Only 6 percent of the Keuka student body is from outside New York state.

However, nearly 40 percent (5 of 13) of Keuka’s nationally ranked synchronized swimming team are non-New Yorkers.

Keuka competes against Division I teams, including Ohio State and Stanford, which makes it imperative for Coach Nancy Wightman to recruit beyond the borders of the Empire State.

"In order to maintain the level we are at now, we have to recruit out of state," said Wightman, whose team is ranked No. 6 in the nation.  "The sport is so huge, not only in New York, and I can get higher quality athletes when I recruit out of state."

In order to keep the Storm among the nation’s elite, Wightman travels to national competitions in search of talent such as Sarah Silverman.

"Coach Wightman was very friendly and welcoming and if she wasn't, I probably would not be here today," said Silverman, a sophomore from Shrewsburg, Mass.

Captain Corenn Cookerly, who came to Keuka from Brownsburg, Ind., was also impressed with Wightman and a key feature of the Keuka experience.

"I also liked the Field Period opportunity,” explained the junior.

Freshmen Tracy Ringel and sophomore Briane Lojo are also from out of state, hailing from Columbia, Md., and Westfield, N.J., respectively.

In addition to the four out-of-state athletes, Wightman’s roster includes Shannon Crowder from Durbin, South Africa.

The men's basketball team has two players from the West Coast but Coach Tom Flood says out-of-state recruiting is not as essential for basketball as it is for synchronized swimming.  

"Basketball is a large sport and athletes can be found all over,” he said. “With synchro, Coach Wightman has to venture out to find the best talent.”

Flood, in his first season as head coach, has two non-New Yorkers on his team, although Forest Woodley (Seattle, Wash.) and Chris Patrick (Paso Robles, Calif.) were primarily recruited by former coach George Wunder.

"I don't have a preference for out-of-state kids; if I do find one then great, but I'd rather stay within New York state," explained Flood.

New York state may be the recruiting bread and butter for Keuka coaches, but Wightman isn’t the only coach who has found recruiting elsewhere. Four members of Alana Krug’s volleyball team came to Keuka from outside New York.

Raelle Naegely, a freshman from Colorado Spring, Colo., discovered Keuka College while researching Division III volleyball schools.  

Naegely says she was "sort of" recruited.  She contacted Keuka first and shortly after, Coach Krug avidly pursued her.

"I sent coach Krug a tape of my playing and she seemed very interested. She contacted me and helped with the admissions and scholarships," said Naegely.

Also part of the volleyball team are Aimee Margocs, who hails from North Royalton, Ohio; Samantha Heath (Hampton, N.H.); and Sarah Fredricks (Milton, Ontario, Canada).

All students have to make the transition from high school to college, but that transition is typically more difficult for those who come from other states. So how do these students, especially those from urban areas, make the transition to rural Keuka Park? 

"It varies from person-to-person, but most of the athletes know this is a small school and that is what they are looking for," said Wightman.

Nonetheless, there is some culture shock occasionally.

"The first time I met Chris Patrick, I picked him up from the airport and when we drove through Penn Yan, a horse and buggy went by," said Flood. " I looked over at him and I thought he was going to drop dead."

Silverman says she did not miss a beat when coming to Keuka.

"My transition was fairly easy, and I didn't have time to be homesick with pre-season practices.  The only hard part is getting to the airport when I have to go home for breaks," she said.

Some out-of-state athletes have made such a good transition that they decide to stay close by after graduating. Case in point: former synchronized swimmer and 2006 graduate Rebecca Story, who hails from Lakeland, Fla.

"I mailed coach a video tape as well as my application and shortly heard back and received my acceptance and award letter," Story said.

The Keuka Park area area was nothing like her hometown, but she could not wait to go away to college.  

"My graduation class alone was about a 1,000 students, so I wanted to try something new.  I love the people at Keuka, they are really like a family," said Story.

After graduation, Story landed a job in Keuka’s admissions office and served as an assistant coach under Wightman for the 2006-07 season. She is now the head synchronized swimming coach at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass.

Although Story coaches at a school that competes against Keuka in synchronized swimming, when it turns out that Wheaton is not the best fit for a student, Story often suggests that "they look into KeukaCollege to share in the same wonderful student-athlete experiences I had."

-- Anthony Affissio '08