Wasilla soccer standout earns chance to play at college level

WASILLA — Tabor Tingstad has spent the last four seasons as a Wasilla Warrior.

Now, the Wasilla senior standout hopes to spend the next four as a Corban Warrior.

Tingstad recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Corban College and play for the Warriors women’s soccer team.

“I’m way excited,” Tingstad said, noting an October visit to the Salem, Ore., school. “I really liked the atmosphere. There are really great people there.”

Tingstad, who also considered Whitworth College in Washington, has been playing soccer since the age of 5, and has spent the last few years working toward her goal of landing a spot on a college soccer roster.

“Soccer is a major passion in my life,” Tingstad said. “For the last couple years it’s really been my dream (to play college soccer). For the past year it’s been looking like something I could actually do.”

A first-team All-Northern Lights Conference selection as a junior, Tingstad has been a staple on the Wasilla defense since she was a freshman. Although she has also seen time in the midfield, Tingstad’s preference is to play close to her own goal.

“I really like shutting people down,” said Tingstad, who was named Wasilla’s defensive most valuable player after her sophomore and junior seasons. “Knowing I can take the ball away makes me feel like I’m in control.”

Wasilla head coach Amber Craig said she expects Tingstad to have success at the next level.

“I think she has excellent potential,” Craig said. “I know (Corban has) a real good program. It’s a chance for her to excel as a player. I think she’ll be a good impact player for them.”

Corban is an NAIA program that competes in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The Warriors finished the 2008 fall season 8-11-1 overall, ending the year with a loss in the semifinals of the CSS postseason tournament.

Although she plays soccer for Wasilla, Tingstad is actually a homeschooled student. Regardless of whether she attends WHS during the day, Craig said Tingstad has always been a leader on the Wasilla soccer field.

“The girl’s a natural leader,” Craig said. “She came in her freshman year and made varsity. Being a homeschool kid it was pretty amazing how well she interacted. By a sophomore kids looked to her as a leader.”

Tingstad said she is looking forward to attending college classes, and said playing soccer will help her in her transition.

“I think it’s going to be a major change for me, but I do good in school, so I think it will be okay,” Tingstad said. “I think (soccer) will help balance everything out.”

Tingstad plans to study pre-medicine at Corban.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.