
Rudy decided on Lake Michigan College because it offered him free tuition for two years, along with the opportunity to transfer to another school if he chose to. His reaction when he signed his letter of intent was one of immense happiness, knowing he was part of the small percentage of athletes who move on to play at the college level.
The recruiting process wasn’t easy for him, as he didn’t start reaching out to coaches until after his senior season ended with no offers. At that point, he accepted the possibility of not playing college soccer but decided to take matters into his own hands and ultimately secured the offer he wanted.
Rudy credits his time in high school athletics for teaching him valuable lessons about sportsmanship and leadership. Although not directly related to soccer, his teacher Troy Bytwork had a significant impact on him with his passion and persistence. Looking ahead to college athletics, Rudy is excited about meeting new people and adjusting to the more serious nature of college sports. As for goals, he’s focused on both his academic and athletic success. His advice for younger athletes dreaming of playing in college is simple: “Work HARD, and REACH OUT!”
Outside of sports, Rudy has a love for nature that many people might not know.