November 20, 2023 • 46 mins
Ever wondered about the journey of a professional athlete? Get ready to be enthralled as we sit down with Tara Mueller, former Husker volleyball player, and listen to her captivating journey through the world of sports. Starting her volleyball journey at the tender age of 11, Tara takes us through the challenges she faced, the opportunities she missed, and the incredible support she received from her father, offering invaluable insights for parents and children navigating the sports world.
In our final we'll hear about her transition into real estate, leveraging her competitive nature and deep knowledge of Lincoln. As we wrap up our conversation, Tara shares her return to coaching volleyball and her plans for a Halloween-themed fun run with Fleet Feet. No matter where your interests lie, this episode promises a riveting ride through Tara Mueller's extraordinary life journey. You're definitely not going to want to miss this!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to another episode of Stay Modern with
Murray, brought to you by MurrayCustom Pollers, where we build
your dream home together.
Now sit back, buckle up andenjoy the ride with your host,
matt Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for
joining us on this episode ofStay Modern with Murray.
Today, our special guest isformer Husker volleyball player,
Tara Mueller.
Tara, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, thanks for having me, I know we had to
reschedule this weird.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Usually we do these on Fridays.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
More relaxed.
Yeah, but I know that you saidyou just got back from traveling
.
Yeah, so did I.
We went to the.
We had our GAF shinglemanufacturer.
They have annually.
They take us to a chief'stailgate Cool, it's like a VIP
tailgate game, everything.
Yeah, it's a Sunday night game,but it's a whole weekend deal.
So I'm also a little exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I feel you yeah .
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But no, tell us a little bit about it.
So we were just talking.
So I wrestled at the universityfrom 0207 and then co-chair for
a few years, and you were 07 to.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I was 07 to 10.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It was my senior year .
That's a little bit of overlap,but yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, a little bit, both Husker athletes.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, so I grew up in Scottsdale, arizona and I was
just saying we were talking alittle bit.
I got into volleyball when Iwas 11.
My neighbors who we moved intonext door they had a super
athletic family and their kidswe were the same age and their
twins were going to thisvolleyball tryout.
(01:29):
I'm like what's volleyball?
I don't know what this is.
So they're like Tara's tall,she should try this.
So my dad brings me on thistryout.
I show up not even knowing whatthis court is or what I'm
supposed to do, so I hated it.
I was like this game sucks justbecause I was terrible at it.
And my dad noticed all thesegirls they had us diving on the
(01:53):
ground.
They're tossing balls, thesegirls are diving.
I didn't come in with knee pads, I didn't know you needed knee
pads.
So my dad literally leaves inthe middle of the tryout, goes
to, I think, a gas station orwhatever convenient store or
something goes by, comes backwith these blue knee pads I
think they were like forconstruction or something.
I'm not sure, but that was myfirst pair.
So I made it through the tryoutand my friends, they ended up
(02:19):
making the 12s because they doit like by age.
So they made the 12 ones teamand I made the 12 twos.
So I'm like all right, well,this sucks, like I'm not playing
with my friends.
But my dad's like all right,just try it.
If you don't like it after alittle bit, like you don't have
to do it.
So I'm like okay.
So I obviously stuck it outthrough that season.
And then my friends, the nextyear they made the 13 ones team
(02:43):
in the club and I made the 14ones.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, so I guess I picked it up pretty quick, yeah,
and I was like all right, I canget down with this game Like
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
That was like the start of all of that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So were you playing other sports.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, I mean, and this was when I was younger, so
I mean I did soccer andbasketball and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Were you athletic in those other sports?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I was a little bit of a Bambi on ice, but I grew into
it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, I was in high school I still well, I think my
freshman year nope, not highschool.
Middle school I did basketballand then when I got to high
school, I did track, I did highjump and then recruiting just
started to get so heavy withvolleyball.
It was like you're really goodat this, like you should
probably pick a sport.
So that's when I switched overto just volleyball.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
So the reason I asked that is I'm dealing with that
stuff, shit right now.
He's only nine, you're gonna be10.
And I have heard horror stories, but I was always the advocate
for multiple sports, multi-sportathletes and starting young and
letting them enjoy it.
But multiple questions for you.
But do you think in this dayand age somebody could start at
(04:00):
11 years old with never havingplayed a sport and make it?
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I think I'm with you on doing multiple sports and
just being an athlete, but it'sso crazy with how young kids are
getting recruited now and howthat process starts so young
Like.
I feel like kids are almostfeeling funneled into a sport
(04:24):
and I get it with how bigrecruiting is.
So I think that at least untilhigh school, multiple sports
play some sports.
Yeah, do it all.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So what I'm nervous about and I never thought about
this until I got him into sportsis positions.
You know because I justwrestled.
If you get out there and youbeat your person, you're on the
team.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
But you know he's only nine and he joined a team
this year that he wasn't on theyear before and they'd already
had the same kids on the teamfor three to four years and so
he struggled being able to playthe position he wanted to play
because they already had theirchosen players for that position
.
So he got stuck playing someother positions.
And then now football.
(05:06):
Luckily we weren't gonna puthim in tackle football but we
did, and thank God we didbecause he wants to be
quarterback and he luckily justthey just kind of like take
numbers out of a hat to playquarterback.
But you play in the sameorganization up until middle
school, I think, and I can tellthat they pretty much take you
from your first year until yourlast year playing the same
(05:28):
position.
So if you don't get in there ata young age, you already have
kind of lost a position that youwant to play.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes.
So I agree with you.
I do think like once you getinto a position, I feel like,
especially in volleyball, youcan kind of tell the way
somebody moves and size andheight, all this stuff kind of
what they look like or whatposition they should play or
could play.
And then you get put into thatposition.
(05:58):
But I mean for me I don't knowif you know this, but so I was
an outside hitter and I did USAlike junior national team all
that training stuff growing up.
And I was this was my junioryear in high school and I'd been
playing outside and at thetryout the coach brought me over
(06:19):
.
He was like we were going toThailand for the world
championships and he actuallyasked me.
He was like so we want you onthe team.
Do you want to be a part timeoutside hitter or full time
libero?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And I'm like full time bro.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Let's go Like I mean, I'm good at hitting and it's
fun, but defense and justpicking up balls I love that.
So I loved that opportunity,but that was the only time I
really got to play that otherposition.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Do you like it?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Oh, I love it yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
I've done that.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I would say now I can't jump anymore.
So, yes, just because of myknee, but I did enjoy hitting.
So I think that I would havemissed that piece of it, but I
think playing that otherposition for that time was so
much fun.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
And that's the same thing like with I love beach
volleyball and so I kind of getin that libero defensive mindset
because there's so much courtto cover, so I can get back in
and just dig balls, read andthey're still hitting.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
So are you still playing?
We'll get into that.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, we can get in that.
Not really anymore, but when Ilived in Colorado I still I
played a bunch of doubles allthe time.
Yeah, I have.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's so unique.
I never think I realized howmuch pressure there was going to
be.
Being a parent, I truly feellike.
So.
I have one son and I truly feellike I have a gifted son and
he's got a lot of the sameattributes even more athletic
ability than I did.
He's taller, he's going to be abig boy and trying to navigate,
(07:53):
what you like.
My dad was my coach in everysport, so if I wanted to play,
it was like you know, I wasgoing to start.
I was really dedicated, I wasreally good athlete.
But you know, from a young ageI personally and myself chose
wrestling.
I gave it as my year roundsport and then I just played the
other sports because I wantedto, but I always had my one
chosen sport.
With him, every sports isfavorite sport and we're at nine
(08:15):
years old and he's alreadyoverlapping all three sports
year round.
Basically, I mean, it's alreadythat serious.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
It's crazy, but he's nine Like I love that.
He still loves all of them.
They're all his favorites.
I think that's awesome.
Yeah, nine years old it is.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But it's, you can already start to see the kids
that are maybe starting to focuson one or two sports.
Yeah, they're starting to maybeexcel a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He's really good at all three sports, but if he
continues playing all threesports at this level, he's
either going to get burned outor he's not going to excel at
the sport that he ends upchoosing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And it's already to the point where it's like you
got to choose, but he's onlydoing three.
He doesn't wrestle because hedoesn't have time for it.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah so.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I wrestled and he doesn't wrestle and I'm not
going to force him to.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
But it's super tough that the sports are starting to
overlap more and more and more.
Uh-huh.
The last month he's been doingthree sports.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yes, and even for me coaching club, um, when I've
been back here, I coach for VCNand um the.
This was a couple of years.
I coached the 17s team, andthese girls are they're 17 years
old, Like you're.
Some of them are committed toplay volleyball in college, but
they come from I don't knowwhere you live, but a lot of
(09:29):
them come from small towns andthey kind of have to play all
the other sports too, and thenthey're late to practice or
they're missing things, and so,as a coach too, I'm like, yeah,
you, I need you on the court,but like this girl is here every
day all practice, you know,like that's, I don't know, it's
interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yep, you know it is tough.
No last comment, then we'll getoff.
They promote multiple sportathletes.
They put it in their literatureand they do promote it, but,
like you said, if you miss adamn practice you're punched for
it.
Yes, and that is his other mainsport that's in season.
So I thought we were promotingmultiple sport athletes.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I know, I know it's kind of catch 22.
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, no, I know that you were an impressive
volleyball player.
We're actually talking aboutsome of the post career sand
volleyball events that we playedin that, whenever you showed up
, it was literally like TaylorSwift at a cheese game.
I promise you it was like dude.
You know, terramular is hereNow tell us about your
collegiate volleyball career,and even in high school, if you
(10:34):
were.
Sounds like you were thatimpressive in high school, so um
, well, so I played for DesertMountain.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Well, that's uh was my high school, and so I was my
junior year.
We won state junior senior yearback to back, and so I was
Arizona player of the year myjunior year.
And then, um, so that summerwas when we ended up going to.
No, this was before Thailand.
Thailand was my senior year, somy junior year was a
championship.
So the summer after my schoolseason, and I ended up breaking
(11:04):
my wrist and so I got sent home.
