LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Setbacks haven't slowed down Shawnee senior Ella Moritz.

A hip injury sidelined her for much of the soccer season, but she has since recovered and returned to competition during swim and dive.

Off the field and out of the pool, Moritz continues to excel academically, carrying a 3.95 GPA.

"Ella is such a hard worker at practice, at games, and she's such a great leader on the field, and she just has a great way of relating to all athletes of all different levels," said Shawnee girls soccer head coach Caroline O'Brien.

Soccer has been Moritz's love ever since she was five years old. Despite missing a majority of her senior year on the soccer field because of a hip injury, Moritz was able to bounce back in time for her final year with the school's swim and dive team.

"So playing soccer for the last four years at the varsity level has become something that I've really enjoyed. I didn't get the chance to play this last year, though, all of the season because I had an injury, but Shawnee soccer is something that I'm really proud to be from, and I've just enjoyed it. And that dive, we don't have that many people on our dive team, but it's something new and it's just a fun environment," said Moritz.

"Well, if I could describe Ella with one word, it would be tenacious. I always tell a lot of my players that they need to play multiple sports. Other coaches need you in their programs. And I'm very grateful that Ella is participating in dive and that she's able to give also to the swim and dive program because she's the type of kid that all athletics need in their program," said O'Brien.

And Ella knows how to make a splash in more ways than one, the senior continues to be a standout in the classroom, sporting a 3.95 GPA.

"She's always had this academic mindset. She's always had that idea of knowing what she wanted. She's pretty driven within academics, knowing the college she wanted to get into, and I think that sets her above other students within the classroom," said Shawnee social studies teacher Hailey Griffo.

Once Moritz graduates from Shawnee, she will attend The Ohio State University to major in nursing.

"The Shawnee community has an immense amount of academic rigor. Having college credit opportunities, it's really set me up for a good future. I've always been interested in health care, and I've seen that by being a nurse, you get to really have a deeper impact with the patients," said Moritz.

"Through countless games, long practices, and hours in the classroom, the memories I've made at Shawnee have prepared me for the next chapter of my life and beyond," said Moritz.

"I will walk away with strong academic work, and I will also walk away with the bonds and friendships I've built through my athletics and the confidence it's given me," said Moritz.

Congratulations to Ella Moritz — our newest McDonald's Scholar Athlete of the Week.

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