Padua senior Taylor Shelley signed a letter of intent for a Rider University swimming scholarship on November 16 at Padua Academy. Taylor has been a high level competitive swimmer since age 5. During her high school years, she balanced swimming for Padua Academy Swim Team, swimming for Brandywine YMCA, and maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. Her outstanding abilities in the pool have landed Taylor a place on the 2nd Team All-State for the past three years. This knack for swimming and hard work ethic must run in the family; Taylor’s sister Samantha Shelley graduated from Padua in 2010 and is now attending Gardner-Webb University on a swimming scholarship.
All of the hard work that has gone into Taylor’s many accomplishments is about to pay off. In fall of 2012, Taylor will enter the Rider University Pre-Allied Health Program with a swimming scholarship and plans to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. Brandywine YMCA coach Meredith Griffin says, “This day is about way more than what Taylor does in the pool. Not only is Taylor a great swimmer, but her character is paramount. She has always been a true role model for her teammates.” Taylor’s Padua sisters could not agree more as they congratulate Taylor and wish her luck in what is clearly a bright future.