Cheboygan's Bent thrilled about next soccer chapter at Grand Rapids Community College

CHEBOYGAN – Taylor Bent knows the Grand Rapids area well.

When you’ve played as much soccer and hockey on the west side of the state as Bent has, you grow to love it.

So, why not try to continue it going forward?

Thankfully for Bent, a senior Cheboygan girls soccer star, that’s exactly what she’s going to be doing once her high school career concludes. On Monday, Bent signed to play women’s soccer at Grand Rapids Community College.

“I really thought that there is a great opportunity (at GRCC), so I went for it,” Bent said. “For my specific major (physical therapy), it’s to transfer to Grand Valley, which I was going to do anyway, and so it’s like, ‘Oh, I can still play soccer,’ so why not try? I’ve loved soccer and wanted to see if I could play later on. I’m grateful for the opportunity."

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Bent’s decision to join GRCC comes as she finishes off an impressive career at Cheboygan. During her time, Bent has earned All-Northern Michigan Soccer League honors as a defender for a Cheboygan team that captured a league title in 2023. This spring, Bent is expected to move up the pitch and be Cheboygan’s defensive midfielder.

Through the years, Cheboygan coach Tom Markham has watched Bent develop into a star. For Markham, Bent’s versatility, work ethic and intelligence have always been on display.

“I just know how hard she has worked at it,” Markham said of Bent. “I’ve seen this kid play since she was a little kid, and so it’s fun to watch your players grow up and develop as players, develop as people, and I’m just happy for her. She’s got a really good soccer IQ. One thing I’ve observed is that she’s good at teaching her teammates, those kids who maybe don’t have as much experience as she does.

“Taylor’s the kind of player that will make a meaningful difference for whatever team she plays on.”

Primarily on Cheboygan’s defensive back line a season ago, Bent can’t wait for her opportunity to have more of an influence on the game in the midfield.

“I like to see the whole field, which is really nice, but I’d rather be more in the midfield and make plays,” Bent said.

As her final season begins, Bent will lead a Cheboygan squad that’s hungry to earn more championship glory. At the same time, she knows how difficult it will be when it all ends.

“I’m going to miss it a lot, it’s going to be tough not representing my hometown anymore, but my goals are just to improve overall, everyone, and hopefully get a lot of wins,” Bent said.

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As for Markham, he has an idea of what kind of impact Bent will have in Grand Rapids.

“She’s going to make a meaningful difference right away, she’s going to work hard, and that’s the thing – she's not going to get outworked,” Markham said. “I think she’s one of those kids that gets better at every practice, every day she gets better, and you’re going to get a lot from Taylor Bent.”

Cheboygan opens its season with a 5 p.m. clash at Brethren on Tuesday.

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan's Taylor Bent signs to play women's soccer at Grand Rapids Community College