On Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Kingswood Oxford Admissions Office hosted their annual virtual event for prospective KO students to connect with coaches and athletic department leaders.
This year, student athletes junior Devin Wolff and senior Allie Wildstein were involved as well. Allie and Devin were chosen to represent KO due to their dedication and involvement in athletics.
“Athletics at KO are something I have always been passionate about,” Allie said. “As a two-sport varsity athlete and a tour guide, I love talking to prospective families!” The event took place on Zoom to accommodate pandemic safety restrictions.
“Pre-pandemic we held so many great programs on campus, and really tried to get creative,” Senior Associate Director of Admissions and Middle School field hockey coach Meredith Crowther said. She believes that simple Zoom programs have been a beneficial result of the pandemic. “We can record them and families can have them on demand,” she said. “If families can join us, it’s great, but otherwise they can just watch it on their own time.”
About 15 families attended the Zoom event, and many more viewed the meeting’s recording. The event opened with a warm welcome from Mrs. Crowther, who also spoke about admissions at KO and gave an overview of the night. The night’s speakers overviewed facilities, expertise of coaches, and success of student athletes at KO. The role of athletics within the KO community was emphasized to the new families. Event leaders made sure to explain the afternoon activity requirement at KO, and also mentioned exciting athletic trips, such as baseball’s team trip to Florida.
Devin informed the families of events such as Hewett Day, and Allie gave some insight about what it’s like managing education, athletics, and social life. “I think the most important part of KO athletics that prospective families should know is just how close the teams really get,” Allie said. “KO athletics really brings kids together, gives you some of your best friends and is an essential part of the students’ schedules.”
After all of the informative speeches, families asked further questions for participants. Following the Q&A portion of the event, a general summary of our athletics was delivered, and the families were informed of and encouraged to attend future admissions events.
It was important to the Athletic Department to really show the range of activities we have available at KO. The afternoon activity requirement can seem daunting to prospective families until they realize how many options can actually fill this requirement.
“When new families see the breadth and scope of our afternoon activities, they become really excited about the sports requirements,” Mrs. Crowther said. “Because we offer options in robotics, esports, theater, and athletics, your opportunity is not limited. KO is small, yet large enough that you can be on new teams, be a part of an athletic community, and make a unique impact!”
