Tatum Hemenway starts her first school year strong with Sun Devil Beach Volleyball
For any incoming freshman at a college or university, move-in day can be nerve-wracking, chaotic, exciting and stressful all at the same time.
For an incoming freshman student-athlete, it can be all those things, plus that added pressure of, well, being a student-athlete. There’s the task of balancing classes and a rigorous academic schedule on top of practices, weight lifting and conditioning, matches and road trips. That’s not even including a social life, eating, sleeping and taking time out for yourself to simply relax.
But that’s the life of a Division I student-athlete. Luckily, Tatum Hemenway is prepared in the best of ways.
Although she’s a rookie on the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball team, she already has the benefit of an ASU education behind her. She has an excellent support system in her parents, Currie and Michael, as well as a wealth of resources available to her on campus. Better yet, her teammates and Coach Kristen Glattfelder have fully embraced her.
“There’s no hierarchy,” Michael, Tatum’s father, said.
“The older girls pull the younger ones in. They lead, but they don’t intimidate. It’s a culture of lifting each other up.”
The team’s immediate support was clearly evident at the Student-Athlete Welcome Event at Desert Financial Arena during the students’ first week on campus. Tatum was selected as the team’s representative for the lip-sync dance battle against the other sports on campus. The beach volleyball team’s cheers for Tatum nearly drowned out the music coming through the PA set up on the court.
“All the girls, they're just so great and they’ve been so helpful with everything,” Tatum said of her new teammates with a big smile. “They’re helping lead me through everything and they won’t let me fall behind.”
Coach Glattfelder, too, has taken the lead on welcoming Tatum. She noted that Glattfelder regularly sends advice and motivational clips to keep the newcomers grounded.
“It takes a lot of pressure off,” Tatum said.
Her parents echoed that sentiment.
“From recruiting to signing to move-in day, it’s been professional, positive and supportive,” Michael said. “There’s no big-dogging here. The culture really is like a family, a genuine family.”
Sun Devil for Life
When it comes to academics, Tatum should also have a smooth transition into college life as she pursues a degree in finance. She’s a graduate of ASU Prep Digital, which allowed her to train like a college athlete while completing her high school education online.
“She really lived like a college student for four years,” her mother, Currie, explained. “She could structure her own day, do school when it fit around training and still get ahead academically. She even finished college credits before stepping on campus.”
Michael agreed. “It gave her a head start academically and athletically. She already knew how to manage her time and balance her priorities. She’s ready.”
The pursuit of excellence
Not to say there won’t be challenges. There most certainly will be. But there’s a common thread that ties all Sun Devil student-athletes together: the pursuit of excellence.
Getting to become a Division I athlete in any sport isn’t easy. It requires a minimum of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Tatum gave up countless high school experiences like parties, trips and downtime with friends to train.
“You watch your kid miss out on things other kids get to do,” Currie said. “It’s hard. But then you see the joy she has playing the sport she loves, you realize it was all worth it.”
Michael added, “These kids give up so much to reach this level and that’s why we’re so proud. She earned this.”
For Tatum, volleyball is both a passion and a platform. She knows that professional opportunities in her sport are limited, which is why she’s already planning to fall back on her education. She’s currently pursuing a degree in finance, and there’s a possibility that she will continue her journey with law school, also at ASU.
“She’s a Sun Devil for life,” Currie said, holding back tears. “High school, college, law school, maybe even coaching here one day. It’s her home.”
The family often looks back at a photo of Tatum and Ty as little kids, posing with Sparky at a Sun Devil baseball game. Back then, it was just a fun day at the ballpark. Today, it feels prophetic.
“She set her sights on ASU when she was small,” Michael said. “And here she is.”
Jump the rope
If there’s a story that sums up Tatum’s spirit, it’s one that her father loves to tell. In elementary school, Tatum came home from a fundraiser called Jump Rope for the Heart. The more jumps a student could do, the more money they would raise for The Heart Association.
“Tatum came home and she couldn't jump rope. She couldn't even jump one time,” he explained. “She would come home every night and try to jump like 10,000 times. She would jump and jump and jump. She’d be going for hours.
Looking at Currie, remembering the moment as if it were yesterday, he added, “We're like, she's been going for four hours. She has to get it. Finally, she did.”
“Now we say, ‘just jump the rope,’” Michael said with a smile.
“It means keep going until you figure it out. That’s how she approaches everything. She doesn’t stop until she gets it.”
Full circle
With an attitude like that and the support of her teammates, Tatum Henenway is well-positioned for a successful freshman year, not only with Sun Devil Beach Volleyball, but also in the classroom and for life beyond.
And if the road ahead gets bumpy? The Hemenways already know the answer.
She’ll jump the rope.
Have a Sun Devil story to share? Fork it over to Meredith Cunningham, Digital Content Manager for sundevils.com, at mcunni43@asu.edu.