SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Before she became an Olympian in beach volleyball at the Paris Games, Taryn Kloth of Sioux Falls was part of O’Gorman High School’s volleyball team: same as soon-to-be O’Gorman sophomore Katie McKay in 2024. McKay has been following Kloth at the Olympics, and sees her as an example for not just the individual but the group.
“We can grow as a team and learn from her,” McKay said.
Kloth and her partner Kristen Nuss continued their winning ways at the Olympics on Monday, defeating a duo from Australia. This follows a win on Saturday against a Canadian duo.
“It’s kind of mind-blowing, to be honest,” O’Gorman head volleyball coach Cale Hecht said.
Hecht says Kloth’s time in the Olympic spotlight opens up his players’ imaginations about their own futures. After all, in the-not-so-distant past, Kloth was one of them.
“Can I do that, could I be that next person, the next Taryn Kloth to go and play in the Olympics,” Hecht said.
Following time at O’Gorman, Kloth played volleyball for Creighton University and beach volleyball for Louisiana State University. Today she shines underneath the Olympic lights near the Eiffel Tower. And come, say, 2036, maybe one of the current O’Gorman volleyball players will follow in her Olympic steps.
“You know that we can do that, too,” McKay said. “Like, the way that she played at the same school.”
Kloth and Nuss are set to compete at the Olympics again on Thursday against a Chinese duo.
