By Lee Trawick Riverbend News
Haley Ellefson, a 2018 graduate of Lafayette High School (LHS), has readied herself to graduate college at the University of Maryland (UMD) with a degree in Family Science in 2022. While college is hard enough for most, Ellefson has done it as a student-athlete, which means completing homework on bus trips or waiting to catch a plane. When people say "there isn't enough time in the day," be sure not to say that around a college athlete who regularly stretches a 24-hour day into 28 hours. All while making sure they are on top of their game, both in the classroom and on the field.
When little girls play recreational ball in their hometowns or play travel ball on the weekends, they often dream of playing college softball. They wonder what it would be like to be one of the young ladies on TV playing in the women's College World Series. But rarely does anyone understand the grind it will take to get there, then once you are there, staying there is just as challenging, if not more.
For Ellefson, she was no different as a little girl playing in the Lafayette Babe Ruth league in Mayo. She recalls, "I remember I slipped on my junior college jersey because of the excitement. As a little girl looking up to all the girls who played at major Power Five colleges and wishing I could be on that field one day and saying I want to be like her."
Ellefson began this season with a lot more questions than answers. As the NCAA and BigTen conferences were still dealing with COVID issues, she entered her junior year of college, but her first at UMD. Every moment is a significant moment as she had made it to the same stage she had dreamed of playing on. However, Ellefson did not have long to take it all in. "My first year at UMD as the excitement was rolling putting on the jersey for the first time; then we got to face off against the University of Minnesota (which went to regionals) this past year I got substituted to enter the game to close out pitching. I could feel the pressure, but what helped me was positive thinking and that gave me the edge to lead our team to a win."
Ellefson embraces her role as a young role model during the off-season and realizes she is now one of the women little girls aspire to grow up to be. She is well aware of the impact she has on today's youth and does not plan to waste it. Ellefson comes from a small town where dreams are just that. But Ellefson shows that dreams are only dreams if you look from afar. "Work hard for your dreams; it is possible. Never doubt for a moment because dreams do come true." Ellefson went on to say, "Fight for what you want and you will become a fighter. Get in the weight room and push to be that stronger person. Want to win; don't ever settle. You are a fighter, you are a winner and you are a champion."
To some, sports are overrated, but those who follow sports realize sports mirror life. There are ups and downs and sometimes, when you do everything right, it still doesn't work out. They learn to face adversity. Sports also teach young people to see themselves and appreciate those around them. Ellefson exemplifies this. "Softball has taught me and made me realize the person I have become. It has made me realize, sometimes it's hard to believe you have come that far. You have to push yourself every day and you always want to be better than you were before you got there. It helps to surround yourself with people of the same level. You may be struggling and don't ever be afraid to speak up because someone may be struggling with the same thing and you can overcome something together."
Among the lessons Ellefson has learned, she has had to adapt to the speed of the game, "the biggest difference from high school to college is the pace of the game. It is much quicker, “Ellefson recalled. "From high school, going to a top-ranked junior college to now a Power Five team and BigTen conference, I feel helped me tremendously. I also think what helps me is going back to the mindset of Papa Croft when he would say to close your eyes and visualize what you want to do to be successful."
With all of Ellefson's success on the softball field that has led her to the pinnacle of her dreams, she is never far from home. She is aware of her gifts' and the opportunities she has had from them, but she gives credit to her roots. "I have to credit my family and my hometown community. They have always supported me from a distance, even if it was a random text message from those who watched me as a little girl through high school and followed me through the junior college ranks until now." Ellefson continued with gratitude, "If I were ever in a slump, I would visualize the positive support of the community that has surrounded me. No matter how long I have graduated, it is always good to look back at the community and the people that have supported you to help you become the person you are today."