Owen Vander Velde didn’t always see himself playing baseball in college. The grind of being a student-athlete in college is a challenge, and Vander Velde wasn’t always sure it was something he wanted.
“I wasn’t sure because I didn’t know if I was committed enough, and [if] I wanted to go through all that,” stated Vander Velde. “Then Junior off-season was when I realized it’s what I wanted to do.”
After this decision, Vander Velde was committed to making it to the next level. The recruiting process is always a challenge, but it all worked out for Vander Velde with his commitment to play at DePauw University.
“It was a grind, but it definitely paid off,” said Vander Velde. “I think a lot had to go into it, but then when it was done, it was a big chip off my shoulder that I was committed.”
During the recruiting process, DePauw, which has also gained the commitment of two other Wildkit athletes, became a clear choice for Vander Velde. The campus and facilities were great, but the main factor driving Vander Velde’s decision was his future coaching staff.
“I think most of all, it was just the coaches,” said Vander Velde on his commitment. “I just didn’t feel the same love from coaches I visited at other schools.”
A major change for Owen is that he will no longer be playing alongside his twin brother, Cole Vander Velde, who committed to the Milwaukee School of Engineering for baseball. However, Evanston may not be the last place where they’ll share a field.
“Our coaches have talked about setting up a game,” said Vander Velde. “I think it’d be really cool if we played each other.”
Baseball is a game that has given so much to Vander Velde, through both the highs and the lows. While now on a new team without the childhood friends and family he’s played with for years, it’s an opportunity for Vander Velde to keep playing the game that means so much to him.
“Baseball is like a streaky sport, sometimes I’m doing really well, sometimes not so well, but overall it’s really good,” stated Vander Velde. “I’m really glad I got into baseball.”
