Commitment Profile
Countdown: Erica Oosterhout Commits to the Crimson
by Keith Kropp, 14 March 2015
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As a young child exploring different sports, Erica Oosterhout was confident she would play one in college. The challenging part would be choosing the sport and the university.
One of those sports Oosterhout played quite well was tennis. But she also excelled in soccer - while also participating in cross country, gymnastics and figure skating.
"Growing up in Michigan, my mom pretty much put me in everything," Oosterhout said.
Eventually, tennis became the sport Oosterhout embraced exclusively. Not long after that college programs began taking notice, and one of those programs, Harvard, became the university she would choose.
"I love the campus, and everyone is so nice," said Oosterhout. "The team is awesome. I had an amazing time visiting. As I thought about Harvard I felt it was where I could fit the best."
Oosterhout, a 16-year-old Blue Chip recruit and Tampa, Fla., resident the past eight years, admits she does not have as lengthy a tennis resume as many of her fellow junior competitors. She did take the recruiting process seriously - visiting Princeton and Columbia in addition to Harvard. Oosterhout also considered Virginia, Stanford and Florida.
Oosterhout reflected on what helped her make her decision, noting that she had a good feeling about Harvard from the beginning.
"After playing the Clay Court National 18s at Memphis [where she upset Emma Higuchi of Los Angeles in three sets in the second round], I wasn't that focused on college," Oosterhout said. "Then after the Clay Courts, Harvard sent me an e-mail. I was so excited. I thought to myself, 'Wow, it's Harvard!' They were the first school to show interest in me."
