Senior Leilyn Mercado signed a letter of intent to play flag football at Campbellsville University on Tuesday, Feb. 18. She joins teammate Kinleigh Lewis to sign a letter of intent to play at Campbellsville.

Mercado is a defensive stopper. Not many players get by her when she’s on the field. According to head coach Aaron King, Mercado is one of the hardest working players he’s ever seen. “She has no quit in her,” coach King said. “We call her ‘Taz’ because when she gets in her mode, she’s like a Tasmanian devil.”

In choosing Campbellsville, Mercado cited two factors: “how far it was from home” and “the opportunities that college gives me to pursue my dreams, and to have a a great future.”

She credits the Campbellsville coaching staff for influencing her decision.

One factor was “their ability to drive their athletes, not only on and off the field,” she said. “The coaching staff’s bad cop good cop vibe is what’s beneficial to me and other players.”

Coach King also understands that having two players sign to play at the collegiate level will positively affect the team.

“It shows that we have a standard of success and our process to get there has been validated,” he said. “Younger girls will see that and buy in, which will help further establish your culture for years to come.”

Mercado knows that she  by signing to play collegiately, she is a role model for the other players. She offers this advice to younger players. “Even when you have no motivation, do it,” she said. “Do it when you’re not feeling good, do it when you’re sad, do it every time. There is going to be a point in time where you are not motivated at all, but that’s the point. You have to want it bad enough.”