The Free State High girls tennis team has a decidedly different look this fall.

Many of the girls wielding rackets are doing so for the first time at the varsity level. And two girls who coach Jon Renberger thought would lead his squad on the court aren’t even out for the team.

When Free State juniors Maggie and Rosie Hull wrapped up their summer softball season they had every intention of returning to the Firebirds tennis team.

But a week before August’s first practice, the twin sisters had a change of heart.

“It was probably one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make,” Maggie said. “We really love tennis, but we just needed a break.”

Playing softball year-round and at a highly competitive level can take its toll, even for a couple of high school athletes in Kansas.

But life has changed for the Hull sisters since last season. They’re no longer just entering their high school careers, they’re nearing college. They’re no longer just sweet sticks in a stacked line up, they’re highly sought-after commodities.

And they’re not alone.

The Hulls are just two examples of a growing trend of high schoolers that face tough decisions when it comes to competing. These days, young athletes are finding it more beneficial – and sometimes even necessary – to focus on just one sport: the sport that might land them a free ride to the colleges of their choosing.

“We are kind of the perfect example of that,” Rosie said. “We just went back and forth and back and forth trying to decide about tennis. But finally, we just decided that we needed a season off to get some things done.”

Those things include juggling tough class schedules, nailing down recruiting lists and sprinkling in some aspect of a social life.

The Free State twins are two of the hottest softball players in the area. During their two years of high school ball, both have been earned several postseason accolades.

In addition, several Division I schools already have come calling. While that might seem great on the surface, it can be a nightmare at times.

“Everyone’s trying to help us, and that makes it tough, too,” Maggie said, “because we don’t know who’s right and who’s wrong, so we basically just try to go with who we trust the most. It’s just so stressful, and that’s another reason we needed to take a season off.”

If it’s this taxing for the Hull sisters, in middle America, imagine the circus surrounding a guy like LeBron James during his high school days.

Maggie and Rosie hope to attend the same college and to play softball together there, just as they always have. They know it might make recruiting even more difficult, but they’re up for it.

This fall, they’ll finish their softball season with the Olathe Rockets, and in the winter they’ll play basketball for Free State. After that, it’s back to softball full-time.

“Being involved is a great thing,” Rosie said. “And I really think that being active in other sports can help you become a better all-around athlete. But sometimes you have to prioritize. I wish I could do everything. I wish I didn’t have to say no to anybody. But sometimes you have to be selfish with your decision making.”

Let’s hope such decisions don’t take the fun out of it for generations to come.