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