MT. CARMEL – Mount Carmel High School senior Elyse Swanson Friday signed a national letter of intent before a packed crowd at Stymie’s Rest at West Berwick Golf Course to play golf at Taylor University.

Swanson said she has played sports her whole life, and that she always had the goal in mind to play in college. Before joining the Golden Aces golf team, Swanson said she participated in track, volleyball and cheer in high school, and softball in junior high.

“I wasn’t sure what sport, but after I played [golf] for the first time on the high school team my sophomore year, I knew that’s what I wanted to do, because the environment, the friends that you make walking up and down the fairways, and just the way that I was welcomed onto the team, I knew that it was what my future was,” Swanson said.

Swanson also spoke about the challenges of what it was like becoming a golfer.

“Golf is definitely the hardest sport I’ve ever played… I had to quit every other sport that I played after my sophomore year, because it just wasn’t possible to become as good as I wanted to be. So once I got rid of the other sports, I really started dedicating my time to it, then it kind of all fell into place,” Swanson said.

The Lady Aces Golf squad was led by Head Coach Karin Kelsey, Swanson’s grandmother.

Kelsey spoke about Swanson’s commitment, saying that she is excited for her. “It’s been a pleasure having her on the team, and just watching her grow and get better and better. She’s on a really tough team, all the girls are just exceptional players, so just watching her get up there with her scores and the other girls and just winning state time after time, it’s just been delightful having my own granddaughter on the team,” Kelsey said.

Swanson also said that it was important to her to attend a school that also aligned with her faith.

“I like to try to live my life through faith in every aspect, but it really has gotten me through golf, because it’s such a mentally tough sport. And just having that faith in God and knowing that He’s got me in any moment, any situation in my life, it really helped and for me to be able to continue my education and golf, I knew that I needed that comfort, if that makes sense. So just the life at Taylor, how kind everybody is there. It’s amazing. It truly is, and it sets apart from any other Christian school. So it was just perfect for me,” Swanson said

Swanson spoke about her recruitment process, saying that it was very stressful at first, but once she started getting interest from coaches, she felt some relief.

“At the end of it, I was just ready to commit somewhere, and I knew Taylor was where I wanted to go, I was just kind of waiting for my season to end, and the offer to come through,” Swanson said.

Swanson also said that her signing was a huge weight off her shoulders.

“It was such a stressful process, because I’m somebody who likes to know when, where, exactly, and timing, but like tonight, I really needed it, and I’m just so excited to get my future going and start my career,” Swanson said.

Swanson said it meant a lot to see all her friends and family turnout for the signing event, especially around the holidays.

“The support that I have had from my family this whole journey has been amazing, and I’m so grateful for everybody,” Swanson said.