Senior Taylor Kelly will continue her soccer career and education at the University of the Cumberlands.

Kelly said she is anxious to begin a new chapter in her life.

“I’m so excited,” she said. “I know a bunch of the girls down there already and I’m rooming with one of my old teammates.”

Kelly said one of her most memorable moments from her high school career was having her leadership recognized.

“Getting to be a captain my senior year was a huge deal for me,” she said. “I got to experience what leadership was and I was extremely grateful for the opportunity. Everyone believed in me and thought I could help the team out a lot. It definitely meant a lot for them to trust me in that position.”

Kelly hopes to show up prepared and focused in the preseason to show her new team her dedication.

“We’ve already received our summer work out packets,” she said. “I want to work really hard and do all the drills to the best of my ability. I want to help with the new recruits, play hard, work hard and train.”

Kelly admits the difficulties of balancing her school work and athletics, but said she had to take care of business to receive this opportunity to play in college.

“It’s been difficult sometimes,” she said. “I’ve had to do homework on the bus, stay up past 12, but I’ve always found the time because they both are important and I had no choice but to get it done.”

Kelly picked UC because she already feels like an important asset to the team.

“The coaches kept coming to my club games and that was important to me,” she said. “They loved me in the position I was in and I was able to give them a variety of where else I could go on the field. They really like my personality and thought I could help build on the culture. It’s also a beautiful campus which is a huge plus.”

Kelly said she wouldn’t be in the position she is in now without all the people who have helped mold her along the way.

“My parents have had a big impact on who I am and they still impact me,” she said. “I’m thankful I’ve been able to impact my teammates, further their careers and shape their lives. It has been a really big part of me. I hope I can continue impacting people’s lives.”