As Kennedy Tull watched her older sister Madison play basketball for the Oregon Tech women’s team, she was not sure she was actively looking to join her in Klamath Falls.
She did.
Now, as a 21-year-old senior, the sisters are back for the nationally ranked Lady Owls, who made their home debut Nov. 15-16 in the annual Lithia Classic at Danny Miles Court, the lone home games before Thanksgiving.
“I didn’t think about it until (then-head coach Scott Meredith) reached out to me,” Kennedy said.
“What was driving me was a major,” she said. “There were a lot of schools (I looked at), but they didn’t have a dental hygiene program where you could still play basketball. I wanted to see if I fit in here, and it’s a good fit.
“In one word, it has been a blessing,” the dental hygiene major said. “I have a wonderful relationship with my siblings. That’s why (Maddy) wanted me to come here. When our parents come up we can have family dinners.
“Grant (a member of the OIT men’s basketball team) and I are twins and we both were in the dorms as freshmen and we have often been study partners.”
Kennedy said there is a little talk about all three wearing the Oregon Tech blue and gold.
“We just think about each other and what we are doing in school,” she said.
Tech’s women have, without question, one of the toughest pre-Christmas schedules of any program in the country. Of their first 11 games, eight were away from home. Five of them were against teams ranked in the NAIA preseason poll.
“We always talk about (goals) and one goal is to get on a plane and go to nationals (tournament final site, of which 16 teams play in Sioux City, Iowa). We want more exposure to see more good teams.
“We definitely want to go further than we did last year.”
Tech, which missed the 2023 playoffs by one position, opened up NAIA tournament play last season with a win over Jessup University, but then fell at Carroll College in Montana against a team which reached the NAIA semifinals.
“The expectation of this team is high, but as a freshman I (wanted to) learn,” Kennedy said. “I had no idea it would be like this. The culture here (with large home crowds) is amazing. For me personally, I am finding my role and tweeking the basics.
“I have more confidence in me now as a player,” Kennedy said.
That applies to her as a student, too.
“I will definitely remember school, and have met really good people here,” she said, and that included having to find several students for whom she has done work related to her major, including cleaning teeth.
She entered the season having played in 84 games, scored 559 points, grabbed 156 rebounds and made 75% of her free throws. She is an academic all-Cascade Collegiate Conference performer.
Kennedy Tull will have an externship to complete before she receives her bachelor’s degree.
Steve Matthies is the Herald and News sports editor emeritus. He has covered Oregon Tech athletics for more than 34½ years.