M-ette senior Nicholson officially commits to play for Lady Griz

On November 11, M-ette senior Hailey Nicholson would put her college intentions in ink, as she signed with the University of Montana (the U of M) to play collegiate basketball with the Lady Griz in 2016. According to gogriz.com, Nicholson will be the seventh M-ette to join the Lady Griz in the team's history, putting her alongside Linda Mendel (1985-90), Greta Koss (1992-97), Skyla Sisco (1993-98), Linda Cummings (1996-01), Cheryl Keller (1998-02) and Juliann Keller (2001-05), who were all mentioned on the site.

Her verbal commitment was made last July, but Nicholson's college aspirations were spoken into existence well before last summer.

"Ever since I was young and started basketball, my cousin Nikita (Nelson) was like, 'you're going to go play for the Griz,' and I would laugh but now that it's true, it's really cool," Nicholson said.

Going to the U of M, means that Hailey and her older brother, 2013 Malta High School graduate and Montana State University student Brandon Nicholson, will see each other as their colleges clash during basketball and other sports. While the schools are rivals, there are no hard feelings.

"He's really excited for me," Hailey said. "Tucker (Schye, a 2013 graduate of Malta High) plays football for the Griz and he always cheers for him in Bozeman. He's excited and happy for me."

The U of M's interest in Nicholson was shown during the school's Team Camp, where several M-ettes would work out with high school teams from all over the state.

"We played a few games and on the last day after our final game he (Lady Griz Head Coach Robin Selvig) came and said that he wanted me to come play for him," Nicholson said.

A few days later the school called and Nicholson gave her verbal commitment.

Nicholson has been a strong player for the 2015 State B Champion M-ettes over the past few seasons, but is unsure what position she will fit in at Missoula. Socially, she knows she fits in with the Lady Griz team, whom she met face to face during her college visit.

Committing to play in college hasn't affected Nicholson's confidence but she admits that coming off a championship season has added pressure in her last season as an M-ette, so far.

"There's no pressure from college, (if there's any) it's from winning State last year," she said. "That's our plan again."