Ervin, Swanson ink letters of intent on National Signing Day
November 8, 2023
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI – The National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Initial Signing Period for soccer and Early Period for basketball was celebrated here at Marian High School for two outstanding student-athletes.
Seniors Elle Ervin (Bloomfield Hills) and Mckenzie Swanson (Rochester) announced their intent to play soccer and basketball, respectively at the NCAA Division I level through the National Letter of Intent (NLI) program.
ELLE ERVIN – UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (SOCCER)
Ervin, a forward, will attend the University of Michigan where she will play for head coach Jennifer Klein who is in her sixth season with the Wolverines. In 2021, Michigan captured their first Big Ten Tournament crown since 1999 and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals before falling in overtime to eventual national champion Florida State.
This season, the Wolverines have once again received a bid to play in the NCAA Tournament and will face Princeton in the opening round.
In the 2021 MHSAA Championship game, Ervin scored two goals and Marian blanked Spring Lake to win the state title, 3-0.
In her final season playing for Marian (2022), Ervin led the team with 57 shots, scoring 18 goals and recording 17 assists before being sidelined due to injury. She helped the Mustangs advance to the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 2 Finals where they would fall to Forest Hills Central, breaking a four-year state championship streak.
Not only was Elle a two-year varsity soccer player, earning all-Catholic and all-State honors, she was also a two-year member of the varsity basketball squad, a member of National Honor Society (NHS), a member of Marian's all-school board (ASB). She even owns and runs her own cookie business!
On the club side, Elle competes for Liverpool FC in the Elite Club National League (ECNL).
On November 11, Ervin competed in the ECNL Continental Tire National Selection Game series opener in Arizona. Competing for the East team, Elle scored in the 11th minute and again in the 62nd minute to help the East to a 3-2 victory. She was named Player of the Game.
Although Ervin is graduating at the semester break and heading off to Ann Arbor, she looks fondly at her experiences as a Marian student-athlete. "Marian showed me the importance of having genuine connections with your teammates," she said. "Your teammates are who you will do anything for, on or off the field and having each other's back is what makes a team great."
MCKENZIE SWANSON – BUTLER UNIVERSITY (BASKETBALL)
6' 3" McKenzie Swanson will be taking her basketball game to the Big East Conference next year, playing for Butler's second-year coach Austin Parkinson.
Under Parkinson's leadership, the Bulldogs have made a dramatic turnaround, finishing with a 11-19 record in the 2021-22 season after winning just a game the year prior.
Swanson is part of a three player signing class, joining Lily Zeinstra of Byron Center and Jocelyn Land of Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Playing forward at Marian for head coach Michelle Lindsey, Mckenzie was tabbed a 4-star recruit by Prospect Nation. She also holds an Elite 150 ranking. The McDonald's All-American Nominee has posted monster numbers over her three-year career at Birmingham Marian.
She averaged 13.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior to be named All-State, All-Region, All-County, and All-Catholic.
As a sophomore, Swanson's stat line included 19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Marian has won two district championships and one Catholic League championship with Swanson in the mix. She had a 21-point, 20-rebound game against St. Mary's Prep and poured in 25 points vs. Regina while adding 10 rebounds and four steals.
A two-time team captain, Swanson was recognized as the HTL Post Player of the Year and a Wooten Top 150 player. She made the Detroit News All North Girls Basketball Team and was a Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Academic All-State selection. Swanson also played AAU ball for Wisconsin Elite.
"McKenzie has a very high motor which is something I love," Parkinson explained. "She rebounds outside of her area and has expanded her range on the perimeter. She has a lot of tools in the post that will only get better at the college level."
At Marian, Mckenzie was a member of NHS and was a key member on three of Marian's MHSAA volleyball state championship teams as a middle blocker (2020-22). Swanson has earned all-Catholic and academic all-State honors in both sports.
She also runs a non-profit organization called Laces for Layups that collects gently used athletic shoes for kids in need.
"I chose Butler for its culture, excellence in academics, and the basketball program," Swanson said. "From the first day I stepped on campus, Butler has felt like home. I believe that the friendships and connections that I will make here will last a lifetime and contribute to my personal and professional growth."
