For as long Greeneville’s Tannna Bookhamer has been playing soccer she has dreamed about one day doing it at the college level, and on Monday during a ceremony in front of her friends and family that dream came true when she signed her letter of intent with Tusculum University.
“This is something I have wanted to do since I was very little,” Bookhamer said. “I’ve always wanted to play soccer in college and it’s really exciting today to have the opportunity to sign today.”
I addition to earning the opportunity to play college soccer, Bookhamer is excited that she gets to do it close to home where he friends and family can still come and watch her play.
“I really wanted to stay home and be close to my family,” Bookhamer said. “My family is excited about coming and seeing me play. My parents are glad I’m staying close to home. When I was looking at schools they were nervous about where I was going to go, but they are glad I’m going to be close.”
Tusculum is coming off a 9-4-5 campaign this fall, its best season since 2016. The Pioneers will be under new leadership for the first time in more than two decades after Mike Joy retired this offseason. Vanessa Fyffe, a former assistant coach, has taken over the program and she is someone Bookhamer instantly felt comfortable with.
“The girls were really welcoming, and Vanessa was really welcoming, and I felt like she was one of the coaches that made me feel like I was wanted the most,” Bookhamer said. “I went to a few practices I really enjoyed their practices. And I love their facilities, the indoor facility is great.”
Bookhammer finished up her time as a Lady Devil with an impressive senior season in which she scored 23 goals while helping the Lady Devils advance to the state semifinals. In her time with the Lady Devils they advanced to the state semifinals all four years and won two state championships, but what Bookhamer will most remember are the friendships she built with her teammates.
“I remember coming into this program and coach (Jerry) Graham immediately made us feel welcome,” Bookhamer said. “Whether you’re on the bench or you are playing every minute you feel equally important. The coaches have been great. One thing coach Graham always said, is that it’s not about winning games but it’s about the family we create. I feel like I’ve built lifelong friendships with these girls. Then of course the state championships were nice too.”
At Tusculum Bookhamer plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy. She was inspired to pursue that path while working with special needs students while peer tutoring at Eastview Elementary, and she feels like it would a be a career she could enjoy.
