<p>In regard to the OP’s question about the Claremont Colleges. Our son went through this in a different sport two years ago. The coach of the Pomona-Pitzer team basically said anyone who’s willing to do the work and tryout when they get on campus gets a shot, but that he had little or no influence. A couple days after our son applied ED I at Pomona he received an email from the coach asking for his unofficial HS transcript plus an up to date transcript of his first semester so far. There are no likely letters or assurances of a spot on the PP teams, this could be different on the CMS teams. Our son sent in the Athletic Supplement with his application, and the extra request for the Semester I transcript suggests that the coach at least had him on his list. If nothing else, the coach’s input served to verify his sports involvement as a major EC, similar to sending a CD and completing a fine arts/music supplement and having the orchestra conductor say, “This kid could fill a spot.” Our son’s take on this was that his sport didn’t get him in. If anything, it gave his file an extra look.</p>