ALBION — Grace Swank has been a standout three-sport athlete for Central Noble during her high school career, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.

But it’s her exploits on the softball diamond that are going to earn her the rare opportunity to take her game to the next level and continue her education, while staying relatively close to home.

Last week, surrounded by friends, family, teammates and coaches, Swank officially signed a letter of intent to play NAIA softball at Grace College in Winona Lake.

Swank is a multiple KPC All-Area Softball Team honoree and was named Prep of the Year in 2025.

She pretty much did it all for the Cougars last season. As Central Noble’s top pitcher, she was 13-4 with a 1.62 ERA, and 200 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings pitched against just 45 walks. Swank was also the Cougars’ leading hitter at .541. She clubbed nine homers, drove in 44 runs, collected 46 hits and scored 32 runs. She had 10 doubles and a triple.

Swank said her older sister Jocelyn, a college senior this fall, goes to Grace, so it will be nice having her sibling around to help her make the transition to college.

A faith-based school was important to Swank, she said.

“The community at Grace is really what I was looking for in a school,” Swank said. “My sister loves it there… The campus is beautiful, and I love the lake life.”

Meeting the Lancer coaches and players on an overnight visit was one more sign Grace was the place for her, Swank said.

“Just going to chapel and meeting the softball team, I can see myself thriving there,” Swank said.

With the college choice in the books, Swank can focus on her looming senior season.

Central Noble head coach David Pearson said Grace College is getting a quality softball player and an even better human being.

“It’s so much more than softball with Grace,” Pearson said. “She’s a student first. She’s a coach’s dream… she will go down as one of the greatest softball players in Central Noble history.”

Swank has meant a lot to Central Noble softball over the last four years, Pearson said.

“We have great expectations this season, and I really want her to enjoy her senior year,” Pearson added.

Swank plans to major in exercise science at Grace with an eye on a pre-physical therapy track.