WARSAW – While Warsaw senior golf standout Nikki LaLonde worked on reducing her strokes on the course, she increased her opportunities to continue her game at the collegiate level.

The three-time All-Northern Lakes Conference selection and two-time state qualifier made her choice official on Monday by signing a letter of intent to play golf at the University of Saint Francis next school year.

LaLonde had a tremendously successful four years at Warsaw, helping lead the Tigers to two sectional crowns (2011 and 2012), qualifying each of the four years she competed for the regionals, and as a sophomore helping the team to qualify for the state finals in 2011.  Named the team’s most-improved in 2011 and MVP in 2013, LaLonde had numerous impressive performances this year, including a 9-hole score of 34 at Sycamore Golf Course, and she shot a 76 at Noble Hawk in 18 holes this year.

LaLonde, the daughter of Mike and Warsaw girls golf coach Chris LaLonde,  was a member of the National Honor Society, the Octagon Club, Mathletes, Tiger Student Athletic Board.  A member of the 2010 swim team, LaLonde serves as a water safety instructor teaching swim lessons, serves as a lifeguard at the Warsaw Community Pool, is a member of the YMCA swim team, has volunteered at the area Soup Kitchen, served with the WCHS School Blitz (Community Service Based Organization), and assisted with the Church Youth Group March for Life.  The senior also had three wins in four years participating in the Indiana Junior Golf Association, and she racked up several top finishes in six years competing in with the Little City Junior Golf Program.

LaLonde performed equally as impressive in the classroom where she has earned a tremendous 11.2 Grade Point Average on a 12-point scale (A average and in the top 16 percent of her class of 549 students) over her four years while enrolled in a number of honors and challenging courses.

LaLonde, who was an individual state qualifier this fall, will play next year for coach Tim Alexander and the Cougars where she plans to major in either biology or nursing. Saint Francis, located in Fort Wayne, competes in the Crossroads League.