EVANSTON — It’s official. Tayler is a Trapper. Tayler Groll signed her letter of intent amid teammates, coaches, family and friends on Saturday morning, June 23, to continue her education at Northwest College in Powell. She’ll compete for the Trappers on the basketball hardwood beginning this fall and is leaning toward studying for a career in the medical field, perhaps in anesthesiology.

The recently-graduated senior was a standout athlete for Evanston High School and was one of nine 2018 graduates earning the distinction of lettering in three sports for all four years of her high school career.

The five-foot, six-inch guard also competed in volleyball and track & field for EHS.

Groll will represent her high school and community one final time in the Wyoming Coaches Association “All-Star Saturday” event as a member of the south team to battle against the elite from the north section of the state in basketball. She will be joined by Lady Red Devil teammates Hailey Barker and Emmery Wagstaff, the latter whom will also extend her playing days at the next level at Utah State-Eastern, perhaps marking the first time in school history for more than one basketball player from the same graduating class to earn an athletic scholarship.

“I’m both happy and excited to continue my basketball career at Northwest College,” Groll told the Herald.

Her high school coach, Jeremy Fessler, had high praise for Groll:

“Tayler is the greatest example of an athlete working hard to accomplish her goals,” Fessler said.

“She spent many hours in the gym with me and on her own, making herself the great player she became. She had the hardest job on the court and will be extremely missed, as we will miss all of the seniors who did so many great things for our program.”

The Lady Red Devil head basketball coach added, 

“I’m a proud papa bear. Those girls were a part of my life for three years and became part of my family.” 

Speaking of family, it will be a family affair of sorts, as Drew Groll, Tayler’s older sister, also competes for the Trappers in Northwest’s women’s soccer program.

Though the sports take place in different seasons, Rhett Groll, the father of both girls, is excited at the prospect for he and his wife, Alicia, to be able to spend time with both daughters when traveling north to watch Drew or Tayler compete.

“We’ll get to know the road to Powell even better, but I’m perfectly fine with that,” Groll quipped.