Tara ended her soccer career at Grand Valley State University with one national title, two national runner-up finishes, four regular season championships and four GLIAC titles. Needless to say, she was apart of a powerhouse team. As a player herself, she received All-American and All-Midwest region honors as a junior and a senior.

Despite all of the success, Tara reflects on everything it took to get there. She contributes her breakout season to a strength and conditioning coach that challenged her to her core, but built up her confidence in the process. Tara talks about learning how to believe in herself, and wanting to help others reach their goals as well. She interned with the University of Michigan strength and conditioning program, as also was an assistant coach for Alma College women’s soccer for a couple years after her time at GVSU. Today, she is looking to coach for fun on the side. Tara discusses what it means to be a good mentor, and the importance of delivering constructive feedback in a respectful way. She contributes a lot of her success at GVSU to her ability to not take criticism personally, but use it as motivation.

In addition to playing four years of soccer at Grand Valley, Tara touches on her decision to join the women’s basketball team after her final season of soccer. If Tara isn’t a straight up baller, I don’t know who is.