By Janessa Maxilom
For NMSU Athletics – Media Relations
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – It takes more than a simple injury to keep Aggie Ashley Elias from blazing trails in the classroom and on the golf course. A freshman majoring in education and community development, Elias is busier than ever with a full-time course load and an intensive training schedule, all while working around the drawbacks of a fractured foot.
Ashley Elias is one of two recruits added to the women’s golf team this season. A native of El Paso, TX, she chose to come to New Mexico State University for its strong Agriculture department and golf team. As an added bonus, she is living close to her family, and can see them when she finds the time.
Golf is the main reason Elias has come to NMSU. She joins the New Mexico State women’s golf team after four all-district and all-city selections. She was district player of the year as a junior. She even won the 1-5A District Title four times while playing at Coronado High School in El Paso.
Elias enjoys playing golf because she considers it a challenging sport. “You just feel so good about your self when you play well because you have to work so hard at it,” Elias said.
Golf isn’t the only sport that Elias is passionate about. From a very young age, Elias was active in the Rodeo scene. “I have loved it (Rodeo) since I was little,” Elias said. “I like rodeo cause it’s an adrenaline rush, and I’ve done it all my life. I love horses. I love everything about it.”
Elias explained that she was really involved in it. However, this summer Elias fractured her foot when she fell into a hole while chasing a pig in a rodeo.
Although she is not active in rodeo at the moment, she plans on returning to the arena when things slow down.
“Maybe when I get everything straight with golf, and later on when I have enough time, because right now I can’t balance it all,” Elias said. “But I am still going to ride, just not competitively for a while.”
Head coach Paul Brilliant knows that the injury is affecting Elias but knows when she will heal with time.
“We played in Washington last week and it was wet and cold and her foot swelled quite a bit,” Brilliant said. “We are working on that, and she should be 100 percent better by spring. This week is our last week for the fall season. So, she has two and a half months to heal.”
As the fall semester progresses, Elias is showing herself to be a real asset to the NMSU women’s golf team. This full-time student is giving it her all both on and off the field.
“She is very strong and really tough,” Brilliant said. “She likes to get in there and fight.” And rest assured, a busy and ambitious Elias will keep on fighting her way to the top.
Elias has played in three tournaments so far this season and is playing in the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational that is being held at the NMSU Golf Course. She is averaging 78.22 strokes per round and her low score of even par came in the third round of the Ptarmigan Ram Fall Classic in Fort Collins, Colo., October 9.
Aggie fans can catch Elias in action Oct. 14-15 in Las Cruces, N.M. at the Price’s “Give ‘Em Five” Invitational. The Aggies were in a tie for third after one round of play, while Elias fired an -8-over-par 80.
Courtesy: New Mexico State University
