BROOKINGS – Lessons learned in Aberdeen are paying off on the pitch for South Dakota State University.

Taryn Hettich is currently in her senior year of playing soccer for SDSU and a big reason why she is a valuable member of the squad is because of the experience she received at Aberdeen Central.

“I think (Central) prepared me really well, because we were so successful in high school,” Hettich said. “We had a chip on our shoulder that you can’t let that success determine your future. So, I think that has played hand in hand at SDSU.”

A lot of Hettich’s success at Central has carried over to success in Brookings. In high school, Hettich helped lead the Golden Eagles to a Class AA state championship game appearance in her senior season in 2022-23.

While Hettich might not have let success in high school sink in while she was there, she looks back fondly on it now.

“When you’re young, you don’t really realize the success,” Hettich said. “I think now it’s a little bit more of a blessing and an honor than I really thought at the time. I think you’re just kind of competing and going through the motions a little bit in high school. But now, knowing the success that we had and how great it actually was, is a tribute to where I am now and just being able to take all those moments in and be present, because I think in high school I didn’t really sit in the moment and take everything in.”

In her three full years as a Jackrabbit, Hettich has had plenty of success to process and take in as the Jacks have won the Summit League conference championship all three years.

Including the start of the current season, SDSU has a record of 46-14-13, a winning percentage of 71.92 percent and in those 73 games, Hettich has played in 71 of them, starting 37.

“I guess I don’t really realize how successful I’ve actually been,” Hettich said. “I feel like I’ve just been lucky to be in the right spot and in the right places with really good people who care about each other and are all like-minded. … I think that truly has been the (reason) for my success is that everyone around me wants to be great people. They want to get along. They want to be there for each other and support each other. The coaches want the best for you. So, I think (the success) is just because of the really great people that I’ve been surrounded by.”

Throughout Hettich’s career, she has recorded one goal and it was no ordinary goal. In her freshman season, Hettich recorded her first career goal against Nebraska to give SDSU a 2-1 lead in the NCAA Tournament before eventually taking a 5-2 loss.

“That was so surreal,” Hettich said. “I think about it a lot still … It was great to just see the reaction on the bench and the girls around me; my parents were there and just to see how excited they all were, it was definitely just a great blessing. I owe a lot of that to my teammates. Avery Murdzek just played a really good ball in a messy moment, and I was just luckily in the right spot. It was just very surreal.”

As her senior season is in progress, Hettich wants to spend it pushing herself to be the best she can be.

“I think it’s about finding my limit and finding my ceiling. Seeing how far I can push myself mentally, physically, and then also emotionally with my teammates,” Hettich said. “I’m making sure that I pour into those who still have a couple more years left and just build those relationships and make sure that I still pour into myself, but also really just give everything that I’ve learned to those younger girls.”

After she graduates, Hettich might take those leadership skills she has gained and possibly one day become a coach.

“I’ll go back to Aberdeen and I’m applying to PT schools; hopefully I get in there,” Hettich said. “So, I’ll finish out PT school and hopefully become a physical therapist. If coaching is in the future, I would obviously jump on the opportunity. So, if that arises I will try and take advantage of that wherever that level may lie. Just build my career and pour into other young athletes like I was poured into.”

One of those coaches who poured into Hettich when she was in high school was former Central assistant coach and recently appointed head coach of the Golden Eagles Kendra Hanley.

“It’s super exciting. I’m so excited for her and I think she’s done a really great job,” Hettich said. “I was able to be there this summer with her and see how things were going. She was so great for our program when I was there and just being able to see her finally get into that position and take the program on her own path is really exciting and definitely inspiring for me because she’s had such a similar path of going to college and then becoming a coach.”

After Hettich traded in her blue and gold of Central for the blue and gold of SDSU, lessons from Hanley still carry on.

“She’s a great mentor … so just being able to soak in and learn everything from her not only as a player, but a coach as well … it’s just been really special,” Hettich said. “And I’m honored to be a product of her and excited to see what else she produces.”

Hettich and the Jackrabbits just opened conference play and will hope to earn their fourth straight Summit League title in November.