Tori Wilkinson, a sophomore at Indiana University Kokomo and a 2020 Western Boone graduate, got the experience of a lifetime this spring.
Singing the national anthem at an Indiana Pacers game, an Indiana Fever game and an Indianapolis Indians game.
The opportunity ultimately came from a volleyball game at IU Kokomo, where she plays and often sings the national anthem. The father of one of the coaches liked her singing so much he videotaped one of her performances and sent it to the Pacers organization.
After receiving an email reply from the Pacers, a snowball effect led to emails from the Fever and then Indians.
Wilkinson is no stranger to singing in front of big crowds, though. In high school she sang the national anthem at Lucas Oil Stadium when Western Boone won a football state championship. She was surprised at the number of people at the games despite COVID-19 restrictions.
The unexpected crowds didn’t phase her, though.
“It’s not as nerve wracking as you would think,” Wilkinson said. “Whenever I get up there at first I’m nervous, but once I start singing I just start listening to the words and like really feeling the music, and it makes it so much easier and fun.”
Wilkinson started singing when she was four. Her preacher at church asked her to read in front of the congregation. Young Wilkinson was too nervous, though, so she asked to sing instead and has been singing ever since.
She recently was accepted into the nursing program at IU Kokomo and plans to pursue a career in the nursing field. Although she isn’t planning to make a career of singing, she is keeping an eye out for other experiences.
Besides the Pacers, Fever and Indians, she has sung for churches, weddings and at high school basketball and football games.
Her mom, Terrill Wilkinson, said it has been rewarding to watch her daughter go on to sing at professional games.
“We are super proud of her, she definitely has a gift,” she said.
