At this time of the year, many students at HHS are getting ready to pack up and leave home to embark on a strictly academic post-secondary program. However, a select few at HHS are preparing to continue their athletic careers in college.

McKenna Gordon, senior, will be dancing for the University of Iowa next year.

“Being able to dance in college was never a must for me until I hit senior year. I realized if I didn’t dance in college, I would never dance again after dance team and studio ended,” Gordon said. “It quickly became important to me to give everything I possibly could at college dance team tryouts, but I knew if I didn’t make it, I would have other things to look forward to.”

Gordon knows that as a college student-athlete, she will have to adjust to a new lifestyle.

“Balancing my time and being 100 percent responsible and efficient will definitely be a challenge. Luckily for me, my busy high school schedule has prepared me for what’s coming,” Gordon said.

Throughout Gordon’s life, sports have played a major role.

“I’ve never known what its like to not have sports. I started dance at age 2 and have stuck with it ever since,” Gordon said. “I’m able to go to dance class, completely forget about everything else, and express how I may be feeling,”

While the dance team at HHS is a varsity sport, the teams at most colleges and universities are not.

“Dance is a little bit different when it comes to wanting to continue in college. Dance team is unfortunately not considered a sport, and is part of the school spirit squad, so there is no scouting, or scholarships,” Gordon said. “It’s simply just for fun, and for the pride of the school. I would say because of this that it is not as competitive as some may think.”

Roughly 7,543,256 students participate in high school sports throughout the United States. 587,364 of those athletes will play on to the next level. Below is a list of those 15.6 percent who attend HHS.

Manfred Barrios-Case Western Reserve University-Tennis

Jake Wright-The Citadel-Basketball

Erin O’Neil-Boston University-Hockey

Kaylenn Heiberg-University of Iowa-Rowing

McKenna Gordon-University of Iowa-Dance

Selena Anderson-Iowa State University-Cheerleading

Sedona Timm-University of Minnesota-Dance

Lukas Jorgensen-Colorado Christian University-Baseball

Kamali Chambers-Brewster Preparatory Academy-Basketball

Treyvon Edwards-St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Basketball

Molly O’Toole-St. Mary’s University of Minnesota-Basketball

Terrance Bowers-University of Minnesota-Duluth-Football and Track

Andre Chisley-South Dakota State University-Football

Jillane Deyoung-Loyola University Chicago-Soccer

Paul Vogt-Eckerd College-Golf

Rae Bullinger-University of Minnesota-Swimming

Nina Rodgers-University of Minnesota-Hockey

Sam Niedorf-Hamline University-Baseball

Alex Mord-University of St. Thomas-Baseball

Roxy Kreitzman-University of Puget Sound-Lacrosse

Michael Jakobitz-Augsburg College-Soccer

Stoney Jackson-Augsburg College-Football

Shaheed Hickman-St. Cloud State University-Track

Lindsay Clay-University of Minnesota-Morris-Soccer

Halina Pyzdrowski-Luther College-Soccer

Alex Norton-Bethel University Minnesota-Football

Talia Johnson-Gustavus Adolphus College-Volleyball

Colin Lau-Carleton College-Swimming

Marcus Davis-University of St. Thomas-Football

Zach Johnson-University of Iowa-Football

Matt Parker-Iowa Central Community College-Football

Noble Fahnbulleh-Dakota County Technical College-Basketball

Selena Anderson- Iowa State University-Cheerleading

Pablo Alguindigue- University of Puget Sound- Soccer