WHEATLAND – Grace Battershell is graduating from Wheatland High School as a co-salutatorian and will be remembered by her coaches and her teammates as a gifted athlete in volleyball, basketball, softball and track.

Although she excelled at every sport she has participated in at WHS, she recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for the Sterling College Warriors in Sterling, Kansas which is almost nine hours away from Wheatland. Sterling College is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level.

“I visited the school back in January,” Battershell said. “I have been going to little showcase camps every now and again and that is actually where I met the coach (John Hading) and after talking to him, he showed some interest.”

Although Battershell has had a great rep in past years for her ability to lead the team and for her pinpoint setting ability, she began to be noticed by coaches in November and December and was very visible as the Lady Bulldogs took third-place in the state tournament last fall. She played well enough that she as awarded not only All-Conference Honors but All-State honors as well.

“A college coach approached me at the State Tournament and stated that in her opinion, Grace was the best setter at the State Tournament,” Sally Nichols, Bulldog head volleyball coach said. “I thought that was a good analysis.  Grace is one of the most athletic setters I have watched play the game.  Her body awareness is legit, her drive is undeniable, and her effort is unquestionable.  She will be a successful college setter.”

“That was probably the best season with my teammates,” Battershell said. “I really enjoyed playing alongside this team. It was always our goal to get back to state and it felt really good. I always kind of knew we were going to come back, and we wanted to get back and make a name for Wheatland again. Being All-State was always a goal of mine through all of my years I’ve been playing, so to actually achieve it is a dream come true. I was in a good position as a setter because I was kind of like the quarterback in football because I got to choose who gets the ball and when they get it.”

Her new college coach likes the way she is so versatile on the court and also appreciates her leadership skills.

“In college I don’t have to play just one position,” Battershell said. “I can kind of fill in wherever is best for the team. It’s a great environment and their program is pretty middle-of-the-pack in their conference so I am hoping I can have make an impact and maybe move us up a little bit. It’s a Christian school and that was what I was really looking for. All the girls I met there were awesome. I got a chance to practice with them and they were all super supportive.”

Battershell’s schedule departure to the next chapter in her life is the first week of August.