When Santia Deck launched her new app, she didn’t just make history, she made access. Designed for all high school athletes, her platform, Winning Your Way AI, helps students get recruited and land NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals with the swipe of a screen. This isn’t about hype. It’s about unlocking doors that were never meant to stay closed, especially for the kids doing it on their own.
From Underdog to Architect
“We just launched Winning Your Way, our Recruiting + NIL app to the public,” Santia shared. “And I’m not gonna lie, this one’s personal.”
Her story starts like so many others: a teenage athlete with big dreams and no roadmap. “When I was a high school athlete, I wanted it so badly. To run track at a college in Texas. To get seen. To get a shot.”
But the path wasn’t clear. “We didn’t have connections. No roadmap. Just my mom, spending hours emailing my highlights to coaches we’d never met, hoping one would write back.”
That memory stuck. And years later, it became the seed of a platform built to make sure no athlete and no parent has to do it alone again.
What She Built for the 16-Year-Old Her
Santia’s new app isn’t just another recruiting tool. It’s a fully integrated, athlete-first system that bridges the gap between talent and opportunity, especially for students outside the traditional spotlight.
Here’s what it offers:
- Direct access to nearly every D1, D2, D3, JUCO, and NAIA coach – no middlemen, no guessing
- Real-time tracking so athletes know who opened their email, clicked their Hudl link, or watched their highlights
- Built-in AI that helps write messages that actually get noticed
- NIL education that teaches athletes how to build their brand, protect their money, and pitch themselves with confidence
- Support for every sport, even non-traditional ones like flag football, equestrian, and beach volleyball
“This is the app I wish I had when I was 16,” Santia says. “And now it’s live, for the next generation of athletes who refuse to be overlooked.”
Access for All, Not Just the Few
Santia’s mission is about equity. Not just for elite prospects, but for every kid grinding without access, resources, or visibility. The ones with talent but no connections. The families who are doing the legwork late at night, hoping someone out there is paying attention.
“This app is for every athlete and every parent doing this alone,” she says. “Because no one should miss out just because they didn’t know where to start.”
Leading with Heart and Hustle
Santia isn’t your average tech CEO. She’s a former pro athlete, a self-made entrepreneur, and a woman who still trains like she’s got something to prove, because she does. Not for herself, but for the kids coming behind her.
She’s walked the lonely path. She knows the sting of being told no. And now, she’s flipping that pain into power for thousands of student-athletes who need a champion who truly gets it.
More Than a Product, It’s a Promise
Winning Your Way doesn’t just work, it feels like it was made by someone who lived the struggle. Because it was.
It’s intuitive. It’s inclusive. It’s driven by a deep belief that young athletes deserve more than hope, they deserve access, support, and a clear path forward.
Why It Matters
Santia Deck isn’t waiting for systems to change, she’s building new ones. With Winning Your Way, she’s making sure talent doesn’t go unnoticed just because it didn’t come from the right zip code or the right network.
And in doing so, she’s giving every student-athlete, from football players to equestrians, a fair shot at being seen, heard, and valued.
Legacy isn’t what Santia is aiming for. It’s what she’s living. And now, she’s passing the baton to the next generation, with an app, a message, and a mission that will outlast the moment.
