By Morgan Armitage
Staff Writer

A few athletes have found their way to Clackamas Community College by non-traditional means. As of the last few years, schools have made it easier for students to transfer. This is proving true in athletics, too.

Morgan Armitage at her media day at Everett, Fall 2025. Photo provided by Morgan Armitage

As a volleyball player, I committed to Everett Community College my senior year of high school. That’s where I played my first collegiate season before deciding that I did not wish to continue my time there.

Being unwilling to give up volleyball, I moved home and reached out to the team here at CCC, and I was able to join them this spring season.

Transferring was a bit of an odd process. When an athlete is being recruited before college, it is their responsibility to make their presence in their sport known online. The coaches often take it from there.

The transfer process differs in this way because it becomes the complete job of the athlete to market themselves to the coaches, particularly because the coaches are limited in their ability to reply.

The Letter of Intent that athletes sign in college pledges their commitment to said school, and until released from it, other coaches are not really able to contact them.

I was lucky in this regard because my coach released me willingly, and I was able to make the switch relatively fast.

My current teammate Abbi Bailey went through a similar process.

Abbi Bailey’s media day at Multnomah University, Fall 2024. Photo Provided by Morgan Armitage

Bailey transferred in the spring of 2024 from Multnomah University, where she too had been playing volleyball. The experience wasn’t quite what she wanted it to be.

“I didn’t see a lot of success in my future if I stayed there, and I had heard a lot of positive feedback about Clackamas and how quickly the volleyball program was growing, so I decided to transfer,” Bailey said.

Her transfer process was relatively simple, but there were mental aspects of it that which weighed on her.

“When I first got here, the idea of simply practicing made me extremely anxious, and I was constantly convincing myself not to quit,” Bailey said. But she found Clackamas to be welcoming, and despite initial discomfort, she transitioned in quite neatly.

Apparently, we were exceptions and not the rule. Transfer students in athletics are relatively rare.

Athletic Director and women’s basketball coach Jim Martineau shared a coaching perspective on transfers.

Jim Martineau in the weight room. Photo by Carlos Rodriguez-Picazo

“Our community college association, NWAC, it isn’t quite as liberal with the ability to transfer, but it is definitely an easier transfer position now than it was even four, five years ago,” Martineau said.

The Transfer Waiver is relatively new, and has made the process easier for both the players and the coaches.

“One of the things we put in place probably four years ago was that transfer waiver form. Before that, there wasn’t a transfer thing. You had to sit out three terms, or you had to petition the conference office,” Martineau said.

This factor made transferring unappealing for both the athlete and the coach. Though, even the current system isn’t without its disadvantages.

After an athlete plays their first real season, that’s a year of eligibility out the window. At a community college, a year is a big deal.

“If you’re recruiting somebody like yourself who played as a freshman, you’re going to come in as a sophomore. I want to make sure there’s a role for you,” Martineau said. “If we bring in a sophomore, they need to be really good.”

This is part of the reason why transferring isn’t very common: in community colleges, athletes generally only have two years of eligibility, save for specific circumstances. Losing a year to a different school can make the player less appealing to a coach.

“I would say it’s less than 10 total [transfers] on campus out of our 200+ athletes. But it’s becoming more and more of a thing, especially with the NCAA and their transfer portal,” Martineau said.

Basketball player Reginald Wiggins is another transfer, making his way to CCC from Alabama A&M. Coming here was a significant change for him in multiple ways.

Reginald Wiggins, post lifting with his teammates in the weight room. Photo by Evan Tichenor

Wiggins originally played football, then took time off and decided to change paths. That’s when he moved to Oregon.

“I moved out here because I had family out here. My family owns some restaurants in the area, so I came out here to work, and I still wanted to continue my education,” Wiggins said.

He hadn’t actually been planning to play basketball, but he was excited by the opportunity.

“I was working out, and coach Stamme saw me, and he asked if I wanted to come to practice and introduce myself,” Wiggins said. “I haven’t played basketball since middle school, so it was really fun and new to learn basketball again.”

Since there was no school to be released from, Wiggins’ transfer process was smooth: at least, athletically. Even the team dynamic was easy for him to adjust to.

“I think since I’m a little bit older, I have more experience working with a team and being a role-player,” Wiggins said. He found that being 24 was more of a help than hindrance when working with younger players.

Despite being uncommon, transfers in sports are on the rise, and have allowed these athletes to find a school better-suited to them.

It’s as Bailey said; “Go with your gut. Your intuition always knows what’s best for you.”