Palmer senior to swim at Colorado Mesa

PALMER — Ellyse Russell has been dreaming of this moment since she was 5 years old. On Friday, the Palmer High School senior signed her National Letter of Intent to swim for Colorado Mesa University, a Division II program in the Rocky Mountain Conference.

“I started realizing this is something I really want to pursue and definitely do in college and it’s been my goal ever since I was a little girl to swim in college,” Russell said.

Russell was surrounded by her parents Chuck and Kamira, coaches, teachers and friends when she signed her letter in the library at Palmer High School. Russell moved to Palmer from Worland, Wyoming, this summer. Russell was a standout in freestyle events for the Moose swim team this fall, and currently patrols the post on the basketball team. Russell hugged her teammates after signing her letter, fulfilling a dream she’s had since she was a little girl.

“They were really honestly so supportive. From the moment I got here the very first day I didn’t even know anyone and they just came up and welcomed me with big hugs. They constantly pushed me and were always supportive,” Russell said.

Russell began the process of deciding where she wanted to go to college and reached out for information on the program. She was excited about what she had heard and expressed interest in swimming for the Mavericks in college.

“They told me that they were interested in me as well and I really felt good about it,” Russell said.

Russell thanked her teammates and coaches who pushed her to perform at a high level.

“It really just got me in shape and a lot of them were sprint sets. It just really battled me to do my best at state and get the times that I really needed to prove myself and be able to get the attention of college coaches,” Russell said.

At the state swim meet at Bartlett High School in November, Russell took second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:59.25. She was also part of the 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay teams that placed third. Russell described the opportunity as a blessing, and says she can’t wait to get started.

“I know that this is going to help me in my future,” Russell said.

Russell said that she loved swimming from the moment she started when she was five years old, but success did not come easy. She improved over 13 years in the pool and will get her opportunity to swim at the college level in the fall.

“The coaches of course they just want to see me do my best and they always were pushing me. They were just so supportive as well. My parents especially, my family they were the ones who put me in swimming and they supported me ever since,” Russell said. “It’s been great.”

Russell is the third Valley swimmer to sign with Mesa in less than two years. Swimmer Jake Simmons and diver Tanner Belliston, a pair of 2018 graduates of Colony High, are freshmen on the Mesa men’s team.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.