Lady Packer Salter commits to ABAC before season begins

Jan. 30—MOULTRIE — Senior Lady Packer soccer player Tatum Salter enters her final season without the stress of wondering where her athletic career will continue.

On Dec. 22, 2023, Tatum committed to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's soccer program for the 2024-2025 season.

"I've known I wanted to go to ABAC for soccer since 10th grade," said Salter, who primarily plays wing and sometimes outside back. "I've been working toward this for a long time."

"Everybody wants to be able to play at college," said Lady Packer varsity head coach Carlos Bautista. "But, few people will actually do the work that needs to be done to get to that level."

"It was my sophomore year that I really started getting into soccer," said Salter. "I just love playing it — you can never learn enough."

It was also Salter's sophomore year when she met ABAC's soccer coach, Christopher Earls, for the first time.

"He had come to a home game to recruit one of that year's seniors," said Salter. "We weren't allowed to officially talk about a scholarship, but that was when I first started thinking about it."

Since that initial encounter, Salter has done what is necessary to prepare for the collegiate level.

"It takes a lot of work on Tatum's behalf," said Bautista. "Every morning at 6 a.m. we would be working and practicing."

"It's not as bad as people put it out to be," said Salter, with a smile on her face when recalling those early morning workouts. "We would put in a couple miles and then do some shooting and scrimmaging."

Salter routinely does two workouts a day, and is always looking to improve athletically.

"Every time I've given her advice she has been highly receptive," said Bautista. "She is also always someone I can count on every time I've needed players to volunteer for something."

Though soccer is her passion now, it wasn't always.

"I went from horses to soccer," said Salter. "One day I just randomly started playing with a ball outside in the horse pen and decided to tryout; somehow I made it."

Eighth grade was Tatum's first year as a Lady Packer.

"Going into ninth grade I decided to try and join a travel team as well," said Salter. "I happened to make that one too."

Ninth grade, all through high school, Salter also played on the varsity Lady Packers soccer team at Colquitt County High school.

"Tatum is a great player," said Bautista. " She has that confidence and edge a soccer player needs to come out and have the confidence on knowing 'I am a good player'."

But, it isn't just playing and practice that got Salter to the collegiate level before the beginning of her final high school season.

"There is a lot of work that happens outside the season," said Bautista. "People see the work that goes into the season, but they don't see those early mornings, waking up on days off...going to take tours and cultivate relationship with the college coaches."

This is a necessary, but sometimes grueling process for those interested in playing via scholarship as they search for the school that is advantageous to all parties.

"I had to sacrifice a lot of social aspects to get to where I am," said Salter. "And, no offense to my friends, but I would do it all over again to be able to play on that field."

In addition to her parents, Bautista also offered his continued support throughout this process.

"We went on about three tours," said Bautista. "It's not usually that easy, but because both Tatum and ABAC wanted her to be there it made the process substantially easier."

"I've never had anyone help me with the recruiting process," said Salter. "Coach has given a lot of support and help."

"A lot of it was just getting the dirty work done," said Bautista. "A lot of phone calls, establishing those conversations with the coaches and setting up times for tours, parent involvement and filling out paperwork."

"ABAC always told me I had a place," said Salter. "But, once I actually had the commitment it was a huge relief."

Now that the pressure is off, Salter can focus on what she is looking forward to.

"Really I'm just excited to be able to keep playing," said Salter. "But, I'm also excited to see the schedule — I'm not a homebody. I like a busy schedule."

Salter is also looking forward to a new arena of play.

"High school and college are obviously two different levels," said Salter. "I'm excited to see who I will be going up against."

"She is already in that mentality of a college athlete," said Bautista. "It's going to be hard to loose her at the end of the season, but I tell her when she gets there to just have fun with it."

As all of her ambitions are beginning to come to fruition, Salter has one overlying thought:

"I'm sad about it being my senior year, but I'm excited to take it to the next level."

Salter will officially sign her scholarship papers toward the end of season.