Sydney Nelson '21 Recruiting Profile

I love to compete!  I have always been a multi-sport athlete.  Until the summer before high school, golf was not one of those sports.  I started playing golf as a Freshman in High School.  During Freshman orientation, the captain of the girls’ golf team saw me and thought that I looked like a golfer.  I decided to give it a go my Freshman year. I quickly became one of the upper level JV players.  During my Sophomore season, I was elevated to the Varsity team.  I contributed to a few of the team scores.  Unfortunately, I got hurt during the season with an intercostal strain and had limited playing opportunities.  I was able to join toward the end of the season and helped us with a late season push.  

My junior year was a moving year for me, but it was also very emotional.  My older brother was in and out of the hospital and eventually diagnosed with cancer.  During one of my golf rounds, he literally came off life support during the round.  While I focused on my grades and working out, my parents had to spend an inordinate amount of time with my brother.  

I made straight A’s in both semesters my junior year and was poised to be a Varsity starter for the second year on the soccer team when COVID hit.   Soccer was cancelled and everything came to a screeching halt.  My brother’s health went up and down, and I spent a lot of time with my parents in his hospital room.  He was admitted to the hospital during every major holiday.  

As the school year officially ended, I organized unofficial golf events for the team.  Due to contact restrictions, the coaches were not allowed to be with us.  I also kept the house up for my parents.  In July, my brother passed away.  This was devastating to say the least.  I started the golf season with a heavy heart and a swing that escaped me.  Fortunately, my swing coach made a few simple tweaks, and my season took off.  I have made a major jump my senior year.  I have finished in the top fifteen in most of our events.  I play in my high school team’s number 1 spot and compete against the best in the area.  I love it!

I have played competitive sports my whole life.  I love competition.  I am motivated to succeed at everything that I do.  I have been grappling with my decision to play college sports and which sport to play.  I am a club soccer play and play on one of the best teams in the region, Gateway Rush.  I know that I could play soccer in college.  This golf season, though, has made me realize how much I love golf as well and just how much I have improved.  Coaches from various high schools have started to tell me that I could play at the next level.  That feedback got me excited, and I started to move toward playing golf instead of soccer in college.  I finally made the decision to pursue golf as well as academics.  

My current desire is to be a Physician’s Assistant.  I am looking for a school that can help me attain that goal as well as play golf for a competitive outlet, which I will desperately need.