Karley Jean Lurz, known as “K” by her teammates, was born and raised in Madison, South Dakota. She is the daughter of Kandy and Jason and the middle of three siblings. Outside of school, some of Karley’s favorite activities include hanging out with friends, playing sports, or listening to country music. You might also see her at her job coaching middle school softball. When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, she replied, “Seeing the growth of each kid throughout the season has to be the most rewarding part.”
The beach, warm weather, and a killer tan make summer Karley’s favorite time of year. Because she considers herself a “tropical gal,” vacationing in Bora Bora and snorkeling are at the top of her bucket list. If Karley were an animal, she would be a sea turtle because of their calm nature and love for the sea. Although she enjoys a thrill, Karley’s love for the sun has made her most afraid of the dark. In fact, she still sleeps with a nightlight every night. With 5 million dollars, she would first go on a shopping spree at Aerie, then give the rest of the money to charity. If she were a famous influencer, Karley would make haul videos of all the clothes she bought on her shopping spree. Karley’s biggest role model is her mom, Kandy, because she is always empathetic and kind—values Karley strives to possess daily.
After high school, Karley plans to continue impacting the lives of young children by attending the University of South Dakota, majoring in Elementary Education. In 10 years, she hopes to be married and working as an elementary school teacher. Karley’s advice to underclassmen is to “enjoy high school; it goes fast.”