 "Photo: Pepe Aragon")
 "Photo: Regina G. Tator")
Born and raised in a town where there are more registered cows, than people, Robert Tator grew up playing football, baseball, and basketball, but there was one sport that stuck out to him the most, soccer.
Tator can still can remember his first goal, as it is one that has stuck with him since he was a child.
"I can also remember the first goal I ever scored playing left back in an under eight year old summer league," said Tator. "I flew down the outside and closed my eyes kicking it as hard as I could and luckily it found the net."
Tator now lives with his mom and his dog, Fenna. His dad died when Tator was only 12, but he still has a strong memory of the fun they had when he was a child.
"I would also follow my dad around 2 NASCAR races and to the local volunteer fire department," Tator said.
In high school, Tator was a three sport athlete for two years, playing volleyball, and men's tennis. He was a good volleyball player, but played tennis just for fun and for the attire.
"Tennis was just for fun, and to wear plaid shorts," said Tator.
Tator continued to play soccer for all four years in high school. He would play year round and would travel an hour away and play soccer 3-5 days out of the week. According to Tator, his natural position was goalie.
"I became a goalie because I was always the fat kid," said Tator, "and that's where they put the fat kids is in goal. Also, I just loved diving around and getting dirty, so it worked out great."
Before coming here to MCLA, Tator attended Herkimer County Community College, where his school was the NJCCA National Champions in 2005 and the runner-up in 2004.
Tator found his way to MCLA after talking with former head coach Ron Shewcraft, who convinced Tator to come play.
"Coach Shewcraft and Adam made a lot of promises to me about giving me a chance," said Tator, "and they seemed very interested in having me and very dedicated to getting me."
Tator saw his first time in goal as a Trailblazer in his first game here and it was not one he soon forgot as he nearly cost MCLA the game.
"It was the final fifteen minutes of our first game my first year," Tator said, "and coach Shewcraft threw me in for some experience. I nearly cost us the game with a huge mistake when I came running out of the goal and they scored. But we held on for a 3-1 win and it was good playing in front of so many people at the CIAO tournament."
As Tator hopes to continue coaching after college, he has one special memory, given by Ron Shewcraft, that has given him the motivation to lead himself towards his goal.
"After a game my first year here coach Shewcraft said 'I think we found another assistant coach today, Tator gave me an idea and it helped us win the game,'" said Tator.
Many might not know Tator as an emotional guy, but when it comes to the one sport he loves the most, he tears up. Before his final college game, he couldn't help but become emotional.
"The last game is always hard," said Tator. "I was a ball of emotion in the locker room before hand, and I even cried a bit walking off the field after our last practice, but that last practice, I had everyone on the team wear jerseys with my name on the back and it was a great honor. Also, since we were out of playoff contention it was good to end with a win, and walk off as winner for the last time."
As Tator graduates, he looks back at all his memories and what he has learned of soccer and can not help but think that he would be great at coaching the game he has played his whole life.
"I will still play occasionally," Tator said, "but my real passion is coaching. It is something that I would love to continue doing either here at MCLA, or anywhere that it would take me. I feel as though I know a lot about soccer, and just because my body wasn't always able to produce it, I feel like I could teach people how to do it very well."
Following school, Tator would like to move abroad to England and finish school up there and become an athletic trainer for one of the football clubs.
"I'd love to be the dude who goes running out on the field whenever someone goes down, its always been a dream of mine," Tator said.
One club he would like to work for is Manchester United, who he has been a fan of since 1999.
"I became a Man U. fan in 1999 when they scored two goals in extra time to win the Champions League 2-1 over Bayern Munich," said Tator.
Tator has learned a lot since coming here to MCLA, but has learned an education is the key to success.
"Work hard, but do well in school. That's more important than being a good athlete," said Tator.
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