So what am I going to do?
They don't need you, you know.
And so I missed part of mysenior school season.
Oh, well.
And we still came back in onestate and you know, come on,
like I missed too many games,that I wasn't player.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Oh man.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
I'm just like but it's all good, but literally
they were like you didn't playin enough games to be this.
That sucks and I'm like allright, whatever.
But so I had an awesome highschool career too.
We won our first statechampionship for our school.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
That was really cool.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yes, yeah, and then college.
So my freshman year, that waswhen um our seniors were Sarah
Pavan, christina Hotelling,tracy Stahls and Maggie Griffin.
Yep, like are you kidding me?
I think two of those werenational players of the year,
all of them, all American.
You know like it's just likeyou know same.
(12:00):
So that year we ended upactually getting upset by Cal
and like the regionals, and itwas that kind of sucked.
But so 2008 was supposed to bekind of a rebuilding year for us
.
And so we who was our?
Trying to think, oh, it was theNebraska girls.
So our seniors were JordanLarson, amanda Gates and then
(12:22):
Rachel Schwartz, and so this wasthe year we ended up playing
out Washington to go to thefinal four and we lost the first
two sets, came back, won thatin five and then that year, the
final forwards in Omaha.
So we had to come back.
It was so cool.
Matched up against Penn Stateand, like same situation, lost
(12:44):
the first two sets, we're down.
We ended up coming backbattling in five, ended up
losing in five, but that waslike that was the best, best
game.
And so for my career, 2008 wasmy best season.
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And then what'd you guys do after that?
I can't remember.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I think I was like, oh, nine in 10.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
My mom follows you guys intently, but years blend
together for me.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I know 2010.
It was kind of a repeat becausewe went to Washington again,
but we ended up losing that one,I think in four.
I don't know if we went to fivein that one, but it was kind of
like we were all replayed.
Yeah, it was kind of crazy,yeah, but I mean still awesome.
That's the same thing to go tothe final four.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
So Arizona player of the year.
What other accolades you got?
You want to?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I was an All-American that sophomore year and then
did.
I think the USA stuff isprobably the coolest on top of
any, like personal award justbeing able to play for the
junior national team.
That's awesome.
And go to Thailand and competein the world championships like
that.
I think, over the individuals.
That's one of my favorite.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What age were you when you did that?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Turning 17.
That's crazy.
Yeah, because I have a summerbirthday.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah , that's super cool.
So then you graduate.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
And then what?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
So I actually, after I graduated, I was like I'm so
done, I was so burned out.
I'm like, okay, I need a break.
So I actually worked at thevenue for like eight months.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And if I didn't watch volleyball, if I didn't play it
, I was cool and I was happy andI was fine.
And then Sydney Andersonactually called me and she's
like hey T, there's this superfun tournament.
It's called Adult Nationals,like it's in Salt Lake City.
Do you want to play with me?
And I'm like Sid, I haven'ttouched a ball in like seven
(14:42):
months.
No, and she convinced me to go.
So Adult Nationals is like youhave your junior nationals
growing up as you play.
So it's the same thing, but alladults.
So it's a little bit wilder butit's really fun.
So you get the players thathave been playing overseas, that
are back in town, you get kidsthat just graduated.
Like it's a little bit of aparty, but it's still really
(15:02):
competitive Volleyball.
So I was like all right, sid, Ilove you, fine, I'll go.
So I got there like a few daysearly.
I'm like I need to step on thecourt.
I need some reps here, let'ssee.
I remember like putting myshoes and knee pads back on for
the first time.
I'm like, wow, this feels weird.
But it felt good.
The second I started playing.
I'm like man, I love this game.
(15:23):
Like what am I I?
Instantly I was like what am Idoing?
And this is I'm so passionateabout this game.
So it was actually at thattournament I met an agent who
represented some of the playerswho were back from overseas.
So I met him and was talking tohim and it kind of went from
there Like I paired up with himand that was the start of my
(15:47):
five year career overseas.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So how did you guys do in that tournament?
Had a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yes, yes, we had a lot of fun, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So then you went.
So he was your agent.
He represented you, yes.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, so he works with a company and so you sign a
contract with them and then hebasically this is.
You know, I'm new to the wholeoverseas thing.
So I'm like, all right, youtell me what, what, what.
Yeah, how does this work, youknow?
And so he uses his contacts andhe's like, all right, this team
needs an outside hitter in thiscountry.
They need an outside.
(16:22):
Here's what they can offer.
Here's what you can compare andtake.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
So I ended up going to Switzerland my first year.
Oh wow, and it was.
It was actually really goodbecause Switzerland is I love
Switzerland.
It's a beautiful country,people are amazing, but the
volleyball is like kind ofaverage.
They have a couple of reallygood teams and then the rest are
like pretty average Gotcha.
So for me like getting backinto it.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I was like yeah, this is a good warm up.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Yeah, exactly.
So I ended up my first seasonover there.
Believe it or not, I had neversprained an ankle playing
volleyball my entire career,until my first year overseas.
So, and it was our second gamewe were we were playing the
number one team, zurich Valero,who's like they have the most
(17:11):
money, so they get the bestplayers.
Basically is how it works.
And we took them to five and itwas like 10, eight or something
in the fifth and I hit thiswrist away shot and I just
landed on the blocker on theother side and so that sucked
and hurt because I'd never doneit before.
So I was out for a little bitand I just I loved my team so
(17:35):
much and they took care of me soI ended up resigning with them
for the next year.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So went back for two years with that team.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Gotcha yeah.
So you did two years inSwitzerland.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yep.
And then after that I was like,okay, I kind of got my groove
back.
I want to play at a higherlevel now.
So that's when my third seasonI ended up going to France.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
So they're a little bit, a little bit stronger.
So that was my also my longestseason.
So Switzerland was eight monthslong, okay, and France was 10.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
A 10 month long season.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yes, like you're, you're there for 10 months.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Yeah, so they get you out there.
You do pre-seasons like twomonths, but you got to be out
there or a month and a half orsomething.
And it's a grind when you'reover there because, like, in,
every country is different.
So, like Switzerland, we hadtwo days every single day.
I mean, that's all you're doing, that's you're getting paid to
do this, right.
So the first practice would belike a serve and pass, kind of
(18:29):
defense, right.
And then the second one wouldbe like the whole teams in were
scrimmaging and were playing,but this is every day.
And then France, we had lifting.
Well, you have lifting also,but France, we would have
lifting.
And then we had one longpractice.
It was 11 to four every day.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Five hours long.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
And the weirdest thing yes, the weirdest thing.
So like you have to adjust tothese schedules and different
routines and it was so hard, thefirst practice in France.
We were getting after it forlike two and a half hours, I
want to say I think it wasliterally like 130, and our
coach was like all right, lunchbreak.
(19:12):
And I'm like lunch break, I'mwarm.
Like what do you mean?
So everybody literally likegets in the stands, takes a 45
minute lunch and then it's likeall right, back on the court.
All right, we're doing six onsix.
I'm like I'm sorry, I'm icecold.
Now what, that's weird.
And then after that we wouldhave lifting.
(19:32):
So it's like, yeah, holy cow,but you do that for a couple of
months and you get used to theroutine, but it's so different
yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So in your two months off did you come back to the
States?
Yep.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yep.
So when I was playing overseas,I'd actually come back to
Lincoln and Maggie Griffin isone of my best friends and so I
would stay with Maggie for liketwo months and we would just
like vibe out.
I'd still, I'd practice, likewith her we'd play Sam
volleyball.
She had her club going on so Icould still like get in the gym,
but it was just like.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
What two months of the season did you have off?
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I would usually get done March, so it'd be like
April, May, June it was, so I'dbe back.
Kind of summer-ish Kind ofsummer-ish.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, exactly, that's good.
Yeah, at least you didn't haveto come back in the dead of
winter or something like that.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Oh no, I might not have come back here.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
That was not the case .
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
So I might have gone back to Arizona.
So year three was France.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
So year three was France Yep, and then after that
I did Puerto Rico for two years.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Okay, and how is Puerto Rico compared to my
favorite?
I?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
love it.
I just I love the culture, Ilove the people, I love the
beach, but they're also theculture.
Translate onto the court, likethey're very intense, very fiery
, and I love that.
So they were so much fun toplay with and it was competitive
volleyball.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And I think the thing with Puerto Rico too is we're
so close.
So I'll back up just a littlebit After my first season in
Switzerland we ended in Marchand the Puerto Rican season ends
later- Okay.
So they had actually firedsomebody just before playoffs
and ended up picking me up, ohshit, so I went down there.
I literally flew home fromSwitzerland, flipped my suitcase
(21:17):
, flew down the next day.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Oh, my gosh.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Had to play in a match that night with my new
team and I'm, like you know, jetlag.
I'm tired, I'm dehydrated and Ijust remember like they run a
different tempo.
I'm connecting with a newsetter and I remember hearing
like the owner in the stand andhe's like Come on, you know when
they're speaking English,they're talking to you, so I'm
like, all right, I got this.
(21:41):
But so that was my first tasteof Puerto Rico.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And then back to Switzerland, france, and then
after that I was like I got toget back down to Puerto Rico.
So it it's just, I love it downthere and it's super
competitive and my last seasonwe ended up going to the finals.
Oh, wow.
So that's even more fun.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Yeah, yeah.
So then you get to the end ofyear five, and what made you
stop?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
So I, when I was 15, I had surgery on my knee.
I tore my meniscus.
Not a big deal, but theycouldn't repair it at the time,
so they just cut out the tornpiece.
So easy recovery, easy to keepplaying on when you're 15
through 23 years old you knowlike it was fine.
(22:27):
But even my last two seasons Istarted getting bone contusions,
like I would jump and land andlike I could literally feel it's
my medial meniscus, so thatinside part I could literally
feel my bones crashing to eachother.
And so my last season I got onereally bad and I had to sit out
for a little bit and because ifyou keep playing on that like
(22:49):
you can, it can fracture alldifferent directions, so took
time off and then I was likethis hurts too bad, like and I'm
kind of small, believe it ornot like for a volleyball player
right now, so I have to rely onmy jumping Like I'm.
