By Eddie Rodriguez | Distribution Manager

Senior Kara Young is about to achieve her twelfth varsity letter as she begins her last season of softball. Young has been a consistent three-sport athlete at Marshfield and now looks ahead to a future at Oregon Institute of Technology where she will play volleyball.

Young, who participates in volleyball, basketball and softball, has been a captain and a leader in all three sports. She decided on OIT because it was her chance to continue playing volleyball.

“Volleyball was my first choice,” Young said. “It has always been my favorite sport.”

Young’s ability to keep improving her skills and working hard has helped her achieve her current success, according to head volleyball coach Tammie Montiel, and the growth in Young’s maturity has allowed her to evolve as a leader.

“Becoming a more positive leader has helped her,” Montiel said.

Montiel also believes Young has been blessed with natural talent.

That talent extends to the basketball court as well, where Young just wrapped up her final season. Head coach Bruce Bryant enjoyed the opportunity to work with Young.

“[It is] my pleasure to say that I can associate myself with her,” Bryant said.

According to Bryant, many of Young’s teammates feel the same way. Young provides experience to the team and leadership as well as a positive atmosphere for the rest of the team.

“Her experience as a freshman has made her a good player, and her helping the younger players shows that,” Bryant said.

Bryant said Young is the exception among three-sport athletes, continuing to improve and making a positive impact on the field or on the floor while playing each sport as if each were her favorite sport.

“She gives that constancy, [and] all three sports are her best sports,” Bryant said.

Young is now playing in her final season as a Pirate on the softball field. She believes she will feel relief when her days of playing high school sports are behind her and is ready to play only one sport in college.

Young said she found inspiration to push herself in athletics from her dad, Rex Young, an active Pirate Booster Club member.

“My dad has been most inspirational to me,” Young said. “He is always at my games.”

As she reflects on her final months as a Pirate, Young hopes to be remembered after leaving Marshfield as a positive leader. She believes she has achieved all her goals and hopes for more success as she joins the OIT volleyball program

“I want to be looked back as a good team leader and someone who was a hardworking athlete,” Young said. “And honestly, I am just happy I was able to participate all four years [in sports]. I grew as a person.”