Social media has become a defining force in high school sports, shaping everything from headlines to recruitment to seeing how teams play.

Many Wilsonville athletes aspire to compete at the next level and earn the opportunity to play collegiate sports.

​For many athletes who dream of being recruited to play college sports, social media can serve as a highlight reel and game tape to showcase to scouts and coaches. Athletes can showcase their workouts and game clips of their achievements to their audiences. This can be a very valuable trait for athletes to get seen and attract interest from a variety of schools.

A well managed profile can showcase not only athletic ability but also character, work ethic, and leadership, showing different qualities that recruiters value. In this sense, social media has leveled the playing field, giving athletes from smaller schools or lesser-known programs a chance to be seen.

​Junior Curtis Karr reflects on the growth of social media in high school sports and the significance of staying connected, saying, “It is a huge factor because it gives you a certain profile and gives you a certain amount of responsibility but it is important to be team first and not let any of that be your number one priority it can help you but it can also effect you in a harsh way.”

​But at times, there are benefits that come with notable downsides for student athletes. One major concern is the pressure of keeping up with a professional image and an appealing profile.

There can be so many eyes and an increased amount of pressure for athletes to perform and connect with the other elements of social media and get their status to a certain level. The number of likes, comments, and followers can sometimes become more important than actual performance. This pressure can lead to stress, anxiety, and a fear of failure and not performing.

​The distraction from being a student can also be a big concern; taking too much time scrolling through social media can take away from things like practice, homework, and rest.

For athletes who need discipline and focus, this can hurt both their academic and athletic performance. Additionally, negative comments or online criticism can damage an athlete’s confidence and mental health, especially at a young age.

Junior baseball player Rowen Rankin establishes the risk at times of social media in high school sports, stating, “it can affect you if you post the wrong things, and it can affect people who get too caught up in it, making that their number 1 responsibility.”

​It is very important for high school athletes to know the risks, but at times it can be positive for certain sports that track stats, and it can be a tool to get prepared for games and know the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Rankin elaborates on this saying, “It can be helpful at times, though film and seeing team play and for baseball, certain rotations and the little things they do.”

​Overall, social media is a key aspect of sports to promote and scout players. It does have its downsides, but if athletes use it wisely, it can be a smart tool to showcase themselves as student athletes. Though showing film or clips of you practicing or playing, it can be a huge advantage to have a positive platform. Not only are you preparing yourself for the next level, but also representing your school in the right way, building yourself for the future.