County athletes make college commitments

Kiana Bender, Dea DeLeon and Taylor Nelson may attend different local high schools, but the trio have at least two things in common. The first is that all three play hockey for the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Lumberjack girls hockey team. The second is the fact that all three signed National Letters of Intent this past week to play sports in college.

Bender and DeLeon will play softball at UMD and Nelson will play Division I hockey at Bemidji State.

"I wanted to stay close to home and UMD was also the school I've always wanted to attend since I was a kid," said Bender, who goes to school in Cloquet. "I really liked the coaches at UMD and they are really skilled at what they know about softball."

Living in close proximity to a school like UMD that has a solidly entrenched coaching staff and a strong softball program played into the decision for DeLeon, a senior at Esko.

"I decided on UMD because it was close to home so my parents could come watch, and I love Duluth," DeLeon said. She goes to school in Esko. "Staying close to home was a big thing that helped me make my decision, and they also have a successful program."

While Bender and DeLeon have elected to go the softball route, Nelson will move on to play hockey at Bemidji State.

"I picked Bemidji because it instantly felt like home, since I come from a small town," Nelson said. She goes to school in Carlton. "Former athletes like Sadie Lundquist and Carly Esse had a great deal of success there. The coaching staff cares about you as a person and wants you to improve your game every day, and the staff and my teammates were very welcoming."

As an added bonus for Nelson, she will have the opportunity to play at the collegiate level with people she played with in summer hockey - who also will be attending Bemidji State.

All three are happy that their college of choice decision has been made early in the senior year of high school.

"I am very happy that my decision has been made and that I signed my National Letter of Intent," Nelson said. "It's a great feeling and I cannot wait to become part of the Beaver family!"

DeLeon and Bender each echoed Nelson's comments.

"It was a major relief that I had my future planned and do not have to worry about what I was going to do after high school," Bender said. "Once the decision was made, I was happy.

DeLeon and Bender get the added bonus of playing in college on the same team - allowing the close friends to stay in contact with each other after high school.

"I am very excited that we are going to the same school," DeLeon said. "Kiana and I decided that we are going to room together. We're going to have a lot of fun."