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Name: Ella Garner
High school: Central
Hometown: Martinsburg
Sport: Soccer
Position: Center back
College choice: Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C.
Other colleges considered: Seton Hill, Shepherd, Grand Valley State, Penn State Behrend
Why I picked Lenoir-Rhyne: "I chose Lenoir-Rhyne because it fit everything I was looking for. The women's soccer program was highly competitive and finished fourth in the nation (in Division II) last year. When I was on campus and stepped onto the field, it felt right. I got the at home feeling being there.''
Greatest high school achievement: Being named to the all-state team for girls high school soccer.
Coach Randy Trexler's quote: "Ella is a remarkable athlete with most of her success driven by her year-round commitment to improving and playing in several levels of soccer. I've never seen a player in the area more driven than Ella. As senior captain for the 2022 Central Lady Dragons, she led the team to an 18-0 season plus two postseason wins. Including postseason stats, she accumulated 32 goals of the team's 120 goals, six assists and had seven game-winning goals. She's had four hat trick games and earned 13 team MVPs. She led the team this season with 525 tackles/recoveries, 702 completed passes and 1334 touches on the ball.''
How I got my start playing soccer: "My parents put me in AYSO soccer at the age of 5.''
Favorite college growing up: Penn State
Other interests: Weightlifting, spending time with family and friends, hunting and fishing
What getting to play in college means to me: "It is a dream come true. I've always wanted to go the next level, and knowing that I have achieved that, it gives me a lot of gratification.''
Probable college major: Biology
Parents: John Garner and Jennifer Murnyack-Garner