By Mike Moore
Staff Writer
Jackson — She said it took one visit for everything to feel right.
And while most high school juniors have yet to give college a serious thought, Northwest junior Ella Bontrager, having just turned 17 recently, was ready to commit to where she’ll be in two years.
Verbally commit, that is.
“As soon as I went for a visit, I knew it was for me,” Bontrager, one of the top players on the Northwest girls hoops team said this week about her decision to verbally commit to Lake Superior State University. “The girls were amazing. The coaches were great.”
Bontrager can back out of the commitment until she officially signs with the Lakers next year, but all signs point to her moving to Sault Ste. Marie when the next level beckons.
“Originally didn’t want to go somewhere that far from home,” Bontrager said. “But again, as soon as I went there, I knew it was right.”
Bontrager played with former Mounties’ standout Lexie Khon, who is currently a freshman on the Lakers’ roster.
“Lexie and I have always been great friends,” Bontrager said. “The chance to play with her again is an awesome part of this.”
In fact, Bontrager explained, it was Khon who opened the door to this whole experience.
“(Lake Superior) came to watch Lexie, and then they started to follow me,” Bontrager said. “They followed me at high school and through AAU.”
Bontrager said she was offered a full scholarship in August after taking part in an elite camp.
She accepted the offer shortly after.
“I feel comfortable in the decision,” Bontrager said. “Now I can shift my focus back to high school and the time I have left here.”
Still coming into her own on the hardwood, Bontrager is expected to lead the Mounties this winter.
In her first two years, she’s averaged 7.6 points per game, 4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals.
“The goal is to be a leader,” she said of her next two seasons. “The ultimate goal is a state title, and after losing some of the players we did, we want to bounce back this year and win as many games as we can and make a long run in the state playoffs.”
That’s the immediate goal for Bontrager and the Mounties.
Decisions for a later date have already been taken care of.
Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports. You can reach him at mjm12@albion.edu. He’s also the author of ‘Love, Defined; A Dedication to the Love, Sacrifice, and Magic of Motherhood.’
Love, Defined is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tate Publishing or by contacting Mike directly.
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