I was a really good jumper andI just couldn't get my
(23:10):
explosiveness like pushing offof that anymore, so I was like
never thought I'd be the player.
I was always really healthy,really strong.
Never thought I'd be the playerto end a career because of an
injury.
That sucks, but yeah, so that'swhy I stopped.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
And then.
So then you came back to theStates.
How did you end up in Lincoln?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Yeah, so actually from my last season in Puerto
Rico, I ended up.
I was dating a guy at the timedown there and loved it so much
we were living there, so he wasAmerican, but he was living
there, working there, gotcha,and so it was September of 2017,
(23:50):
and then that's when thehurricanes hit.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I was going to ask you about that.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
That leads into us going to Colorado and then
coming back here.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
So you guys had to get out of there because of the
hurricane.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, so we were down there and Irma hit end of
September and Irma was likehyped up to be don't get me
wrong, it was a huge hurricane.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
But it was just kind of going over the north part of
the island and it was a lot ofwind.
There was still a ton ofdestruction, yep.
But so we went down south toPonce, so we were able to get
away at least from that one, andthen coming back up to San Juan
.
When we got back it was like, Imean, trees the size of this
(24:34):
room uprooted, holy cow.
I'd never even like I havepictures standing next to a tree
and look the entire roots of itor as tall as me, not even
joking.
I don't know how that happens.
It's crazy.
Yeah, so, irma.
A week later, maria hit andMaria brought the water, which
(24:56):
is scary, right and so, and thiswas, I don't know.
I don't know why these stormshave to start at night too, like
it's literally like 10 pm andMaria was going across the
entire island.
There was nowhere you could getaway from it, so it was just
like hunger down and hopefullyhaving enough food and water,
because you're not getting it.
(25:17):
Like no power, no running water.
Holy cow.
And so you better have enoughRight.
And you live on an island, so,like I remember going to the
store trying to find water tostock up and there's shelves are
empty, so I ended up buying abunch of those like Gallon
(25:37):
Arizona ice teas.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Dumping them out, filling them with water before
the water shut off.
So that was like our supplythat would be scary.
Yeah, so that one.
It was like our front door wasa double door and so with every
gust, like water would come in.
So we're like, all right, thisone's a little more serious than
(26:01):
Irma.
So we're like literally likestarted putting towels
underneath the door.
We're trying to like squeegeeit.
It couldn't like the water wasjust coming in Right.
And so, after the storm ended,literally the next night, our
place was.
There was a kind of a connectedlike upstairs, but the people
(26:23):
who owned it, it was an Airbnb.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
And so it had a punch code so we were able to get out
of our flooded place and go upthere at least for a couple days
, to like we honestly we werelike scavenging for supply, like
maybe there's food in here,maybe there's a water gun here,
you know, and like we have to.
Kind of we got a game plan nowand so, but it was like after
(26:45):
the storm ended, the water inthe street kept rising I don't
know it was insane and so thewater kept getting higher and
we're like all right, we gottamake moves here.
And yeah, and so we stayed upthere for I think, three days
and then we were like, all right, we need to get to.
(27:07):
So there's an area on West SanJuan is called Tendado and
that's where all the nice hotelsand stuff are, and we knew this
one, the Vanderbilt cause.
Keep in mind, there's nocommunication here, like no cell
phones.
There's no way to get in touchwith anyone, like- All the stuff
you don't think about.
All the stuff you don't thinkabout.
Yeah, so it's literally whatyou can see in front of you and
(27:28):
hear.
Because those three days afterwe started to, you could hear
the looting, you could hear thegunfire, like you.
And so we're like, okay, people, we started to see them coming
up and down our street.
So we were like, okay, if wecan get to the Vanderbilt, we
know there's a FEMA shelterthere at least.
So we literally it was likegoing into game day, like it was
(27:50):
like a movie.
Oh, for real.
And we, I remember packing mybackpack and cause that's all I
could carry at the time, causethe water was so high.
And I remember like having thethought I'm like, if this is all
I can take out with me, this isall I have right now, and I'll
(28:11):
I can still feel the adrenaline,like when we were going out
there, cause we're like, okay,we're going to go to the beach
the beach was north of us we'renot going inland, cause inland
was where all the crazy stuffwas happening.
We didn't know it was on thebeach, but we're like that
sounds better than that, way,you know.
So we get out on our street andI just I remember thinking I'm
(28:35):
like, do not cut yourself, causethere's like, oh my God, the
smell of the water too.
It was literally like sewagejust smell and all of the stuff
there was there was metal, therewere trees, there was shoes,
bucket, like whatever you canthink of just floating out there
(28:55):
.
And I just remember that I'mlike do not cut yourself, cause
we are not getting help rightnow and you're going to get an
infection, you know.
And so we got out on the streetwe're a dog at the time too, he
had a husky, so literally he'scarrying her like, oh, like
literally, cause we're like shecan't even walk right now.
(29:18):
So we get to the sand and we'relike all right, it's like two
miles down.
And I remember walking pastthis restaurant, when you have
those on the beach that have thesteps down to the sand, the
steps were almost as high as me,cause the water had just washed
off all the sand, like thebottom cement step was just like
(29:40):
hovering in the air, holy cow.
It was.
It was insane.
So we ended up making it there.
It was still sketchy, likepeople are.
People are looking at you likeeverybody's kind of unsure, like
what's going on and we're likeI don't know, like I don't trust
anyone right now you know, sowe made it to the hotel could
(30:02):
see all the FEMA people.
We actually went to the frontdesk and we were like we just
hiked out here from Ocean Parkand we were like can you guys,
can you help us?
You know it all.
And they were like we can getyou into a room if you want and
they're running on generators atthis time.
Well, half of the hotel was.
And this is the Vanderbilt's, avery nice hotel, and they even
(30:26):
felt bad.
Like the manager came out andtalked to us and was like we're
so sorry we're not operating toour expectations, and we're like
are you serious?
Like you have running waterhere, Like we're good, you know.
So we ended up getting into aroom best shower I've ever taken
in my entire life.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
So how far was it?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
It was about two and a half miles.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
And how deep water.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
It was waist deep.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Oh, my God.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
For about not the entire way, but it was waist
deep for about three blocks tillwe got to the beach.
Yeah, yeah, so that's like aslow walk through that too, you
know, carrying a dog.
Carrying a dog, yeah, like, ohmy God.
So they had some food.
They did like they catered infood and best tacos I ever ate
(31:15):
in my life, the shower I've everhad.
So, from this, jay's birthdayis the end of September, so I
already had a trip planned fromlike a month ago to go to
Colorado to do this stuff withhim.
And I have some family downthere too.
I have cousins that live there,and so I get I don't know how,
(31:38):
but I got somehow got a text onmy phone and it was like your
flight's been canceled and I'mlike, oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
That's a match.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Yeah, imagine exactly .
But they were like if you canbe at the airport tomorrow
morning, we can get you on ahumanitarian flight.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
And they gave you a number code.
It wasn't like a normal letternumber confirmation code, it was
just numbers.
There was like seven numbersand we're like we'll be there.
I don't care how we've got toget there, but we will find a
way to get to the airport.
So, and it was I swear it'sbecause I had already had that
flight booked that we were ableto have the option to get on
(32:16):
this humanitarian.
It was crazy.
So we were like, well, we hadto try and go back to get more
of our stuff because we'releaving and we're not coming
back.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
So we ended up hiking back and there was actually a
bunch of people like helping inbigger vehicles.
There were people like intrucks and stuff like helping
drive through.
The water had gone down alittle bit now because we were
there for a few days, and sopeople were like driving people
as close as we could get, butour street was still flooded.
So we were able to go back andget some more stuff, pack some
(32:47):
stuff up and get back, and thenfrom the hotel we could actually
drive, and so it was so nuts.
I remember we got to the, wemade it to the airport and
everybody's there had beenpeople like camping out there,
like they're trying to get onplanes, trying to get off the
island.
I don't know how long they hadbeen there.
(33:09):
You know, and everybody.
I can understand a little bitof Spanish, but when you're in
that kind of situation too andit's hectic, I'm like okay, I
don't, I don't understand thispoint.
And so I ended up.
Well, we left the car.
First of all, we left our carjust outside the airport because
we're like what are?
Speaker 1 (33:29):
we going to do?
It was pure chaos.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Right, yeah, and so we grabbed everything that we
could, went in.
I just showed somebody thisnumber that they had given us
and they were like, oh yeah, go.
I got to go over that way, liketo this counter.
So I showed them it and I'mlike I don't know what's going
to happen, Like what is this?
We get there and the person atthe counter and this was
(33:51):
Southwest shout out to Southwest, like they were the only people
coming down at this time.
That's crazy.
And she literally asked us.
She's like where to when do youguys want to go?
And I'm like yeah, and I'm likewhat do you mean?
She was handwriting boardingpasses and I was like wait, we
can go anywhere.
So for a second I'm like shouldwe go to like Fiji or something
(34:16):
, I don't know?
Like I'm not going to lie, thatcrossed my mind.
I'm like we can go anywhereright now and but I'm like, all
right, I had this plan, thistrip planned in Denver already.
Let's just, let's go to Denver.
And I had family there too,gotcha.
So that's how we ended up.
And they asked us they werelike how many bags do you have?
And we had like we had like sixbags and they're like okay,
(34:38):
cool, we got.
You put them on.
Nothing was you know, all free.
They just a humanitarian flight,and so I remember getting on
the plane there were, I think Icounted 19 wheelchairs boarding
the plane because all of theolder people who needed medical
(34:59):
supplies that weren't able toget it they were the first ones
you know off, but it was likecrazy.
So we ended up going to Denverstaying with my cousins, and
then I ended up living there forthree years.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Yeah, did you guys just stay.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
From that trip.
You just never left.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Oh yeah, he's still living in Denver, yeah, so we'll
still like reminisce about thehurricanes every now and then,
but and you did.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
You coach there, I did.
What did you do that for years?
