Nicolet National Bank Senior Spotlight: Payton Kaminski

School: Luxemburg-Casco

Sports: Volleyball, softball

Tell us a bit about how you got started in athletics:

My parents believed in letting us (my sisters and I) find out what we love doing most, so they signed us up for many activities. By doing so, I found out that softball and volleyball are my passions. As a kid my parents took us to many high school and college sports to watch my cousins and friends play so I feel I grew up around athletics.

You’re known for spending a lot of time in the gym. What motivates you to stand out as a hard worker off the court/field?

What motivates me to stand out is the example I set for my younger sisters. I want them to view me as a hard worker, a role model and a leader. They know me on a deeper level than just an athlete. Spending lots of time in the gym becomes easy when the culture my teammates and I have set is exceedingly positive.

You seem to enjoy being at the plate as a hitter in softball but on the volleyball court, you’re a defensive specialist. Do you get compulsive about needing to put points on the scoreboard and is that how you developed a killer serve?

My teammates have taught me that being a passer (defensive specialist) in volleyball is just as important as someone earning the points as a hitter. Without a dig, easy pass or diving save, my teammates cannot execute and put points on the board for us. When I go back to the service line, I know that I can slow the game down and really focus on strategically placing the ball where it needs to go. Serving in volleyball is critical for success so I made sure to dedicate more attention to that component to develop a killer serve.

Speaking of that: As a sophomore, with the Lux-Casco volleyball team playing for a state championship, in the second set with your team down, you went on a 12-0 run from the service line to turn that whole thing around and win the set. What was going through your mind during the middle of that run and how do you keep a serve steak like that going?

Honestly, I didn’t want too much running through my mind. I knew I needed to stay calm. So, every time I ran back to the service line, I would take a deep breath, look around, and just wanted to be present in the moment. Hearing the support coming from hundreds of people cheering in the Resch Center made me more at ease than anything. I knew my teammates had my back no matter what happened.

What are your parent’s names?

My parents’ names are Chad and Stacie (Dart) Kaminski. I am so thankful for everything they do for me. They’ve sacrificed a lot of their own time and money to support my passions.

Are there other athletes in your family?

Yes. Rylan is my sister and is a sophomore at Lux-Casco. She plays softball and volleyball as well. My youngest sister is Lakyn, and although she is only nine years old, her love for softball, volleyball and basketball are noticeably growing. These girls mean everything to me.

Are the two of you competitive?

My sister Rylan and I are competitive — yes — but I like to think we put each other first more than anything. She is my best friend and sports allowed us to become even closer than we already are. With myself at shortstop and my sister at third base, it has been a blessing being able to play right by her side this past year on the softball diamond. The amount of chemistry we have together is unmatched.

Do you have any college plans shaping up that you’d like to talk about?

I am touring a handful of schools this fall in hopes that I will find where I’m meant to be. As of now, I am looking to major in a business related degree. I’m excited to see what the future brings.