Cole Valletta '15 Recruiting Profile

Competing in the Arizona Division 1 State Championship, my junior year, was an experience that taught me what values are necessary in order to be a successful program. However, competing in this highlighted game would not have been possible if it were not for the lessons I learned when I was a sophomore. My sophomore year my high school team was very young, and it took an unexpected impressive performance by the underclassmen to qualify for the playoffs. During these playoff games, being as young as we were, everybody just relied on their talent to win games. After we lost in the second round it became very clear that championship teams are not made from talent, but they are made from teamwork, mental toughness, chemistry, and the unwillingness to lose. Throughout my junior season I made sure that those values were our backbone and once those values were put into place our team glided straight into the State Championship.

That one year changed me as a student-athlete and provided me with the mental and character tools necessary to be an effective leader on any baseball team. However, the educational aspect of being a student athlete is just as important to me. I value a high education and have the same work ethic on the baseball field as I do inside the classroom. I believe that I not only can bring talent to your team, but also character, commitment, and leadership. I have no doubt that I have what it takes to be an impact player in any organization and can benefit your team in every aspect!