I did.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Yeah, so when when I first moved down there, I knew
front range, so I had a coupleof connections with the front
range volleyball club down thereand so I started coaching there
.
And then I actually I was likewhen we got our own place I was
like, okay, I need another jobhere other than this.
So I actually started workingfor enterprise and out at DIA.
(35:49):
Man, that's a, that's a grind,that's a job Like especially had
an airport like that.
So I did that for a while You'reoutside.
Oh my God, in the wintertimethere it was rough.
Like I'm not going to lie, theyrun you into the ground.
And so I was like, okay, I'mkind of over this.
So I had a, a staffing company,actually reach.
(36:10):
I think they reached out.
I don't know how the connectionhappened.
I think it was throughvolleyball.
I actually had a connectionwith somebody who worked for
this company and they recruitedme over.
So I switched and then I didstaffing for a little bit for
this company called Ronstad, soit was in the tech center.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
So this was me and Jay have now broke up, I have my
own place, but you know, we'restill good, and so I did that
for probably like a year and ahalf, and then still coaching on
top of that.
And Denver has a really bigit's a huge community of people
that play Sam volleyball yearround and it's competitive.
(36:51):
So they have two big spotswhere they have indoor courts as
well, and so you can you canplay year round, so they have
outdoor indoor, so it's so muchfun.
And then in the summer timesthey'll do mountain tournaments.
So, like every summer I'mplaying in Breckenridge and
Aspen Stevo, oh, and like it'sjust, it's so much fun, it's
(37:11):
good volleyball, so I loved it.
I still miss that all the time.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
So this is after your knee injury.
You can still play Sam.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I can do Sam.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Yep, just cause not enough, not as much jumping.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Yeah, it's the wool, it's the softness too, yeah,
like the court, it's just allthat pounding.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Right.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Yeah, so I can still do Sam.
Yeah, yeah, so you stayed there,for I stayed there until, yeah,
so I ended up moving back toLincoln in 2020 and that's when
I got into real estate.
So I was like you know,pandemic hit, need a little
change, you know.
So I came back here and I endedup getting my license for real
(37:53):
estate, which I, which I love.
It's so much fun, it is reallycompetitive and it is really
tough, especially being new.
But I was like I know Lincoln,you know, I have, I know people
here, like I have enoughconnection still, like we can
work this out.
So it, I loved it and so it, Istarted out pretty good.
(38:14):
And then, you know, you gothrough your ebbs and flows and
it's, that's how it is at themarket and everything.
So from there I was like I kindof need, like you know,
something else you know in themeantime.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
So I applied it Lulu lemon, and so I started working
there part time on top of doingreal estate as well, so I was
only there, like two days a weekor so.
Real estate was still my mainthing, and then I did this for
about on top of coaching too, Idid coach a little bit of club
too.
And then it was tricky withreal estate though and coaching
(38:49):
club, because so much happens inthe evenings and your weekends
and I'm like the traveling andwith club I'm like I need to be
here on my weekends, and so Ikind of stopped coaching because
of that.
And then Lulu lemon about ayear into it, they opened three
new positions, so they kind ofrestructured the management
(39:12):
basically, and so I applied forthe community specialist
position and it.
I ended up getting that one,and so I'm now full time there
and it and I love it.
Yeah, thank you, it's.
It's a lot of fun, and so I wasdoing some events, um so like,
for example, we have one comingup or teamed up with fleet feet.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Um, and they're a running shoe store, yep, and so
we have a fun like Halloween runwe're doing this Sunday
actually, so they'll be there,cafe Botanico will be there and
everybody like dresses up incostumes and then run like a
mile and a half.
And then we'll do like aprivate shop event.
So I get to do stuff like that,Um first supporting the good
life havesy, I'm running it.
(39:58):
You'll, you'll see us.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
We have a tiered line .
Speaker 3 (40:02):
We're, we're close to the finish.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
That's awesome.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Slash, not looking forward toit.
Yeah, I signed up a year agoand kind of remembered like a
month ago.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
So you won't catch me running, but at least distance,
I'll see you there.
Yeah, you'll, you'll see us,yes.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
We're going to be Barbie themed.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So silly question.
So you're going to be BarbieJohnson, edie at all through
that world?
Through Lulu lemon or sheopened up boutique store at some
point and I thought she wasselling Lulu lemon.
I could be completely incorrect.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
You could be completely right though, cause
there's um.
We do have strategic partners,so I know, like some orange
theory um body fit training,they do sell our stuff in the
stores.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Yeah, yeah, maybe we built her house.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Oh, that's awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Well, you have a super cool story, so now you're
not.
You're not a club coaching.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
So I'm actually I'm going to get back into like a
just a fun team.
So I'll be back with VCN, whichis Maggie's club, and so I'm
going to do her fall league.
So it'll be twice a week in theevenings.
No travel, it's cause I'm likeit's fun to get back in the gym,
you know.
So I'll have like seventh,eighth graders, yeah.
Yeah so it'll be good.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
The reasons that you just talk about are the reasons
that I have not got back intowrestling yet is cause I call
Turkey.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
And I fear that if I get back into it and put the
shoes on, I you know, I justhave so much going on.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
That's fair.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
And injuries and wanting to get back into it and
wrestle.
I just don't know if it's asmart idea.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I start coaching in December, so I'll have to be
posted if I really get draggedback in so kind of a funny story
.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
I don't know if you've you heard or not, but I
got my real estate license twoweeks ago.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
I did, actually it will, because aren't you with
Remax?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
I saw your little shout out email, yeah, yeah, so
congrats you know it's been along time coming.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
I should have done it a long time ago, Because we
just you know we just yeah, youbrought it to us so much in
custom home building so, butthat's just why I got it Just to
not to get into the full realestate world.
Yeah, to do the Murray productand represent that product.
But yeah, so how did you takethe studying and the test and
everything?
Was it good hard?
So many differences, yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
The study was fine, I would say so getting a feel for
the test was the biggest thingfor me.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
Like so I failed it my first time and I'm like okay,
now I know what I'm gettinginto.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:34):
And then I passed the national my second time, and so
then I just had to go back andpass the state.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
But it is, it is tricky, yeah, yeah, just taking
that test.
Speaker 2 (42:44):
That's what I said.
There were some questions.
I I took the VAN Ed study.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Of course, and there were some questions on there
that I just I had no clue about.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
Like the ones that I knew.
I knew, yes, the ones that theyasked, that I had never read
any relevant informationregarding that.
It was.
It's kind of dishearteningbecause I'm like man, I studied
the shit out of this materialand took the test multiple times
.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
And I have no clue what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Yes, so I remember that.
I'm like I don't.
I didn't see any of this.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Like in the studies.
Yeah, exactly In the 66 orwhatever hours of studies that
you have to do.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Yeah.
So now that you're full time,lululemon, are you still
practicing your real estate?
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So I kept my license, but I'm in a.
I moved it into a referralstate now.
So I don't have the feesbecause I'm just, I'm not exact,
I'm full time you know withLululemon so.
But I did want to hang on to itat least, and so I can still
refer people to agents.
So I had a couple of goodagents I know.
(43:45):
That's awesome, I got anotherone, and so I can do it that way
, and then having it in thereferral state, if I do move
somewhere, I can still pick itback up.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
If.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
I want to get back into it.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah, well, that's awesome.
Yeah, glad to hear that Cause.
Yeah, I'm only two weeks in butit's been a hectic.
You know the right when you getlicense, they send you so much
stuff you don't even know how tomake heads or tails of it.
Yeah.
And then you have the MLS andthe CenturyLink and then the
training you have to do for theMLS and the CenturyLink, and
then your remax training and thesummit, or whatever they call
(44:21):
it, coming up.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
And it's just all the fees the national, the state,
nar, the Lincoln real estate.
It's overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
It is overwhelming.
Yeah Well, you're in a goodbrokerage.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Good.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
A lot of good people there, awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
So how long have you had your real estate license?
Speaker 3 (44:41):
I was.
I did it for about two years.
I want to say Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Cause I remember when we were hosting the I think we
was a parade house on on TrayleeRoad, yeah and you walked in
and I was like I really I didn'tknow her, and then you were a
realtor and I was like yeah,yeah, exactly.
That's the first time Irealized you were a realtor.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
Yeah, that was what a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, traylee, that would.
Yeah, that would have been theone at the at the end of the
road.
So yeah, yep, two and a halfyears ago, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yep,
but that's awesome.
So so we'll talk about yourreferrals later.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
Yeah, I got you yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
But any final thoughts, anything you'd like to
say, any funny stories?
Not about me, of course.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
Oh, I might.
I might have to think aboutthat one, so not off the top of
my head, awesome, but this hasbeen fun.
Speaker 2 (45:34):
Yeah, I really appreciate it.
I know you've been traveling, Iknow you're busy.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
But I appreciate it.
We will see you at the GoodLife, haftie.
If you make it to the finishline, I'll come over and say I
can help carry me across.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Yes, I don't worry, I'll help you over that line.
Speaker 2 (45:47):
Awesome.
Well, I thank you.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
Thank you for your time, thank you.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
But thanks everybody for joining us on this episode
of Stay Modern with Murray andStay Tune for more exciting
episodes.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
If you have questions or topics you'd like us to
discuss, you can email them toinfoatmurraycustomhomescom.
If you like this episode, besure to subscribe to Stay Modern
with Murray on Avalon's Spotify, or check back on our website
and social media regularly forthe latest episodes.
Welcome to another episode of Stay Modern with
Murray, brought to you by MurrayCustom Pollers, where we build
your dream home together.
Now sit back, buckle up andenjoy the ride with your host,
matt Murray.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good afternoon everyone, and thank you for
joining us on this episode ofStay Modern with Murray.
Today, our special guest isformer Husker volleyball player,
Tara Mueller.
Tara, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yeah, thanks for having me, I know we had to
reschedule this weird.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Usually we do these on Fridays.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
More relaxed.
Yeah, but I know that you saidyou just got back from traveling
.
Yeah, so did I.
We went to the.
We had our GAF shinglemanufacturer.
They have annually.
