NEDERLAND — Nederland senior Tatum Kieschnick knows it is going to be a little weird getting to know at least one of her Lamar University soccer teammates next year.
That is because both her and Port Neches-Groves senior Mikayla Johnson have signed on to play for the Cardinals.
Kieschnick’s recruitment process started back when she was a freshman. The three schools to give her offers were Nicholls State, Northwestern State and Lamar.
“It takes a lot of work and you have to do a lot of the recruiting work on your own,” Kieschnick said. “I really started talking to Lamar at the beginning of my junior year. Those were my three top schools. I originally wanted to move off but then when I got older and matured, I realized I wanted to stay closer. I didn’t want to leave my family and my church.”
Johnson said she is proud to get the signing behind her and is ready to meet up with her future teammates next season.
“I like all the players and how close it was to home,” Johnson added. I had talked to Houston, Northwestern State and Louisiana-Lafayette. It has always been a dream to play college soccer.
“Tatum and I actually played on the same team together when we were younger. It is still going to be a little weird going from rivals to teammates.”
Johnson also threw in a jab towards her District 22-5A foe.
“We have to go out and beat her team twice this year before we become teammates next year,” Johnson said. We have one more year as rivals.”
Lamar soccer coach Steve Holeman also announced the signings of Lumberton center back Macie McFarland and keeper Rachel Gries of James E. Taylor High School in Katy.”
“It’s great to see students wanting to stay close to home,” Holeman said. “It will be a tremendous opportunity for their family and friends to see them play.”
Holeman was hired in January. The Cardinals will begin their 10th season of play in August.