January 25, 2018
Over 20 years of running Headfirst Honor Roll Camps, we have aided thousands of athletes in their search for the perfect school fit – one where they can pursue their full potential on and off the field. We are proud of the platform that we’re able to provide for these student-athletes, as well as the guidance and insight we can offer as former high-academic athletes ourselves.
We understand the unique challenges of playing baseball while pursuing a degree at an elite college – and are always excited to celebrate the achievements of Headfirst alumni who have maintained this balancing act.
Below, we have shared the experiences of a few of these athletes. Like you, each was once a high-school baseball player searching for a school that would allow him to compete at the highest levels athletically and academically, and that would set him up for success through four years of college – and beyond.
We hope you will find their stories inspirational as you pursue your own goals.
ANDREW BARNA – Davidson Wildcats
School: Davidson, Class of 2013
Position: 3B/1B
Major: History; minor in economics
Honor Roll Camps Attended: Mid-Atlantic 2007, Mid- Atlantic 2008 & Southeast 2008
Bio: Andrew burst onto the college baseball scene in 2010, garnering Rookie of the Week, Player of the Week and Player of the Month in his first month of action. Maintaining his torrid pace, Barna ended his first season by collecting just the third Freshman-All American award in Davidson baseball history.
Over the next three years, he was a mainstay in the Wildcat lineup – finishing his career with an impressive 21 homeruns, 41 doubles and 143 RBI. His 12 homeruns in 2013 not only led the Wildcats, but left him tied with Fresno State’s Aaron Judge at the season’s end.
A leader on and off the field, Andrew served as both team captain and the Davidsonian’s Sports Editor during his time at Davidson.
Following graduation, he completed stints at the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities Exchange Commission before enrolling at William & Mary Law School. He will graduate in the top 10% of his class this spring and has already accepted an Associate position with prominent D.C. Law Firm Covington & Burling.
GEORGE CAPEN – Holy Cross Crusaders
School: Holy Cross, Class of 2017
Position: RHP
Major: Mathematics
Honor Roll Camps Attended: Northeast 2011, Southeast 2011 & Northeast 2012
Bio: A workhorse for four years at Holy Cross, Capen graduated in 2017 as the all-time program leader in appearances. During his college career, he accumulated an impressive list of accolades that included multiple Patriot League Pitcher of the Week honors and an All-Patriot League selection in 2017.
In his senior campaign, he anchored the Crusader bullpen as the team completed a historic run through the Patriot League Tournament to secure the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance in nearly 30 years. His seventh and final win of the season came as the four-seeded Crusaders eliminated the Nebraska Cornhuskers from the Corvallis Regional.
Off the field, Capen was active in a variety of clubs and volunteer initiatives including Skating for Hope, United Way of Caring and the “Out of Darkness” suicide prevention walk. Rounding out his non-baseball activity, Capen was recruited his senior year to serve as the Varsity Soccer team’s backup goalkeeper. Despite never having played soccer before, Capen volunteered his services after both of the team’s goalkeepers were sidelined to injury.
After the conclusion of both his soccer and baseball college careers – and on the strength of his impressive performance through the NCAA Regionals – Capen signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Mariners in June and was assigned to Peoria, Arizona.
JAKE FAUSKE – U. Chicago Maroons
School: U. Chicago, Class of 2021
Position: C/OF
Major: Economics
Honor Roll Camps Attended: Northeast 2014, Northeast 2015, Southeast 2015, California 2016 & Northeast 2016
Bio: Not yet 20 years old, Jake is already a successful entrepreneur and has real world experience that would make the nation’s top business school grads jealous. As one of the original founders of tech startup Campus Life Communications, Jake has helped guide the company through an impressive initial growth phase. A multi-functional application designed to integrate athletic, academic and social scheduling for high schools and colleges, the technology developed by Fauske and his partners has been nominated for several innovation awards including Fast Company’s 2016 Design Award.
In addition to his successful business endeavors, Jake has excelled academically – twice winning the prestigious Chicago Bears Youth Leadership Award and also nabbing IMG Academy’s Harvard Book Award.
In 2016, he earned a spot on IMG’s top post-graduate team before catching the eye of Coach Fitzgerald’s staff at Headfirst in 2016. A catcher by trade, Jake will compete for time behind the dish and in the outfield this spring.