They take us to a chief'stailgate Cool, it's like a VIP
tailgate game, everything.
Yeah, it's a Sunday night game,but it's a whole weekend deal.
So I'm also a little exhausted.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah, I feel you yeah .
Speaker 2 (00:51):
But no, tell us a little bit about it.
So we were just talking.
So I wrestled at the universityfrom 0207 and then co-chair for
a few years, and you were 07 to.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I was 07 to 10.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It was my senior year .
That's a little bit of overlap,but yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, a little bit, both Husker athletes.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
So tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Yeah, so I grew up in Scottsdale, arizona and I was
just saying we were talking alittle bit.
I got into volleyball when Iwas 11.
My neighbors who we moved intonext door they had a super
athletic family and their kidswe were the same age and their
twins were going to thisvolleyball tryout.
(01:29):
I'm like what's volleyball?
I don't know what this is.
So they're like Tara's tall,she should try this.
So my dad brings me on thistryout.
I show up not even knowing whatthis court is or what I'm
supposed to do, so I hated it.
I was like this game sucks justbecause I was terrible at it.
And my dad noticed all thesegirls they had us diving on the
(01:53):
ground.
They're tossing balls, thesegirls are diving.
I didn't come in with knee pads, I didn't know you needed knee
pads.
So my dad literally leaves inthe middle of the tryout, goes
to, I think, a gas station orwhatever convenient store or
something goes by, comes backwith these blue knee pads I
think they were like forconstruction or something.
I'm not sure, but that was myfirst pair.
So I made it through the tryoutand my friends, they ended up
(02:19):
making the 12s because they doit like by age.
So they made the 12 ones teamand I made the 12 twos.
So I'm like all right, well,this sucks, like I'm not playing
with my friends.
But my dad's like all right,just try it.
If you don't like it after alittle bit, like you don't have
to do it.
So I'm like okay.
So I obviously stuck it outthrough that season.
And then my friends, the nextyear they made the 13 ones team
(02:43):
in the club and I made the 14ones.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Yeah, so I guess I picked it up pretty quick, yeah,
and I was like all right, I canget down with this game Like
this is cool.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
That was like the start of all of that.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
So were you playing other sports.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
Yeah, I mean, and this was when I was younger, so
I mean I did soccer andbasketball and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Were you athletic in those other sports?
Speaker 3 (03:07):
I was a little bit of a Bambi on ice, but I grew into
it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, I was in high school I still well, I think my
freshman year nope, not highschool.
Middle school I did basketballand then when I got to high
school, I did track, I did highjump and then recruiting just
started to get so heavy withvolleyball.
It was like you're really goodat this, like you should
probably pick a sport.
So that's when I switched overto just volleyball.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
So the reason I asked that is I'm dealing with that
stuff, shit right now.
He's only nine, you're gonna be10.
And I have heard horror stories, but I was always the advocate
for multiple sports, multi-sportathletes and starting young and
letting them enjoy it.
But multiple questions for you.
But do you think in this dayand age somebody could start at
(04:00):
11 years old with never havingplayed a sport and make it?
Speaker 3 (04:04):
I think I'm with you on doing multiple sports and
just being an athlete, but it'sso crazy with how young kids are
getting recruited now and howthat process starts so young
Like.
I feel like kids are almostfeeling funneled into a sport
(04:24):
and I get it with how bigrecruiting is.
So I think that at least untilhigh school, multiple sports
play some sports.
Yeah, do it all.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So what I'm nervous about and I never thought about
this until I got him into sportsis positions.
You know because I justwrestled.
If you get out there and youbeat your person, you're on the
team.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
But you know he's only nine and he joined a team
this year that he wasn't on theyear before and they'd already
had the same kids on the teamfor three to four years and so
he struggled being able to playthe position he wanted to play
because they already had theirchosen players for that position
.
So he got stuck playing someother positions.
And then now football.
(05:06):
Luckily we weren't gonna puthim in tackle football but we
did, and thank God we didbecause he wants to be
quarterback and he luckily justthey just kind of like take
numbers out of a hat to playquarterback.
But you play in the sameorganization up until middle
school, I think, and I can tellthat they pretty much take you
from your first year until yourlast year playing the same
(05:28):
position.
So if you don't get in there ata young age, you already have
kind of lost a position that youwant to play.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yes.
So I agree with you.
I do think like once you getinto a position, I feel like,
especially in volleyball, youcan kind of tell the way
somebody moves and size andheight, all this stuff kind of
what they look like or whatposition they should play or
could play.
And then you get put into thatposition.
(05:58):
But I mean for me I don't knowif you know this, but so I was
an outside hitter and I did USAlike junior national team all
that training stuff growing up.
And I was this was my junioryear in high school and I'd been
playing outside and at thetryout the coach brought me over
(06:19):
.
He was like we were going toThailand for the world
championships and he actuallyasked me.
He was like so we want you onthe team.
Do you want to be a part timeoutside hitter or full time
libero?
Speaker 1 (06:31):
And I'm like full time bro.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Let's go Like I mean, I'm good at hitting and it's
fun, but defense and justpicking up balls I love that.
So I loved that opportunity,but that was the only time I
really got to play that otherposition.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Do you like it?
Speaker 3 (06:46):
Oh, I love it yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
I've done that.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
I would say now I can't jump anymore.
So, yes, just because of myknee, but I did enjoy hitting.
So I think that I would havemissed that piece of it, but I
think playing that otherposition for that time was so
much fun.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Right.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
And that's the same thing like with I love beach
volleyball and so I kind of getin that libero defensive mindset
because there's so much courtto cover, so I can get back in
and just dig balls, read andthey're still hitting.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
So are you still playing?
We'll get into that.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, we can get in that.
Not really anymore, but when Ilived in Colorado I still I
played a bunch of doubles allthe time.
Yeah, I have.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
It's so unique.
I never think I realized howmuch pressure there was going to
be.
Being a parent, I truly feellike.
So.
I have one son and I truly feellike I have a gifted son and
he's got a lot of the sameattributes even more athletic
ability than I did.
He's taller, he's going to be abig boy and trying to navigate,
(07:53):
what you like.
My dad was my coach in everysport, so if I wanted to play,
it was like you know, I wasgoing to start.
I was really dedicated, I wasreally good athlete.
But you know, from a young ageI personally and myself chose
wrestling.
I gave it as my year roundsport and then I just played the
other sports because I wantedto, but I always had my one
chosen sport.
With him, every sports isfavorite sport and we're at nine
(08:15):
years old and he's alreadyoverlapping all three sports
year round.
Basically, I mean, it's alreadythat serious.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
It's crazy, but he's nine Like I love that.
He still loves all of them.
They're all his favorites.
I think that's awesome.
Yeah, nine years old it is.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
But it's, you can already start to see the kids
that are maybe starting to focuson one or two sports.
Yeah, they're starting to maybeexcel a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
He's really good at all three sports, but if he
continues playing all threesports at this level, he's
either going to get burned outor he's not going to excel at
the sport that he ends upchoosing.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And it's already to the point where it's like you
got to choose, but he's onlydoing three.
He doesn't wrestle because hedoesn't have time for it.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah so.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
I wrestled and he doesn't wrestle and I'm not
going to force him to.
Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
But it's super tough that the sports are starting to
overlap more and more and more.
Uh-huh.
The last month he's been doingthree sports.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Yes, and even for me coaching club, um, when I've
been back here, I coach for VCNand um the.
This was a couple of years.
I coached the 17s team, andthese girls are they're 17 years
old, Like you're.
Some of them are committed toplay volleyball in college, but
they come from I don't knowwhere you live, but a lot of
(09:29):
them come from small towns andthey kind of have to play all
the other sports too, and thenthey're late to practice or
they're missing things, and so,as a coach too, I'm like, yeah,
you, I need you on the court,but like this girl is here every
day all practice, you know,like that's, I don't know, it's
interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Yep, you know it is tough.
No last comment, then we'll getoff.
They promote multiple sportathletes.
They put it in their literatureand they do promote it, but,
like you said, if you miss adamn practice you're punched for
it.
Yes, and that is his other mainsport that's in season.
So I thought we were promotingmultiple sport athletes.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
I know, I know it's kind of catch 22.
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Yeah, no, I know that you were an impressive
volleyball player.
We're actually talking aboutsome of the post career sand
volleyball events that we playedin that, whenever you showed up
, it was literally like TaylorSwift at a cheese game.
I promise you it was like dude.
You know, terramular is hereNow tell us about your
collegiate volleyball career,and even in high school, if you
(10:34):
were.
Sounds like you were thatimpressive in high school, so um
, well, so I played for DesertMountain.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
Well, that's uh was my high school, and so I was my
junior year.
We won state junior senior yearback to back, and so I was
Arizona player of the year myjunior year.
And then, um, so that summerwas when we ended up going to.
No, this was before Thailand.
Thailand was my senior year, somy junior year was a
championship.
So the summer after my schoolseason, and I ended up breaking
(11:04):
my wrist and so I got sent home.
So what am I going to do?
They don't need you, you know.
And so I missed part of mysenior school season.
Oh, well.
And we still came back in onestate and you know, come on,
like I missed too many games,that I wasn't player.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Oh man.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
I'm just like but it's all good, but literally
they were like you didn't playin enough games to be this.
That sucks and I'm like allright, whatever.
But so I had an awesome highschool career too.
We won our first statechampionship for our school.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
That was really cool.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Yes, yeah, and then college.
So my freshman year, that waswhen um our seniors were Sarah
Pavan, christina Hotelling,tracy Stahls and Maggie Griffin.
Yep, like are you kidding me?
I think two of those werenational players of the year,
all of them, all American.
You know like it's just likeyou know same.
(12:00):
So that year we ended upactually getting upset by Cal
and like the regionals, and itwas that kind of sucked.
But so 2008 was supposed to bekind of a rebuilding year for us
.
And so we who was our?
Trying to think, oh, it was theNebraska girls.
So our seniors were JordanLarson, amanda Gates and then
(12:22):
Rachel Schwartz, and so this wasthe year we ended up playing
out Washington to go to thefinal four and we lost the first
two sets, came back, won thatin five and then that year, the
final forwards in Omaha.
