By Rich Winter

605 Sports

AVON — Two years ago, Terran Talsma made a decision that would change his and his Avon Pirates teammates' football future. 

Talsma had been home-schooled through his sophomore year and played two years of eight-man football for Niobrara, Nebraska. A lanky 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Talsma longed for classmates and a more competitive football environment. 

“My dad Ty played four years at Avon so it was a natural fit,” Terran Talsma said. “I did most of my classes online and had to take one class at Niobrara to play football. We decided Avon was a good school so we decided to go to a public school.”

Talsma said he noticed an immediate difference in the support from his community.

“The difference was night and day.” Talsma said. “I love it here. I love the coaches and just the community standing behind you and supporting the football team is a big difference.” 

With his outgoing personality and trademark long hair Talsma found his football family playing for the 2022 Pirates. Then an assistant and now first-year head coach Justin Lukkes said the first thing he noticed about Talsma was his energy. 

“Terran is a good kid and he has tons of energy,” Lukkes said. “When we got him he was raw and he’s still very raw at times.”

Terran’s father Ty was a rodeo athlete and played defensive end for the Pirates for four years. As a junior, Terran Talsma played defensive end but the Avon coaches switched him to a linebacker position for his senior season.

“We figured at linebacker it’s more about getting downhill,” Lukkes said. “He’s very aggressive, loves to hit and loves to tackle.”

The move to linebacker paid dividends this season as Talsma led the Pirates with 104 tackles.

The national-level steer wrestler also had four sacks, five fumble recoveries and seven tackles for loss.

Talsma said he always felt like he had a knack for playing linebacker and gave immediate credit to assistant coaches Brad Bierema and Devin Tolsma who were both all-state linebackers for the Pirates. 

Folks from the rodeo community certainly recognize the Talsma name. Last summer Terran finished second in steer wrestling at the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals. Talsma competed at the National High School Finals Rodeo last summer and says that bulldogging mentality comes in handy when he’s trying to bring down an opposing ball carrier. 

Terran Talsma qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals last summer as a steer wrestler

“Steer wrestling has a lot more technique to it,” Talsma said. “Football is different but the leverage part comes in handy when I’m tackling someone.”

When Talsma takes the field for Thursday’s Class 9B championship against Faulkton Area the first thing fans will notice about Talsma, besides the trademark locks, is his contagious energy. Talsma celebrates big defensive plays that inject energy into the Pirates defense. 

“I don’t know where that comes from but he’s always like that,” Lukkes said. “Before games you almost want to tell him to calm down a little bit but I don’t want to take that away from him.”

Lukkes said Talsma has a motor that won’t quit and notes that enthusiasm permeates Avon’s defensive line. Talsma said part of that enthusiasm simply comes from love of the game. 

“I just love playing football and it makes me feel good,” he said. “When I’m on the field my energy level is so high and I feel like if I can get everyone else pumped up then we are going to be more dominant and physical so we can win the game.” 

Having played in Avon for just two seasons Talsma is thankful for Thursday’s opportunity to play for a state championship. 

“This is amazing,” Talsma said. “Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always wanted to win a state championship in football. Now that I have that opportunity it is like a dream come true.”