Headley to look for the middle lane at Centre College

Friday, April 22, 2022
Greencastle senior Olivia Headley, pictured with father Matthew, mother Karen, Greencastle athletic director Doug Greenlee, assistant swim coach Matt Williams, head swim coach Kent Menzel and Brenda Meyer, will swim at Centre College next year after opting to joint the Colonels in the 2022-23 school year.
Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

After making a run to the IHSAA Girls’ Swimming and Diving State Finals this winter, Olivia Headley proved she had speed in the pool.

Finding a place to utilize it next year was a different race to swim, one that will lead the Greencastle senior to Kentucky as Headley will join the Centre College women’s swimming and diving program in the 2022-23 school year.

“I just wanted a new experience somewhere else,” Headley said. “The team was super welcoming and I enjoyed the campus.

“I sat in on a class there and the professor talked to me afterwards for around 30 minutes. It helped me feel comfortable about leaving home.”

Headley said she was interested in studying business or human resources at Centre, located In Danville, Ky., and is looking into hospital administration after school.

The Colonels, part of the Southern Athletic Association, posted a strong finish to the 2021-22 swimming and diving season and even had an individual, Callie West, swim in the NCAA Division III National Championships.

“Centre is in the SAA and got third at its conference meet,” Headley said. “It has a really strong incoming class and one of its biggest classes its had in a long time.

“The coaches said they needed more sprinters and depth in their sprinter pool for the relays,” Headley added. “That’s where I come in.”

While slightly bigger than Greencastle in terms of size and population, the feel of the campus and community was very similar according to Headley.

“It honestly felt like Greencastle, the homey feel, but in Kentucky,” Headley said. “I love it here but I’m not in my backyard there and it will be a new experience.”

Centre was far enough away for Headley to feel a break from home but was also one of the bigger challenges of going to college.

“Probably time management, not being at class seven hours a day but still getting work done,” Headley said about the biggest change going to college. “Leaving my friends and family who I see every day is going to be hard.”

That said, Headley was ready to take on a new challenge with the Colonels next season.

“I’m extremely excited,” Headley said. “Nervous, but excited. A good nervous.”