The Icing On Top Of Women’s Tennis Player Ceri McCaffrey’s Recruitment

There is no exact science to recruitment in college athletics. Everyone has a different reason or a different story to tell why they select a college, but sometimes you find a sweet story.

Goucher women's tennis player Ceri McCaffrey cupcakes were the icing on the cake when she decided to attend Goucher College. 

"During my visit with the team, I did an overnight, and one very memorable part was we baked cupcakes together," said McCaffrey. "Parties aren't my scene, and have never been, but when the team mentioned they wanted to bake cupcakes later, I panicked and thought that was a codeword for a party. But then we actually just baked cupcakes and decorated them together. At that moment, I knew that these girls were the team for me." 

McCaffrey's time at Goucher almost did not come to be because of her first impressions of its name.

"When I was first looking at schools to play tennis, my mother mentioned Goucher, and I immediately dismissed it because I thought the name sounded funny," said McCaffrey, who added, " I know, very mature on my part, haha."

It was not until Gophers women's tennis head coach Steve Baum saw her play at a United States Tennis Association College Showcase that Goucher became a real option. 

"I went to the showcase to meet coaches from other schools, but that was the first time Coach Baum saw me play," said McCaffrey. "He later reached out in an email, and I decided to follow-up with him. 

Baum, a 2011 graduate of Goucher, also helped her decision because of his enthusiasm for her and the college.

"Coach Baum was also a good spokesperson for Goucher," said McCaffrey. "His passion for Goucher was obvious from the very beginning. It was also nice to hear that he pretty much grew up at Goucher and had that connection to the school. Coach Baum also came up to New York to see one of my tournaments. Knowing that he took time out to see me play meant a lot."

McCaffrey did visit other college options but did not have the positive experience that she experienced at Goucher.

"At other schools, partying was always the activity of choice, and I always found myself wondering if this was the only thing that college kids did," said McCaffrey. "Other teams I visited made it clear that you weren't "one of them." I did an overnight at one school where they referred to me as "recruit" the entire time."

McCaffrey enjoyed success on the tennis court after she arrived on the Goucher campus. She won her first seven singles matches in the fall of 2019 and finished 7-1 in singles and 2-2 in doubles matches. When the Gophers can return to action, McCaffrey and the women's tennis team will play their first competition at the brand new Evelyn Dyke Schroedl '62 Tennis Center.

Everyone has that moment or reason for making a decision. For McCaffrey, it has been a great decision celebrated with sprinkles and icing.

"If people like the girls on the team went to Goucher, then I knew I would be fine and find even more lovely people," said McCaffrey. "Overall, the warmth from the girls on the team and coach brought me to Goucher. We support each other and want to see everyone get stronger. I'm very grateful to the girls on the team and Coach Baum that brought me to Goucher."