12/18/2015 • By Tyler Ellyson / tellyson@columbustelegram.com
COLUMBUS — Payton Chohon hasn't decided exactly what her future holds.
But if the past is an indicator, she shouldn't have any trouble finding immediate success.
Chohon turned plenty of heads at Scotus Central Catholic, as opposing players spun around to watch her spikes hit the floor and college coaches took notice of her powerful swing.
The Shamrocks reached four straight Class C-1 state tournaments during her time as a Shamrock, winning the title in 2011 and finishing as runner-up the following year.
Chohon earned all-conference, all-tournament and all-class honors and a reputation on the volleyball court that left her with plenty of options after graduating from Scotus.
She looked at Missouri Western State University, where her sister Jordan just wrapped up her senior season as a setter for Griffons, as well as Morningside College and Nebraska Wesleyan University and even considered playing soccer at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Ultimately, though, she decided to stay closer to home — much closer — and signed with the Central Community College volleyball team.
Head coach Mary Young was so excited she recorded herself making a snow angel after Chohon announced her commitment.
"To have Payton commit to us as a high school senior was pretty huge," Young said.
"Payton could have been a lot of other places," she added. " ... It was a great situation for all of us."
Chohon liked the coaching staff at Central and possibility of finding immediate playing time for a strong program that finished in the top seven nationally the previous three seasons.
"I knew that the competition was going to be good," said Chohon, who made an instant impact for the Raiders.
The 5-foot-10 middle hitter racked up 432 kills with a .331 hitting percentage and collected nearly 100 blocks as a starter her freshman season.
Young called the kill total "remarkable" considering that Raider team also featured All-American hitters Skyler Erickson and Megan Anderson, who recorded 460 and 445 kills, respectively.
The second-seeded Raiders finished fifth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Volleyball Championship after losing to eventual national champion Glendale Community College and compiled a 37-7 record.
"That was a heartbreaker," Chohon said of the loss to Glendale, "but we still had an amazing season."
The Scotus graduate became Central's top offensive option her sophomore season and assumed a leadership role on a team that finished 31-15 and made another trip to the NJCAA Division II national tournament, where the Raiders took eighth.
"She was put in some situations where she learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable," Young said of Chohon. "In volleyball, when you can do that you can be great."
Great is one way to describe Chohon's college career.
She led Central to back-to-back Region IX titles and leaves as the school's all-time leader with 1,034 career kills.
Chohon had a team-high 602 kills, 122 blocks and 45 aces this season and became just the third American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American selection in Central history after receiving second-team honors among two-year colleges. She also made the NJCAA Division II All-American team.
Young, who called her star player "a force" on the volleyball court, watched Chohon mature as a player and person during her two years at Central.
"For me, that's been the most gratifying part of her whole journey here," Young said.
Chohon said she doesn't regret her decision to attend Central one bit, although at least one goal was left unfulfilled.
"I think everybody wants to win a national title," she said.
But that opportunity is still in front of her.
Chohon will continue her volleyball career at a four-year school — either College of Saint Mary in Omaha or Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri — while working on a degree in nursing.
"I just want to play at the next level," Chohon said. "We'll see where it takes me."