It was a big day for Elizabethton senior Haley Brown Tuesday.
The Cyclones wrestler signed her name with Life University where she will grapple for the Running Eagles.
“Honestly at first I was a little scared, leaving home and everything,” said Brown. “But getting to know them, they are great coaches (Life University head coach Ashley Sword and assistant coach Christian Flavin). They want to better me as a person and a wrestler. I am looking forward to all of the opportunities I am going to get and all of the places I am going to get to go.”
On hand during Tuesday’s signing were Elizabethton co-wrestling coaches Eddie Morrell and Travis Pennell. Morrell said that it is always a big deal seeing a young athlete get the chance to compete in college.
“The greatest moment of a coach’s life is when they have helped somebody achieve to the next level,” said Morrell. “And make a permanent difference in how their life is going to go.”
“Haley has come so far in four years,” added Morrell. “From just an average high school student to becoming a focused young woman intent on making her life better. She has done that with wrestling and self-discipline.”
Life University’s head women’s wrestling coach Ashley Sword made the long trip from Marietta, Georgia, where the school is located, to attend Tuesday’s signing.
“We are really excited to have Haley come to our program,” said Sword. “It is not just her wrestling, but it is also who she is as a person. Her personality is one that draws people in and people want to follow her. She is a born leader.”
This past season, Brown was the TSSAA Girls East Region champion at 170 before making a trip to the TSSAA State Championships. In 2017, Brown won the Women’s Nationals UWW Cadet 84 KG division. With her last season as a Cyclone behind her, Brown said she is going to miss wrestling for EHS.
“I am going to miss the school, the coaches and the team so much,” Brown said. “They have helped me and kept me going. They have all told me not to stop when I wanted to. Coach Eddie (Morrell) has been there no matter what. And Coach (Travis) Pennell has been there since the beginning.”
Life University is an NAIA school and is apart of the Mid-South Conference. In 2017-18, the Running Eagles went 5-3 overall and 2-2 in their conference.
While at Life University, Brown said she plans to study biology in hopes of someday becoming a teacher and wrestling coach.