Tayla Eller has broken the mold of what a John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School student can be. She started attending the school with focuses on drama and dance but has since become a volleyball, track and swim team star for the school, winning dozens of awards.
She was a Junior Olympian for track in 2019 as a high school freshman, and she’s even tried adding more sports to her schedule. Her coaches won’t let her.
“I actually thought about doing tennis or soccer, but my parents and coaches won’t let me,” Eller said with a laugh.
Eller, a high school junior, is an Augusta native, and she said started dancing from a young age before sports were really on the radar.
“Coming to Davidson and joining the dance and drama departments were big,” Eller said. “I did a little bit of sports growing up but not much. My dad told me to try out for track, and I loved it.”
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Eller said her parents have been huge supporters of her the entire way.
“My parents are very passionate in what they do, and they’ve taught that to me,” she said. “You either do it all the way or don’t do it at all. There’s no choice of giving up.”
Athletic director and volleyball, track and swim coach Adam Kowalcyzk arrived at Davidson five years ago and helped to cultivate the growing sports programs at Davidson.
“I was a track coach, and we were looking to start with middle school, and it expanded over time,” Kowalcyzk said. “I added volleyball the next year after opening up an intramural program, and 118 girls signed up to play. It was packed.”
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Kowalcyzk said it took a few years to get volleyball program up and running, and Eller has helped the team win the last two region championships.
“The other kids listen to her and watch her more than she realizes, and they really look to her with admiration,” he said.
Eller said staying organized is the key to balancing her busy schedule.
“Keeping up with a schedule is helpful, and teachers and coaches understand that I’m doing a lot, which helps a lot,” Eller said.
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Eller is still involved with dance even while juggling multiple sports schedules. She plans to play volleyball and run track for a college team and potentially minor in dance.
Kowalcyzk said he has never had an athlete that works as hard as Eller does.
“It’s the little things, too, more than the big things,” the coach said. “Some kids walk to the huddle. She runs. When we work on sprinting the curves in track, she always does just a little bit more. She’s very competitive and wants to excel in all she does. Tayla is also extremely coachable, adaptable and receptive. She was successful from the start and has just gotten better. I don’t know how she balances everything.”
Eller also dances outside of school, and she likes to spend time with friends in the free time she does have.
Kowalczyk foresees Eller thriving in whatever she does after her time at Davidson.
“Track has been her baby and she can run track in college, but she’s really grown as a volleyball player as well,” he said. “She could really do either based on how she’s blossomed as an athlete.”
Kowalcyzk said the track team will begin competing in February.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
