Athlete Profile: Payton Foster
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School volleyball team has enjoyed a lot of success over the recent years. Senior Payton Foster has been a part of the team’s success the past couple seasons.
Foster landed on the Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division second team as a junior and helped the team win a regional title.
Foster has been a big part of the team’s strong start this season.
Through the team’s first 11 matches, Foster led the team with 101 assists — an average of 3.6 per set. She was third on the team in attack kills (25) and aces served (16). The senior also had recorded 49 service points and 47 digs.
Q: When did your interest in volleyball begin?
A: My interest in volleyball started in sixth grade when I would go to my sister’s (McKenna) volleyball games and always thought that it would be fun to play.
Q: What is your favorite part about the volleyball season?
A: My favorite part of the season is home games when you have a big student section to cheer your team on.
Q: What has volleyball taught you over the years?
A: Volleyball has taught me many things over the years — how to work together as a team and to keep trying even when things aren’t going your way.
Q: Your team is coming off a big season last fall. What will be the keys to have even more success this season?
A: The key to have even more success this season is to keep playing together as a team and just making sure that we keep pushing ourselves harder and harder as the season goes on.
Q: Talk about your role on the court and what you enjoy doing most for your team.
A: Being the setter and a hitter, I have to be able to communicate a lot with my teammates and make sure the plays run nice and that everyone is happy with their sets.
Q: As a senior, how do you help lead the rest of the team?
A: I am a role model for the underclassmen in how I put in effort in practice and games that shows how hard I work to be where I am. I also like to encourage them to give 110% so they can achieve their goals as well.
Q: Do you have any individual goals for your final season?
A: One of my goals that I have for myself for my final season are to have a 95% or higher serving percentage.
Q: Before a match starts, do you or the team have any routines or rituals you go through?
A: Before games my teammates and I like to hang out in the locker room listening to music. We get each other excited for the game and make sure that we ready for the game.
Q: What’s your favorite memory of competing on the Wittenberg-Birnamwood volleyball team?
A: There are a lot of good memories from the Wittenberg-Birnamwood volleyball team, but I would have to say that my favorite memory would have to be beating Peshtigo and becoming regional champions (in 2021).
Q: Favorite movie, TV show and musical artist?
A: Movie — “21 Jump Street.” TV show — “Stranger Things.” Musical artist — HARDY.
Q: Name one thing about yourself that not many people know.
A: One thing about myself that not a lot of people know is that my family sold our house in Wittenberg and moved to Houghton, Michigan. Many years later we moved back into the same house in Wittenberg.
Q: What are some things you hope to accomplish after graduating high school?
A: After high school I plan on going to college in the medical field.
AT A GLANCE
Athlete: Payton Foster
Sport: Volleyball
Positions: Back row setter, outside hitter, right side hitter.
School: Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School
Year: Senior