A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
Written and photographed by Randy Tucker
The biometrics of volleyball are unique among high school athletics. The approach, swing, and delivery must all be perfectly timed with almost mathematical precision on each scoring play. On the defensive side of the court, it’s the same.
Maybe that’s why Riverton senior Alexis Taylor has excelled at the sport and why she’s chosen to pursue a career in Bio Medical Engineering.
The Class 4-A West All Conference selection has signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at South Dakota School of Mines.
The Hardrockers are members of the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
It takes a special athlete to play for the School of Mines, with its rigorous academic requirements.
Taylor easily meets the standards, carrying a 4.0 GPA at Riverton High School. She’s a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. Taylor also plays basketball for the Wolverines and placed third in the Class 4-A discus last May at the Wyoming State Track Championships.
Taylor was recruited by Central Wyoming College and Laramie County Community College, but the academics at South Dakota School of Mines were hard to beat.
“They have an accelerated five-year master’s program in biomedical science,” Taylor said.
Her goal is to work with prosthetics and possibly stem cell research after college graduation.
She’s been around volleyball for a long time, since she first played AAU in fourth grade. Her father, Justin Taylor, is Riverton’s head volleyball coach.
“I’ve always been around volleyball,” Taylor said. “My dad was the coach.”
She’ll likely be an outside hitter or possibly a defensive specialist at the School of Mines.
“I want to thank all my family, my parents, grandparents, and my coaches and teammates,” Taylor said.
The Rapid City campus of the School of Mines is modern, high-tech, and has a lot of amenities.
“They have good facilities and a great campus,” Taylor said. “All the coaches there were very welcoming; it’s a very competitive program.”
Her parents are Justin and Andrea Taylor.