Alex Arkfeld visited college campuses with very specific requirements. As a top performer in academics, named one of Nebraska's Distinguished Scholars, he needed academic programs that would challenge him. As a graduate of Gretna High and its baseball tradition, he couldn't bring himself to think the days of RBI's and double plays were behind him.
He was determined not to sacrifice one requirement for the other. He picked a Kansas City school that fit the bill and let him try life in a bigger city. He transferred a year later.  The baseball program wasn't a good fit for him and it made him realize how important the game still was to his life. He had competed ever since he got a baseball bat for Christmas at age 5, and wanted to be able to say he played all the way to the college level.
And while Kansas City was cool "not many college kids can afford to go out much in Kansas City," he said. "We always stayed on campus anyway." Alex took a second look at other colleges that had recruited him out of high school. He remembered Doane's baseball coaches. Since his father had played basketball and baseball at a Nebraska school that plays Doane, Alex knew he would like playing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. He picked Doane with the same criteria he had applied the year before. Academics? Doane's biology program is stellar, some years boasting a 100 percent placement rate to medical schools. That meant a lot to Alex, a biochemistry major who plans to go to medical school, possibly studying ophthalmology. Plus, Doane's size meant a lower professor/student ratio and more individual guidance. As for baseball, everything clicked. His work ethic put him on the varsity roster the first semester, on a team coming off its first ever appearance in the NAIA national tournament. "It's a really well-organized program. The coaches are so personable. Coach J. runs a great program," Alex said. He found Doane feels like its own town and more personal than his previous college. When he is not busy with baseball, there's usually something to do on campus. If not, Lincoln is 20 easy minutes away. He made friends. Survived organic chemistry. And proudly wears the No. 23 Tiger baseball jersey. It turned out, the hard part about transferring colleges was deciding to do it. |