So we had to come back.
It was so cool.
Matched up against Penn Stateand, like same situation, lost
(12:44):
the first two sets, we're down.
We ended up coming backbattling in five, ended up
losing in five, but that waslike that was the best, best
game.
And so for my career, 2008 wasmy best season.
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And then what'd you guys do after that?
I can't remember.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
I think I was like, oh, nine in 10.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
My mom follows you guys intently, but years blend
together for me.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I know 2010.
It was kind of a repeat becausewe went to Washington again,
but we ended up losing that one,I think in four.
I don't know if we went to fivein that one, but it was kind of
like we were all replayed.
Yeah, it was kind of crazy,yeah, but I mean still awesome.
That's the same thing to go tothe final four.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
So Arizona player of the year.
What other accolades you got?
You want to?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I was an All-American that sophomore year and then
did.
I think the USA stuff isprobably the coolest on top of
any, like personal award justbeing able to play for the
junior national team.
That's awesome.
And go to Thailand and competein the world championships like
that.
I think, over the individuals.
That's one of my favorite.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
What age were you when you did that?
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Turning 17.
That's crazy.
Yeah, because I have a summerbirthday.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah , that's super cool.
So then you graduate.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
And then what?
Speaker 3 (14:06):
So I actually, after I graduated, I was like I'm so
done, I was so burned out.
I'm like, okay, I need a break.
So I actually worked at thevenue for like eight months.
Speaker 2 (14:20):
Nice.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
And if I didn't watch volleyball, if I didn't play it
, I was cool and I was happy andI was fine.
And then Sydney Andersonactually called me and she's
like hey T, there's this superfun tournament.
It's called Adult Nationals,like it's in Salt Lake City.
Do you want to play with me?
And I'm like Sid, I haven'ttouched a ball in like seven
(14:42):
months.
No, and she convinced me to go.
So Adult Nationals is like youhave your junior nationals
growing up as you play.
So it's the same thing, but alladults.
So it's a little bit wilder butit's really fun.
So you get the players thathave been playing overseas, that
are back in town, you get kidsthat just graduated.
Like it's a little bit of aparty, but it's still really
(15:02):
competitive Volleyball.
So I was like all right, sid, Ilove you, fine, I'll go.
So I got there like a few daysearly.
I'm like I need to step on thecourt.
I need some reps here, let'ssee.
I remember like putting myshoes and knee pads back on for
the first time.
I'm like, wow, this feels weird.
But it felt good.
The second I started playing.
I'm like man, I love this game.
(15:23):
Like what am I I?
Instantly I was like what am Idoing?
And this is I'm so passionateabout this game.
So it was actually at thattournament I met an agent who
represented some of the playerswho were back from overseas.
So I met him and was talking tohim and it kind of went from
there Like I paired up with himand that was the start of my
(15:47):
five year career overseas.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
Oh, wow.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So how did you guys do in that tournament?
Had a lot of fun.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Yes, yes, we had a lot of fun, yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So then you went.
So he was your agent.
He represented you, yes.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
Yeah, so he works with a company and so you sign a
contract with them and then hebasically this is.
You know, I'm new to the wholeoverseas thing.
So I'm like, all right, youtell me what, what, what.
Yeah, how does this work, youknow?
And so he uses his contacts andhe's like, all right, this team
needs an outside hitter in thiscountry.
They need an outside.
(16:22):
Here's what they can offer.
Here's what you can compare andtake.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Right.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
So I ended up going to Switzerland my first year.
Oh wow, and it was.
It was actually really goodbecause Switzerland is I love
Switzerland.
It's a beautiful country,people are amazing, but the
volleyball is like kind ofaverage.
They have a couple of reallygood teams and then the rest are
like pretty average Gotcha.
So for me like getting backinto it.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
I was like yeah, this is a good warm up.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Yeah, exactly.
So I ended up my first seasonover there.
Believe it or not, I had neversprained an ankle playing
volleyball my entire career,until my first year overseas.
So, and it was our second gamewe were we were playing the
number one team, zurich Valero,who's like they have the most
(17:11):
money, so they get the bestplayers.
Basically is how it works.
And we took them to five and itwas like 10, eight or something
in the fifth and I hit thiswrist away shot and I just
landed on the blocker on theother side and so that sucked
and hurt because I'd never doneit before.
So I was out for a little bitand I just I loved my team so
(17:35):
much and they took care of me soI ended up resigning with them
for the next year.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So went back for two years with that team.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Gotcha yeah.
So you did two years inSwitzerland.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Yep.
And then after that I was like,okay, I kind of got my groove
back.
I want to play at a higherlevel now.
So that's when my third seasonI ended up going to France.
Speaker 2 (17:54):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
So they're a little bit, a little bit stronger.
So that was my also my longestseason.
So Switzerland was eight monthslong, okay, and France was 10.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
A 10 month long season.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yes, like you're, you're there for 10 months.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
Yeah, so they get you out there.
You do pre-seasons like twomonths, but you got to be out
there or a month and a half orsomething.
And it's a grind when you'reover there because, like, in,
every country is different.
So, like Switzerland, we hadtwo days every single day.
I mean, that's all you're doing, that's you're getting paid to
do this, right.
So the first practice would belike a serve and pass, kind of
(18:29):
defense, right.
And then the second one wouldbe like the whole teams in were
scrimmaging and were playing,but this is every day.
And then France, we had lifting.
Well, you have lifting also,but France, we would have
lifting.
And then we had one longpractice.
It was 11 to four every day.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
Five hours long.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
And the weirdest thing yes, the weirdest thing.
So like you have to adjust tothese schedules and different
routines and it was so hard, thefirst practice in France.
We were getting after it forlike two and a half hours, I
want to say I think it wasliterally like 130, and our
coach was like all right, lunchbreak.
(19:12):
And I'm like lunch break, I'mwarm.
Like what do you mean?
So everybody literally likegets in the stands, takes a 45
minute lunch and then it's likeall right, back on the court.
All right, we're doing six onsix.
I'm like I'm sorry, I'm icecold.
Now what, that's weird.
And then after that we wouldhave lifting.
(19:32):
So it's like, yeah, holy cow,but you do that for a couple of
months and you get used to theroutine, but it's so different
yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
So in your two months off did you come back to the
States?
Yep.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yep.
So when I was playing overseas,I'd actually come back to
Lincoln and Maggie Griffin isone of my best friends and so I
would stay with Maggie for liketwo months and we would just
like vibe out.
I'd still, I'd practice, likewith her we'd play Sam
volleyball.
She had her club going on so Icould still like get in the gym,
but it was just like.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
What two months of the season did you have off?
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I would usually get done March, so it'd be like
April, May, June it was, so I'dbe back.
Kind of summer-ish Kind ofsummer-ish.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, exactly, that's good.
Yeah, at least you didn't haveto come back in the dead of
winter or something like that.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Oh no, I might not have come back here.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
That was not the case .
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
So I might have gone back to Arizona.
So year three was France.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
So year three was France Yep, and then after that
I did Puerto Rico for two years.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Okay, and how is Puerto Rico compared to my
favorite?
I?
Speaker 3 (20:35):
love it.
I just I love the culture, Ilove the people, I love the
beach, but they're also theculture.
Translate onto the court, likethey're very intense, very fiery
, and I love that.
So they were so much fun toplay with and it was competitive
volleyball.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Right.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And I think the thing with Puerto Rico too is we're
so close.
So I'll back up just a littlebit After my first season in
Switzerland we ended in Marchand the Puerto Rican season ends
later- Okay.
So they had actually firedsomebody just before playoffs
and ended up picking me up, ohshit, so I went down there.
I literally flew home fromSwitzerland, flipped my suitcase
(21:17):
, flew down the next day.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Oh, my gosh.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
Had to play in a match that night with my new
team and I'm, like you know, jetlag.
I'm tired, I'm dehydrated and Ijust remember like they run a
different tempo.
I'm connecting with a newsetter and I remember hearing
like the owner in the stand andhe's like Come on, you know when
they're speaking English,they're talking to you, so I'm
like, all right, I got this.
(21:41):
But so that was my first tasteof Puerto Rico.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And then back to Switzerland, france, and then
after that I was like I got toget back down to Puerto Rico.
So it it's just, I love it downthere and it's super
competitive and my last seasonwe ended up going to the finals.
Oh, wow.
So that's even more fun.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
Yeah, yeah.
So then you get to the end ofyear five, and what made you
stop?
Speaker 3 (22:06):
So I, when I was 15, I had surgery on my knee.
I tore my meniscus.
Not a big deal, but theycouldn't repair it at the time,
so they just cut out the tornpiece.
So easy recovery, easy to keepplaying on when you're 15
through 23 years old you knowlike it was fine.
(22:27):
But even my last two seasons Istarted getting bone contusions,
like I would jump and land andlike I could literally feel it's
my medial meniscus, so thatinside part I could literally
feel my bones crashing to eachother.
And so my last season I got onereally bad and I had to sit out
for a little bit and because ifyou keep playing on that like
(22:49):
you can, it can fracture alldifferent directions, so took
time off and then I was likethis hurts too bad, like and I'm
kind of small, believe it ornot like for a volleyball player
right now, so I have to rely onmy jumping Like I'm.
I was a really good jumper andI just couldn't get my
(23:10):
explosiveness like pushing offof that anymore, so I was like
never thought I'd be the player.
I was always really healthy,really strong.
Never thought I'd be the playerto end a career because of an
injury.
That sucks, but yeah, so that'swhy I stopped.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
And then.
So then you came back to theStates.
How did you end up in Lincoln?
Speaker 3 (23:29):
Yeah, so actually from my last season in Puerto
Rico, I ended up.
I was dating a guy at the timedown there and loved it so much
we were living there, so he wasAmerican, but he was living
there, working there, gotcha,and so it was September of 2017,
(23:50):
and then that's when thehurricanes hit.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I was going to ask you about that.
