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Caroline Wernli thought she was nearing the end of her college recruiting process until the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Spots on the rosters of schools she was speaking with were suddenly not available anymore because of the extra year of eligibility the NCAA granted to players when the 2020 season was cut short.

Four-Star Caroline Wernli Has Committed to Gonzaga
© Contributed Photo

The four-star senior from Austin, Texas had to research a new list of potential college options, and determined her priorities may need to change.

“I wanted to go to a big school that everyone knew about and that sounded impressive,” she said. “But once I started going through the process, I realized I needed to find the best fit for me and not just what I thought would look impressive.”

Wernli reached out to Gonzaga to see if there was any interest. Her grandfather lived in the area and she was impressed by their academic offerings and team continuity.

“They told me they still had one spot and actually would be getting another one because of a transfer. I thought, ‘This is destiny,’ because it’s the only school that this is actually benefiting for me,” said Wernli, who committed to the Zags last month. “I was so excited about that, and it kind of helped me feel less discouraged over the process.”