MARSHALL – Many high school athletes compete for four years hoping to get recruited to play in college in their best sport.
Marshall’s Clark Erwin wasn’t sure what his best sport was. So, he feels lucky that he was recruited to play in two different sports and will now do both at the college level.
Erwin is set to compete on the men’s basketball team as well as the men’s golf team at Albion College after he finishes up his standout high school career at Marshall.
MORE: Battle Creek Enquirer-area high school sports top performers for May 4-9
“I ended up being recruited for both sports, so it worked out,” Erwin said. “But, it’s funny. My sophomore year, I wasn’t sure what basketball was going to look like, so I really pushed myself in golf and thought that’s what I could do in college. Then basketball started to happen, too. Now, those sports are my 1A and 1B and I feel lucky I will get to do both.”
Erwin has been Marshall’s top golfer this spring, recently winning the Hillsdale Academy Invitational. He is in contention for the top spot as an individual in the competitive Interstate 8 Conference after being all-conference last season. His average of 75 for 18 holes and his average of 36.5 for nine holes has him ranked in the top 50 over all divisions in the state of Michigan as teams get ready for regionals.
“I turned the corner last year in golf. Won four events. Kinda breakthrough year for me and really started the recruiting process in golf. Recruiting in golf is way different than in most sports. It’s not like a coach comes to your golf event or looks at tape.”
This spring’s success comes after a breakthrough season on the basketball court. Erwin helped Marshall to a share of the Interstate 8 Conference crown and a district championship, as the Redhawks went 19-5 overall. As a two-year varsity player, he led Marshall with 15.1 points per game, shooting 31% from the 3-point line, while adding 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals from his small forward position, earning all-conference honors.
“When Albion started recruiting me for both sports, I asked if I could do both. They said they would work with me and it has been a good fit,” Erwin said.
Marshall golf coach Derek Wright isn’t surprised to see Erwin find success.
“He is dedicated. He is the first one to practice, the last to leave,” Wright said. “He works at both daily. He works hard at golf at practice and then he is off playing basketball after practice. Or, during the basketball season, he was hitting golf balls every night after practice during that season.”
Erwin thinks doing both sports works well for his body type.
“Being a basketball player, I’m kinda tall. I think that really helps me basketball for sure, but also in golf. I’m pretty long off the tee and I think that comes from being tall. I think it definitely translates over,” Erwin said.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Not wanting to choose, Marshall’s Clark Erwin will play two sports in college
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