Speaker 3 (23:54):
That leads into us going to Colorado and then
coming back here.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
So you guys had to get out of there because of the
hurricane.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
Yeah, so we were down there and Irma hit end of
September and Irma was likehyped up to be don't get me
wrong, it was a huge hurricane.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Right.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
But it was just kind of going over the north part of
the island and it was a lot ofwind.
There was still a ton ofdestruction, yep.
But so we went down south toPonce, so we were able to get
away at least from that one, andthen coming back up to San Juan
.
When we got back it was like, Imean, trees the size of this
(24:34):
room uprooted, holy cow.
I'd never even like I havepictures standing next to a tree
and look the entire roots of itor as tall as me, not even
joking.
I don't know how that happens.
It's crazy.
Yeah, so, irma.
A week later, maria hit andMaria brought the water, which
(24:56):
is scary, right and so, and thiswas, I don't know.
I don't know why these stormshave to start at night too, like
it's literally like 10 pm andMaria was going across the
entire island.
There was nowhere you could getaway from it, so it was just
like hunger down and hopefullyhaving enough food and water,
because you're not getting it.
(25:17):
Like no power, no running water.
Holy cow.
And so you better have enoughRight.
And you live on an island, so,like I remember going to the
store trying to find water tostock up and there's shelves are
empty, so I ended up buying abunch of those like Gallon
(25:37):
Arizona ice teas.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (25:39):
Dumping them out, filling them with water before
the water shut off.
So that was like our supplythat would be scary.
Yeah, so that one.
It was like our front door wasa double door and so with every
gust, like water would come in.
So we're like, all right, thisone's a little more serious than
(26:01):
Irma.
So we're like literally likestarted putting towels
underneath the door.
We're trying to like squeegeeit.
It couldn't like the water wasjust coming in Right.
And so, after the storm ended,literally the next night, our
place was.
There was a kind of a connectedlike upstairs, but the people
(26:23):
who owned it, it was an Airbnb.
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Gotcha.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
And so it had a punch code so we were able to get out
of our flooded place and go upthere at least for a couple days
, to like we honestly we werelike scavenging for supply, like
maybe there's food in here,maybe there's a water gun here,
you know, and like we have to.
Kind of we got a game plan nowand so, but it was like after
(26:45):
the storm ended, the water inthe street kept rising I don't
know it was insane and so thewater kept getting higher and
we're like all right, we gottamake moves here.
And yeah, and so we stayed upthere for I think, three days
and then we were like, all right, we need to get to.
(27:07):
So there's an area on West SanJuan is called Tendado and
that's where all the nice hotelsand stuff are, and we knew this
one, the Vanderbilt cause.
Keep in mind, there's nocommunication here, like no cell
phones.
There's no way to get in touchwith anyone, like- All the stuff
you don't think about.
All the stuff you don't thinkabout.
Yeah, so it's literally whatyou can see in front of you and
(27:28):
hear.
Because those three days afterwe started to, you could hear
the looting, you could hear thegunfire, like you.
And so we're like, okay, people, we started to see them coming
up and down our street.
So we were like, okay, if wecan get to the Vanderbilt, we
know there's a FEMA shelterthere at least.
So we literally it was likegoing into game day, like it was
(27:50):
like a movie.
Oh, for real.
And we, I remember packing mybackpack and cause that's all I
could carry at the time, causethe water was so high.
And I remember like having thethought I'm like, if this is all
I can take out with me, this isall I have right now, and I'll
(28:11):
I can still feel the adrenaline,like when we were going out
there, cause we're like, okay,we're going to go to the beach
the beach was north of us we'renot going inland, cause inland
was where all the crazy stuffwas happening.
We didn't know it was on thebeach, but we're like that
sounds better than that, way,you know.
So we get out on our street andI just I remember thinking I'm
(28:35):
like, do not cut yourself, causethere's like, oh my God, the
smell of the water too.
It was literally like sewagejust smell and all of the stuff
there was there was metal, therewere trees, there was shoes,
bucket, like whatever you canthink of just floating out there
(28:55):
.
And I just remember that I'mlike do not cut yourself, cause
we are not getting help rightnow and you're going to get an
infection, you know.
And so we got out on the streetwe're a dog at the time too, he
had a husky, so literally he'scarrying her like, oh, like
literally, cause we're like shecan't even walk right now.
(29:18):
So we get to the sand and we'relike all right, it's like two
miles down.
And I remember walking pastthis restaurant, when you have
those on the beach that have thesteps down to the sand, the
steps were almost as high as me,cause the water had just washed
off all the sand, like thebottom cement step was just like
(29:40):
hovering in the air, holy cow.
It was.
It was insane.
So we ended up making it there.
It was still sketchy, likepeople are.
People are looking at you likeeverybody's kind of unsure, like
what's going on and we're likeI don't know, like I don't trust
anyone right now you know, sowe made it to the hotel could
(30:02):
see all the FEMA people.
We actually went to the frontdesk and we were like we just
hiked out here from Ocean Parkand we were like can you guys,
can you help us?
You know it all.
And they were like we can getyou into a room if you want and
they're running on generators atthis time.
Well, half of the hotel was.
And this is the Vanderbilt's, avery nice hotel, and they even
(30:26):
felt bad.
Like the manager came out andtalked to us and was like we're
so sorry we're not operating toour expectations, and we're like
are you serious?
Like you have running waterhere, Like we're good, you know.
So we ended up getting into aroom best shower I've ever taken
in my entire life.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
So how far was it?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (30:46):
It was about two and a half miles.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
And how deep water.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
It was waist deep.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Oh, my God.
Speaker 3 (30:52):
For about not the entire way, but it was waist
deep for about three blocks tillwe got to the beach.
Yeah, yeah, so that's like aslow walk through that too, you
know, carrying a dog.
Carrying a dog, yeah, like, ohmy God.
So they had some food.
They did like they catered infood and best tacos I ever ate
(31:15):
in my life, the shower I've everhad.
So, from this, jay's birthdayis the end of September, so I
already had a trip planned fromlike a month ago to go to
Colorado to do this stuff withhim.
And I have some family downthere too.
I have cousins that live there,and so I get I don't know how,
(31:38):
but I got somehow got a text onmy phone and it was like your
flight's been canceled and I'mlike, oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
That's a match.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
Yeah, imagine exactly .
But they were like if you canbe at the airport tomorrow
morning, we can get you on ahumanitarian flight.
Speaker 1 (31:53):
Holy cow.
Speaker 3 (31:54):
And they gave you a number code.
It wasn't like a normal letternumber confirmation code, it was
just numbers.
There was like seven numbersand we're like we'll be there.
I don't care how we've got toget there, but we will find a
way to get to the airport.
So, and it was I swear it'sbecause I had already had that
flight booked that we were ableto have the option to get on
(32:16):
this humanitarian.
It was crazy.
So we were like, well, we hadto try and go back to get more
of our stuff because we'releaving and we're not coming
back.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
Right.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
So we ended up hiking back and there was actually a
bunch of people like helping inbigger vehicles.
There were people like intrucks and stuff like helping
drive through.
The water had gone down alittle bit now because we were
there for a few days, and sopeople were like driving people
as close as we could get, butour street was still flooded.
So we were able to go back andget some more stuff, pack some
(32:47):
stuff up and get back, and thenfrom the hotel we could actually
drive, and so it was so nuts.
I remember we got to the, wemade it to the airport and
everybody's there had beenpeople like camping out there,
like they're trying to get onplanes, trying to get off the
island.
I don't know how long they hadbeen there.
(33:09):
You know, and everybody.
I can understand a little bitof Spanish, but when you're in
that kind of situation too andit's hectic, I'm like okay, I
don't, I don't understand thispoint.
And so I ended up.
Well, we left the car.
First of all, we left our carjust outside the airport because
we're like what are?
Speaker 1 (33:29):
we going to do?
It was pure chaos.
Speaker 3 (33:30):
Right, yeah, and so we grabbed everything that we
could, went in.
I just showed somebody thisnumber that they had given us
and they were like, oh yeah, go.
I got to go over that way, liketo this counter.
So I showed them it and I'mlike I don't know what's going
to happen, Like what is this?
We get there and the person atthe counter and this was
(33:51):
Southwest shout out to Southwest, like they were the only people
coming down at this time.
That's crazy.
And she literally asked us.
She's like where to when do youguys want to go?
And I'm like yeah, and I'm likewhat do you mean?
She was handwriting boardingpasses and I was like wait, we
can go anywhere.
So for a second I'm like shouldwe go to like Fiji or something
(34:16):
, I don't know?
Like I'm not going to lie, thatcrossed my mind.
I'm like we can go anywhereright now and but I'm like, all
right, I had this plan, thistrip planned in Denver already.
Let's just, let's go to Denver.
And I had family there too,gotcha.
So that's how we ended up.
And they asked us they werelike how many bags do you have?
And we had like we had like sixbags and they're like okay,
(34:38):
cool, we got.
You put them on.
Nothing was you know, all free.
They just a humanitarian flight,and so I remember getting on
the plane there were, I think Icounted 19 wheelchairs boarding
the plane because all of theolder people who needed medical
(34:59):
supplies that weren't able toget it they were the first ones
you know off, but it was likecrazy.
So we ended up going to Denverstaying with my cousins, and
then I ended up living there forthree years.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
Yeah, did you guys just stay.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
From that trip.
You just never left.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Oh yeah, he's still living in Denver, yeah, so we'll
still like reminisce about thehurricanes every now and then,
but and you did.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
You coach there, I did.
What did you do that for years?
I did.
Speaker 3 (35:26):
Yeah, so when when I first moved down there, I knew
front range, so I had a coupleof connections with the front
range volleyball club down thereand so I started coaching there
.
And then I actually I was likewhen we got our own place I was
like, okay, I need another jobhere other than this.
So I actually started workingfor enterprise and out at DIA.
(35:49):
Man, that's a, that's a grind,that's a job Like especially had
an airport like that.
So I did that for a while You'reoutside.
Oh my God, in the wintertimethere it was rough.
Like I'm not going to lie, theyrun you into the ground.
