To the big leagues

Libero, Tatum Pickar, signs to play volleyball at North Dakota College of Science.

Senior+Tatum+Pickar+serving+during+a+game.

Bryson Felton

Senior Tatum Pickar serving during a game.

Every senior realizes at about this point in the year that choosing a college isn’t easy. By the end of first semester, most seniors who plan to attend a university have either finished applying, or have already been accepted to a myriad of schools. Mailboxes are flooded with acceptance letters and students’ minds are overflowing with the weight of the decision they are now faced with, but at least one student at Cannon Falls High School doesn’t have to worry. Tatum Pickar recently signed to play volleyball for North Dakota State College of Science, putting an end to her decision making process.

Pickar commented, “Before I visited NDSCS I was in a bind on where to go, then out of the blue the NDSCS coach called me.” It’s no secret that Pickar had a stellar volleyball career in Cannon Falls. Along with earning a spot on the HVL all-conference team not one, but three times, she earned academic all-state proving that she’s an amazing student as well as an amazing athlete. She was a two-time All State first team selection and All-area player of the year this year. In October at the team’s away-game against Stewartville, Pickar recorded her 2,000 career dig and has since surpassed that milestone.

For two years, Pickar was a captain of the volleyball team and helped inspired her younger teammates to be the best players they could be. Coach Melissa Huseth comments, “Tatum is a wonderful role-model to young athletes.” And the team seems to be pretty fond of her as well, Pickar has been voted MVP by her teammates for two consecutive years. “I have no doubt that Tatum will adapt to college athletics and surpass her coaches’ expectations,” concludes Coach Huseth.

“I visited the campus and talked to some professors and on the drive home I came to the conclusion that that was the college I was going to attend,” states Pickar. So, while the rest of the seniors are stuck making pros and cons lists to make the potentially life changing decision of where to go to college, Pickar can begin preparing for her collegiate volleyball career.

Bryson Felton