Lakeside senior’s success follows family tradition
At Lakeside High School, the clock is ‘Tikking.’
For the past 10 years, there has been at least one Tikker – and usually more than one – enrolled at Lakeside and starring in a variety of sports. The dads, Paul and Dave, played together at Wilbur-Creston back in the 1970s, and now their kids have done the same thing in a different setting.
But when senior outside hitter Kelli Tikker graduates next spring, it truly will mark the end of an era at Lakeside, one marked by extraordinary individual and team success in their various athletic endeavors.
Lakeside volleyball coach Kara Moffatt, who teaches at the middle school, has seen all the Tikkers come through the system, and remembers each of them as very different, but similar in one way: their outstanding leadership skills.
“The girls have all made huge contributions to my program,” she said. “Katie played on three state championship teams, Karlie pretty much played wherever I needed her, and Kelli has been around the program forever. I remember that when her sisters were playing here, she was a little kid playing pepper against the wall.”
That little kid emerged as the Northeast A League’s Most Valuable Player a year ago and has made an oral commitment to play at Gonzaga University next year. As a four-year varsity player and one of only three seniors on the squad, she’s the unquestioned leader of this year’s team, which battled Colfax down to the wire before finishing second in the NEA regular season.
“Kelli’s always been a leader,” Moffatt said, “but this year she’s really stepped it up because we’re so young. She’s got the kids to where they want to play for her. They love her and want to give everything they can for her. She’s always positive and supportive.
“It’s a huge transition to go from a team that’s played together for three years to one with only four returners, but Kelli’s leadership has helped them to get better day in and day out. They follow her work ethic, and they’ve become the hardest-working group I’ve ever had.”
Tikker also plays basketball and competes in track, but volleyball is her first love—after all, her sisters and cousin Jamie all played at Lakeside.
“I’ve grown up around really good female athletes,” she said. “I love the competitive aspect of sports. I obviously like winning, but I love the intensity and adrenaline rush that goes with competing. Volleyball is my passion — I just love being out there. I’ve never had a down moment playing.”
The Colfax matches have been particularly energizing for her.
“Colfax has a great history, and sometimes it’s tough getting our girls to believe we can beat them. Either way, though, I find that the competition we have coming out of a strong league really gets us ready for state. We can contend with anybody. It’s just a matter of giving it everything and not worrying about whether somebody is supposed to be better than we are.”
As the volleyball season winds down, Kelli’s getting excited about moving ahead.
“All my sisters and cousins have made a name for themselves after high school,” she said “and I want to finish my career up successfully and do the same. I’ve tried to be a positive influence here, a good leader and role model. I hope that people feel that way about me.”