And so I was like, okay, I'mkind of over this.
So I had a, a staffing company,actually reach.
(36:10):
I think they reached out.
I don't know how the connectionhappened.
I think it was throughvolleyball.
I actually had a connectionwith somebody who worked for
this company and they recruitedme over.
So I switched and then I didstaffing for a little bit for
this company called Ronstad, soit was in the tech center.
Speaker 2 (36:28):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (36:29):
So this was me and Jay have now broke up, I have my
own place, but you know, we'restill good, and so I did that
for probably like a year and ahalf, and then still coaching on
top of that.
And Denver has a really bigit's a huge community of people
that play Sam volleyball yearround and it's competitive.
(36:51):
So they have two big spotswhere they have indoor courts as
well, and so you can you canplay year round, so they have
outdoor indoor, so it's so muchfun.
And then in the summer timesthey'll do mountain tournaments.
So, like every summer I'mplaying in Breckenridge and
Aspen Stevo, oh, and like it'sjust, it's so much fun, it's
(37:11):
good volleyball, so I loved it.
I still miss that all the time.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
So this is after your knee injury.
You can still play Sam.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
I can do Sam.
Speaker 2 (37:20):
Yep, just cause not enough, not as much jumping.
Speaker 3 (37:22):
Yeah, it's the wool, it's the softness too, yeah,
like the court, it's just allthat pounding.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Right.
Speaker 3 (37:28):
Yeah, so I can still do Sam.
Yeah, yeah, so you stayed there,for I stayed there until, yeah,
so I ended up moving back toLincoln in 2020 and that's when
I got into real estate.
So I was like you know,pandemic hit, need a little
change, you know.
So I came back here and I endedup getting my license for real
(37:53):
estate, which I, which I love.
It's so much fun, it is reallycompetitive and it is really
tough, especially being new.
But I was like I know Lincoln,you know, I have, I know people
here, like I have enoughconnection still, like we can
work this out.
So it, I loved it and so it, Istarted out pretty good.
(38:14):
And then, you know, you gothrough your ebbs and flows and
it's, that's how it is at themarket and everything.
So from there I was like I kindof need, like you know,
something else you know in themeantime.
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
So I applied it Lulu lemon, and so I started working
there part time on top of doingreal estate as well, so I was
only there, like two days a weekor so.
Real estate was still my mainthing, and then I did this for
about on top of coaching too, Idid coach a little bit of club
too.
And then it was tricky withreal estate though and coaching
(38:49):
club, because so much happens inthe evenings and your weekends
and I'm like the traveling andwith club I'm like I need to be
here on my weekends, and so Ikind of stopped coaching because
of that.
And then Lulu lemon about ayear into it, they opened three
new positions, so they kind ofrestructured the management
(39:12):
basically, and so I applied forthe community specialist
position and it.
I ended up getting that one,and so I'm now full time there
and it and I love it.
Yeah, thank you, it's.
It's a lot of fun, and so I wasdoing some events, um so like,
for example, we have one comingup or teamed up with fleet feet.
Speaker 2 (39:34):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Um, and they're a running shoe store, yep, and so
we have a fun like Halloween runwe're doing this Sunday
actually, so they'll be there,cafe Botanico will be there and
everybody like dresses up incostumes and then run like a
mile and a half.
And then we'll do like aprivate shop event.
So I get to do stuff like that,Um first supporting the good
life havesy, I'm running it.
(39:58):
You'll, you'll see us.
Speaker 2 (40:00):
We have a tiered line .
Speaker 3 (40:02):
We're, we're close to the finish.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
That's awesome.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Slash, not looking forward toit.
Yeah, I signed up a year agoand kind of remembered like a
month ago.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
So you won't catch me running, but at least distance,
I'll see you there.
Yeah, you'll, you'll see us,yes.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
That's funny.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
We're going to be Barbie themed.
Speaker 2 (40:22):
So silly question.
So you're going to be BarbieJohnson, edie at all through
that world?
Through Lulu lemon or sheopened up boutique store at some
point and I thought she wasselling Lulu lemon.
I could be completely incorrect.
Speaker 3 (40:36):
You could be completely right though, cause
there's um.
We do have strategic partners,so I know, like some orange
theory um body fit training,they do sell our stuff in the
stores.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Yeah, yeah, maybe we built her house.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Oh, that's awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
Well, you have a super cool story, so now you're
not.
You're not a club coaching.
Speaker 3 (40:58):
So I'm actually I'm going to get back into like a
just a fun team.
So I'll be back with VCN, whichis Maggie's club, and so I'm
going to do her fall league.
So it'll be twice a week in theevenings.
No travel, it's cause I'm likeit's fun to get back in the gym,
you know.
So I'll have like seventh,eighth graders, yeah.
Yeah so it'll be good.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
The reasons that you just talk about are the reasons
that I have not got back intowrestling yet is cause I call
Turkey.
Speaker 3 (41:27):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
And I fear that if I get back into it and put the
shoes on, I you know, I justhave so much going on.
Speaker 3 (41:32):
That's fair.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
And injuries and wanting to get back into it and
wrestle.
I just don't know if it's asmart idea.
Speaker 3 (41:38):
I start coaching in December, so I'll have to be
posted if I really get draggedback in so kind of a funny story
.
Speaker 2 (41:44):
I don't know if you've you heard or not, but I
got my real estate license twoweeks ago.
Speaker 3 (41:48):
I did, actually it will, because aren't you with
Remax?
Speaker 2 (41:51):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
I saw your little shout out email, yeah, yeah, so
congrats you know it's been along time coming.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
I should have done it a long time ago, Because we
just you know we just yeah, youbrought it to us so much in
custom home building so, butthat's just why I got it Just to
not to get into the full realestate world.
Yeah, to do the Murray productand represent that product.
But yeah, so how did you takethe studying and the test and
everything?
Was it good hard?
So many differences, yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
The study was fine, I would say so getting a feel for
the test was the biggest thingfor me.
Speaker 2 (42:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
Like so I failed it my first time and I'm like okay,
now I know what I'm gettinginto.
Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:34):
And then I passed the national my second time, and so
then I just had to go back andpass the state.
Speaker 2 (42:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (42:40):
But it is, it is tricky, yeah, yeah, just taking
that test.
Speaker 2 (42:44):
That's what I said.
There were some questions.
I I took the VAN Ed study.
Speaker 3 (42:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Of course, and there were some questions on there
that I just I had no clue about.
Speaker 3 (42:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:53):
Like the ones that I knew.
I knew, yes, the ones that theyasked, that I had never read
any relevant informationregarding that.
It was.
It's kind of dishearteningbecause I'm like man, I studied
the shit out of this materialand took the test multiple times
.
Speaker 3 (43:06):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
And I have no clue what you're talking about.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Yes, so I remember that.
I'm like I don't.
I didn't see any of this.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (43:14):
Like in the studies.
Yeah, exactly In the 66 orwhatever hours of studies that
you have to do.
Speaker 2 (43:20):
Yeah.
So now that you're full time,lululemon, are you still
practicing your real estate?
Speaker 3 (43:25):
So I kept my license, but I'm in a.
I moved it into a referralstate now.
So I don't have the feesbecause I'm just, I'm not exact,
I'm full time you know withLululemon so.
But I did want to hang on to itat least, and so I can still
refer people to agents.
So I had a couple of goodagents I know.
(43:45):
That's awesome, I got anotherone, and so I can do it that way
, and then having it in thereferral state, if I do move
somewhere, I can still pick itback up.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
If.
Speaker 3 (43:55):
I want to get back into it.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah, well, that's awesome.
Yeah, glad to hear that Cause.
Yeah, I'm only two weeks in butit's been a hectic.
You know the right when you getlicense, they send you so much
stuff you don't even know how tomake heads or tails of it.
Yeah.
And then you have the MLS andthe CenturyLink and then the
training you have to do for theMLS and the CenturyLink, and
then your remax training and thesummit, or whatever they call
(44:21):
it, coming up.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
And it's just all the fees the national, the state,
nar, the Lincoln real estate.
It's overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (44:31):
It is overwhelming.
Yeah Well, you're in a goodbrokerage.
Speaker 2 (44:34):
Good.
Speaker 3 (44:35):
A lot of good people there, awesome yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:37):
So how long have you had your real estate license?
Speaker 3 (44:41):
I was.
I did it for about two years.
I want to say Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
Cause I remember when we were hosting the I think we
was a parade house on on TrayleeRoad, yeah and you walked in
and I was like I really I didn'tknow her, and then you were a
realtor and I was like yeah,yeah, exactly.
That's the first time Irealized you were a realtor.
Speaker 3 (45:01):
Yeah, that was what a couple of years ago.
Speaker 2 (45:05):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, traylee, that would.
Yeah, that would have been theone at the at the end of the
road.
So yeah, yep, two and a halfyears ago, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yep,
but that's awesome.
So so we'll talk about yourreferrals later.
Speaker 3 (45:19):
Yeah, I got you yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
But any final thoughts, anything you'd like to
say, any funny stories?
Not about me, of course.
Speaker 3 (45:27):
Oh, I might.
I might have to think aboutthat one, so not off the top of
my head, awesome, but this hasbeen fun.
Speaker 2 (45:34):
Yeah, I really appreciate it.
I know you've been traveling, Iknow you're busy.
Speaker 3 (45:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:38):
But I appreciate it.
We will see you at the GoodLife, haftie.
If you make it to the finishline, I'll come over and say I
can help carry me across.
Speaker 3 (45:45):
Yes, I don't worry, I'll help you over that line.
Speaker 2 (45:47):
Awesome.
Well, I thank you.
I appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
Thank you for your time, thank you.
Speaker 2 (45:51):
But thanks everybody for joining us on this episode
of Stay Modern with Murray andStay Tune for more exciting
episodes.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
If you have questions or topics you'd like us to
discuss, you can email them toinfoatmurraycustomhomescom.
If you like this episode, besure to subscribe to Stay Modern
with Murray on Avalon's Spotify, or check back on our website
and social media regularly forthe latest episodes.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.