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Tatum Perrine: Eastmark's first student-athlete to sign national letter of intent

“From the start of her playing I just knew she loved it right away,” said her father, Devin Perrine. “It was one of those things that just clicked.”

Tatum Perrine, a senior at Eastmark, is the first student-athlete at the Queen Creek district high school to sign a national letter of intent to play their signature sport in college. She signed to play soccer at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.

Eastmark High had a signing ceremony in her honor at the school. Her teammates came and so did some of her coaches.

“It was very nice,” said Perrine. “I was very happy with what I received.”

Perrine started playing soccer when she was only 3 years old, and she started playing club soccer when she was 5.

“My dad had a big impact on my soccer life. He was my coach and he shared my passion for soccer,” said Perrine.

“From the start of her playing I just knew she loved it right away,” said her father, Devin Perrine. “It was one of those things that just clicked.”

He added that his daughter’s passion for soccer has been strong over the years.

“I don’t think I’ve ever once in the 14 years she’s been playing have I told her, ‘It’s time to go to practice’ and her say no. She’s always ready to go, excited to go, it’s always a new adventure. I was never pushing her to do it, she always wanted to do it. That made it pleasurable as a parent.”

Perrine and her family lived in North Carolina when she was born and when she started playing soccer. They moved to Arizona when she was 9, then they moved to Florida, and then they came back to Arizona in 2020.

“I’ve always gotten stronger each place I go,” said Perrine.

Devin Perrine added that soccer helped her adjust to the family’s cross-country moves.

“When we first moved here, she instantly had about 16 friends because they all have an interest in soccer,” he said.

Perrine played at the Arizona Soccer Club the first time her family lived in Arizona and now she plays for Arizona Arsenel Soccer Club.

She was just chosen to be head captain of the Eastmark team.

“The first time I met Tatum she overwhelmed me with her leadership,” said Jason Best, head coach of the girls soccer team. “She is a calm and confident young woman and it became apparent, very early, that she was going to elevate the maturity level of our team immediately. By nature Tatum is quiet and composed, but on the pitch her actions and leadership are loud and respected. Her teammates named her captain last week, a choice that I fully support.”

Best looks forward to seeing Perrine leading the team this season.

“I couldn't have asked for a better person to be inserted into our program at this young state in our program's development. She has raised the bar and I can't wait to watch our season unfold under her leadership on the pitch.”

Perrine plans to complete her general studies at Chandler-Gilbert Community College and then possibly study business.

In the meantime, she wants to win state this year and looks forward to bonding with her teammates over the course of the season.