Gordon-Rushville High School senior volleyball player Rowan Simonson took the first step in her dreams of becoming a collegiate volleyball player on Tuesday, December 16.
Simonson, who was accompanied by her family, friends, teachers, and teammates, signed her letter of intent to join the Dakota Wesleyan Volleyball squad next fall.
Simonson excelled for the Mustangs during her time in the blue and orange. She played in 70 career matches at G-R, tallying 375 kills, 55 blocks, 39 aces, and 159 digs.
These numbers were cut short due to a knee injury this past summer which did not allow her to play her senior season.
Through the hardship, Simonson put in the work on the recruiting trail to make sure her final step was not missing her senior season.
“Rowan has earned this opportunity through perseverance and relentless determination to go along with that spitfire attitude we all love,” said GRHS Head Coach Kim Campbell.
“We all know that she has had some setbacks along the way. She has not let that change her path, she just tackled those things that have gotten in the way. She truly showed what being a team player with grit means,” she added.
Simonson will join a immensely successful volleyball program at DWU where the Tigers just finished their season at the NAIA National Tournament on December 4.
The program is under the direction Lindsay Wilber who is in her 12th season as the coach. She is the all time winningest coach in DWU history.
DWU competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
“We are so proud of Rowan and everything she accomplished as a Mustang. Thank you for all your time and heart you have given this program. Now its time to turn those same things towards your next chapter at DWU,” said Coach Campbell.