A standout athlete at the University, Ellie Weltha is taking her talents to a new school.

As a sanctioning body, no one has ever accused the NCAA of being warm and fuzzy, but when the organization decided to extend eligibility for student-athletes who played during the COVID era, it made all the difference in the world to Ellie Weltha.

“That was the biggest reason for staying another year and getting my master’s,” she said.

For Weltha, the bonus season was not about putting off adulthood. It provided a way to achieve her dream of being a teacher. After transferring into Truman at the start of her sophomore year, Weltha didn’t think she would have enough time to earn a Master of Arts in Education before her scholarship was exhausted. The extended eligibility allowed her to earn two degrees from Truman and have a job offer in hand by the time she graduated in May.

Weltha started her college career playing Division I softball, but after one season she felt the urge to compete in multiple sports like she did in high school. When exploring transfer options, she was hoping to go somewhere closer to her home in Bloomington, Illinois. Truman’s charm, and the opportunity it presented, convinced her it was the right fit.

“I wanted to play more than one sport, and Truman was one of the few schools that was going to allow me to do that,” she said. “I wasn’t originally going to visit Truman, and as soon as I visited, I loved it.”

History will remember Weltha as one of the University’s most accomplished student-athletes. While she played in more than 50 softball games, she truly shined on the hardwood, earning all-conference honors four times, including three-straight appearances on the first team. She holds the record for games played at 127, and she finished her career at fourth all-time in scoring and second in rebounds. Weltha also walked on to the track and field team because “it looked pretty fun.” That turned into an All-America season and a ninth-place finish in the shot put at the national meet. For all those accolades, Weltha is quick to credit her teammates and coaches.

“I’ve been able to play with really good players and surround myself with people who make it a lot easier to do those things,” she said. “I’ve been focused on having fun with everything and enjoying everything while I can. Maybe in a couple of months or years I’ll be able to reflect on what I’ve accomplished.”

In addition to being humble, Weltha is a self-described easy-going person. Her ability to go with the flow should come in handy with her next endeavor as an elementary school teacher. She started working at the Kirksville Primary School last summer and did her MAE internship with a first-grade class during the fall. That experience worked out for everyone, and Weltha was hired to teach full time at Kirksville Primary starting with the 2024-25 school year.

“It was just a good environment. People are fun there, people are smiling, and it was very welcoming,” she said. “Kirksville is very homey. It’s been good to me. It will be good to get on my feet for the first couple of years and then see where life takes me after that.”

Jack Weltha (center) and friends cheer on Ellie at a home basketball game.

Staying in town also affords Weltha the opportunity to see her brother Jack play his final seasons for the Bulldog football team. The siblings have been
each other’s biggest supporters during their time on campus, and Ellie thinks one of her proudest moments on the court may have helped convince Jack to attend the University. His recruiting visit coincided with Truman hosting the No. 1 team in the nation, and Ellie’s late free throws secured an upset victory that sent Pershing Arena into a frenzy.

“I definitely persuaded him a lot that night,” she said. “It was good for him to be there that night.”

Her brother is far from the only person who was excited to follow Weltha’s success. During the past season, the team hosted a primary school night, and kids from her class came to cheer on their teacher. Even after completing the internship, her mentor teacher kept the class up to date with Weltha’s accomplishments.

“They were super supportive the whole year,” she said. “They don’t really understand what’s going on with college basketball, but they couldn’t care less. They’re just there to see me do well, and it’s been pretty awesome.”

Although her playing days may be over, Weltha is not finished with basketball. She will serve as an assistant coach for the Kirksville High School girls’ team in the coming season.

“I’ve met some of my best friends through sports. I have lifelong mentors in my life because of the great coaches I’ve had. They’ve impacted me and made me a significantly better person and athlete. I want to be able to do that for kids and athletes,” she said. “I don’t really want to leave the sports world. It’s enjoyable, and most of the time uplifting, and I would love to be around that for a while.”