Randall's Tatum Brandt signs to play volleyball for Colorado School of Mines
When Tatum Brandt tore her ACL in her junior year of high school, it was a devastating blow to her athletic career, but one she didn't let keep her down. She returned for her senior year with a burst of confidence, telling head coach Haleigh Burns that Randall would win state.
"Tatum has said some crazy things," Burns said. "But that one turned out to be true."
Brandt was outstanding at the libero position this year for the Lady Raider volleyball team. She finished with 73 aces and 694 digs. Most important, she helped lead Randall to a state championship.
On Wednesday morning, she knocked the next thing off her checklist by playing college volleyball as Brandt signed on with Colorado School of Mines at Randall High School. She'll continue to play libero and prepare for a career as a doctor.
"When I got to (School of Mines) they didn't treat me any differently," Brandt said. "The school is amazing and one of the top engineering schools in the nation which helps with me going to med school one day. It's a great opportunity for me."
College volleyball, engineering, medical school, that all sounds like a lot of really hard work. Brandt is no stranger to that, however. She worked her way back from a torn ACL and kept true to the promise she made Burns before the season.
This is just one more task for her to knock off.
"ACL reconstructions is something I wouldn't wish on any person," she said. "That's something that's extremely grueling not only physically, but mentally. The biggest thing that helped me was my teammates. They were there for me every step of the way. Everything I went through I went through with them. So I knew coming in I'd win a state championship because I was going to do it with them."
She did just that. Brandt continued to shower praise upon her teammates for all that they helped her with during her senior season and all that they will continue to do in the future.
"These girls are going to be there for me when I get married one day," Brandt said. "They're going to be at my graduation and the entirety of my life and I tell them every day that I expect another state championship from them next year."
So, as a reminder, she's going to undergrad while playing volleyball. She's got another state title planned for the girls she leaves behind. She's going to med school and getting married with her teammates all around.
Anything else planned?
"I plan on winning a national championship (at Mines)," Brandt said. "They made the regional tournament last year, so hopefully with the addition of our four-person class we can get there."
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Randall's Tatum Brandt signs to play volleyball for Colorado School of Mines
