Walden signs with Columbia College

Recent Nation Ford High graduate Alex Walden has committed to Columbia College, where she will join the lacrosse team.

Walden, 18, picked the in-state Columbia over Converse College after getting a visit and tryout with the team.

“It was a great opportunity and team, and it’s close to home,” she said. “The tryout was like playing with the team here at Nation Ford. It was very comfortable environment.”

Columbia, coming off an Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament championship in women’s lacrosse, is a NAIA school.

Walden is one of the founding players of the Nation Ford girls’ lacrosse program four years ago. She helped lead the team to a state title game appearance and during her career scored 86 goals in 47 games with a shooting percentage of .446.

In 2015, Nation Ford made it to the Upper State finals before falling to JL Mann. This past season the schools met again in the same game and the Falcons flipped the script, beating JL Mann to end its 67-match in-state winning streak.

“To think we made it as far as we did in just four years is awesome,” Walden said.

Columbia College head coach Daniel Carter said he sees a lot of potential in Walden and is glad she made the decision to come to the school.

“She was an impact player with her team,” Carter said. “She is a good person with a quality character. And when she came down, she fit in really well. We are looking forward to having her play with us.”

Walden said she plan on majoring in pre-med and do something in the medical field, but is not quite sure exactly what.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Walden signs with Columbia College."