— There was always the sound of a basketball thumping on the driveway at Patti and Tyler Tull’s Cleburne home while their three girls were growing up. The youngest, Katie, always held her own with her sisters and her dad — and has recently left behind a sports legacy at Charleston Southern University.

She was named the 2010-11 NCAA Division 1 leader in 3-point field goals made per game.

Her outstanding record for the women’s basketball team includes Big South Conference Player of the Year; Big South First Team All Conference; Big South Scoring title (16.2 points per game); Big South Single season and career leader in three-point field goals (107, 314 respectively); CSU single season and career leader in 3-point field goals; and CSU Female Athlete of the Year.

Athletic skill and a fierce competitive spirit combined with intellect, vibrant beauty and spiritual sensitivity have made the 21-year-old Cleburne native unique.

At Cleburne High School, Katie was chosen class favorite all four years. Teachers picked her for “Who’s Who.” She was homecoming queen; prom queen; all-state in basketball and volleyball and Most Valuable Player in both. She graduated in 2007.

“I guess my love affair with sports began as soon as I was capable of standing on my own two feet,” Katie said. “Some of my earliest and fondest memories are playing ‘Rusty Greer’ in the pasture at our old house in Bono. I’ve always had a ton of energy and have always been unusually competitive; so I naturally gravitated towards the athletics world.”

She said her dad and both of her older sisters, Kelli and Haley, played multiple sports growing up.

“All three of them ended with basketball during their college careers. Mama doesn’t lack the competitive spirit, either. She was more the ‘rodeo queen’ growing up. She tends to be the No. 1 fan for the rest of us.”

Katie chose Charleston Southern University over other schools because she felt more at home on a smaller campus. Also, CSU head coach Julie Goodenough was her top recruiter, she said.

“I have been blessed with so many great coaches and teachers — with Daddy being the first — but having the opportunity to play for Coach Goodenough was one of the most influential times in my life. It was the first time I had been on my own and trying to make a name for myself outside of Cleburne, Texas. She is the living example of hard work, dedication and faith.”

Katie said the coach pushed her players daily to their physical limits, but she was never concerned only with their performance on the court.

“Coach Goodenough taught me so much outside of basketball and molded me into a really good leader. She truly cared about the type of young ladies we were going to be and made it clear that a relationship with God was the only path to true happiness.”

She said the coach’s home was always open to the players and that her family was their new second family.

Katie said, “She gave me confidence in myself that I would have never had. I couldn’t have asked for a better example than the one she set for me.”

Katie said she had always had an eye for bright colored things — even clothing that never shows. One choice created her most embarrassing moment on the court.

“As a college athlete I got tired of the white/gray/black cycle in sports bras. My oldest sister found me a fantastic neon pink sports bra and gave it to me on one of her countless trips to Charleston. I was so excited about it, and I made my mind up that I would wear it for a game.

“We were playing a home game against goodness knows who. Our home jerseys are white, but they are a nice dry-fit material that was thick enough that you couldn’t see a color through it. Perfection! Or so I thought.

“But I sweat when I play — I sweat a lot.”

With about five minutes to go in the first half she wondered why everyone in the stands was laughing and pointing at her.

“I guess the color wasn’t exactly permanent. It bled straight through my jersey, causing my entire top to be hot pink.”

She said sports had taught her life-lasting lessons.

“Now that I’ve graduated and I’m not on a team, I realize I know how to deal with adversity, and how to push myself further than I ever thought I could — physically and mentally. I appreciate the bonds I’ve made along the years. I miss my teammates like I miss my sisters when they are gone. Going through the ups and downs of a college career are intimidating and can be scary, but having those girls by your side makes it so much easier.”

She values a hard work ethic.

“To me, hard work doesn’t matter only when people are watching — 90 percent of the time it’s the things you do that nobody sees that really help you out.”

She said that sports have helped confirm her Christian faith.

“Being on a team is like a roller coaster, sometimes it’s great and you ride this extreme high for a while. All of a sudden you take a plunge into a slump that seems impossible to escape. The only constant I can take with me anywhere is a relationship with God. It is hard to put 100 percent trust in anything, but everywhere you turn, winning, losing, benched,or starting, basketball helped me realize that God loves me in all situations and through anything that happens. Hebrews 11:1 is my favorite Bible verse: ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen.’

“I love Jesus. I go to bed every night knowing I am forgiven.”

Katie said she had an opportunity to study Christianity in school.

“That confirmed exactly why I believe the things that I do. I think that is such an important thing for young people today. If you can explain and justify why you believe the things you do, why you live the way you live, what better testimony can you give?”

While in high school, Katie did modeling for nationwide fashion retailer Caché.  She is currently under a two-year modeling contract with Campbell Modeling Agency in Dallas.

She said, “My main commitment is to Texas Motor Speedway where I was chosen one of the four ‘Great American Sweethearts.’ NASCAR has been a whole new atmosphere for me, but one I love. Whew! Talk about competitive — those fans are die-hard and as loyal as they come.”

Katie was a communications major and says her real dream is to enter the world of broadcast journalism.

“My senior year I went on live with our men’s play-by-play analyst and did the color commentary for the men’s basketball team. I absolutely loved it. We also did ‘Buccaneer updates’ for the sports department and filmed interviews and coaching moments with the coaches of our school. I liked the crazy hours, the fast pace, the actual journalism involved and current events.”

Goodenough said, “This is my 18th year as head coach, and Katie is one of my very favorites. She came in as a fireball — a little spider — but not a spectacular shooter. She became a starter her junior year and I challenged her to work on her free throws. After gym practice on her own, I checked the records. She made 3,000 free throws in three months. I was amazed.

“She took some of the hardest hits I’ve ever seen in play and practice, but she’d catch her breath and come back in. She’s fought some serious injuries. She put team goals ahead of her own, and her records are phenomenal.

“Katie was our homecoming queen here at CSU. She can talk comfortably with anyone.

“I have two teenage daughters. They love Katie and have fought to have her number 25 on their team jerseys. They want to be just like her. Whatever she pursues — she’ll be successful at it. Tell her she can’t do something — I promise you she will prove you wrong.”

Locally, Katie makes time to teach summer basketball camps, to work with teams and to provide individual help.

After all, her first competition — besides the intense family scrambles under the basketball goal at home — was Cleburne Little Dribblers. She wants to give back.



Larue Barnes may be reached at

laruebarnes@yahoo.com

See Katie Tull on Youtube