April 19, 2024

PCM’s Nearmyer signs with Grand View track

By Troy Hyde

Prairie City-Monroe senior Tatum Nearmyer signed with Grand View University’s track and field team on Tuesday evening. Joining Nearmyer for the signing were her parents (front row) Alysha Schnug and Todd Nearmyer. Back row, from left: PCM Activities Director Greg Bonnett, Grand View track and field coach Jerry Monner, PCM track and field coach Bridget Martin and PCM assistant track and field coach Laurie Wood. (Photo by)

When Tatum Nearmyer was younger, softball was her life. She even expected to play the sport collegiately.

Several years later, Nearmyer no longer plays softball. Her athletic love has changed.

Tuesday, she made sure her latest love follows her into college as she signed her letter of intent to run for the Grand View University track and field team.

“I never thought I would run track in college, but I am excited,” Nearmyer said. “I think this is truly the right decision for me. Along with being excited, I am also nervous because it’ll be quite the change, but it’s something I’m ready to take on.”

Her decision to run track came between Grand View and Buena Vista.

If she didn’t make the decision to extend her career, she may have ended up somewhere completely different.

“The first school I looked into was Simpson. I liked their campus and everything, but it just wasn’t the place for me,” Nearmyer said. “I also looked at Iowa, UNI, Iowa State and Buena Vista.

“I visited Grand View for the first time early last June and it gave me this feeling, and I knew it was the right place. I visited a second time and I attended a track and field visit day, and I just loved the atmosphere of the place.”

Another factor in choosing Grand View for Nearmyer was the location. She has younger siblings and wants to be a part of their lives as much as possible.

Nearmyer is a three-time state track qualifier for the Mustangs and will go for her fourth state berth this spring.

The best state meet finish for Nearmyer came in the 4x400-meter relay last season. She teamed with Jayci Vos, Ashley Van Gorp and Rachel Stafford to place 14th overall.

As a junior, Nearmyer joined Emily Hugen, Mackenzie Clarke and Stafford to finish 21st in the sprint medley relay.

Nearmyer also helped the Mustangs finish 21st in the shuttle hurdle relay as a freshman.

That team also included Rachel Gulling, Kayla Jennings and Abbi Gilson.

Nearmyer has competed in just about anything PCM coach Bridget Martin needed her to.

Most of her work comes in relays, where she has been in hurdles and run distances anywhere from 100 to 800 meters. She does not know what events she will run in college hopes one of those events is eventually the 4x400.

“There is just something about that race that makes me love it,” Nearmyer said. “Although it’s the last event of the night, I think it’s pretty exciting and watching everyone run back and fourth, cheering on their team, makes me love it even more.”

Nearmyer is unsure what she wants to major in but has a few options to what she wants to do after college.

“Right now I don’t really know,” Nearmyer said. “I’m stuck between becoming a kindergarten teacher and something fitness related. Either way I go, I would be happy because I love kids and I love fitness.”