As the remainder of the 2019-20 season was canceled on March 12 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Sun Belt Conference is helping others get to know Sun Belt student-athletes presented in a Q&A series on the league's website and social media platforms.
Q: Why did you choose to attend Little Rock?
A: Back in 2016 when I was looking for a school in the US, I got in contact with some coaches from several colleges through my agency. Luckily, I had the chance to meet the then assistant coach in Germany at a tryout. She told me that Little Rock is a rather small school but with a welcoming community and family feeling. Back then I was looking for a school that offered smaller classes and that would enable me a close connection to the university staff and classmates because moving overseas from Germany was quite a big step in my life. Little Rock seemed to fit that and I decided to come here.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a student-athlete?
A: I love the community that comes with being a student-athlete. I am not only able to have great relationships with my teammates from the soccer team but also with all the other student athletes and the athletics department staff. I have been able to meet people from different backgrounds and countries. Most importantly, I have formed relationships that have helped me to get through tough times of injury and adversity. Without these people I would not be the person that I am today.
Q: What drew you to soccer?
A: Since I can remember, I have always played soccer with my siblings at home or with friends at school. I joined a local soccer club when I was eight years old after a coach had seen my twin and me at a school competition and asked us to join his club. First, we could not practice with the team, but eventually our parents made it possible for us to finally join the team and compete in the local league. That was 15 years ago and since then soccer has enabled me to compete on a very high level and in many different countries.
Q: What is one of the best memories you have competing in a Sun Belt Championship event?
A: My best memory of competing at a Sun Belt Championship event is by far winning the Sun Belt Tournament in 2018. We had a great season and just came short of winning the regular season title, but pulled through and won the tournament for the first time in program history. For me personally the tournament was not what I expected because I tore my ACL in the first game. Instead of standing on the field I was forced to watch from the bench. However, that gave me the chance to see how the team poured out their hearts especially in the final and its double overtime. I will never forget the faces of my teammates after winning in penalty kicks filled with tears of joy and relief. Our seniors had worked so hard for this moment their whole college careers and it was amazing to see that they finally got what they deserved.
Q: How does being an athlete make you a better person?
A: Being an athlete has taught me so many things throughout my life and had made me a better person in different ways. Soccer has taught me small things such as being on time and taking responsibilities for my own actions, but also so much more. Just the last year has taught me a great lesson about being grateful. Unfortunately, I had to go through and I am still trying to get better after two major injuries and surgeries. Being not able to practice and being on the field with my best friends has forced me to step back and appreciate the small things in life. These days it is easy to take things such as a college education or college soccer for granted when others are struggling to have a roof over their head or enough food. Being an athlete has taught me to see the bigger picture and has helped me to grow as a person.
Q: In this time away from soccer, what do you miss about it the most?
A: I miss playing soccer and being on the field just chasing and kicking the ball. But mostly, I miss being around my team and everything that comes with it. I miss being able to just hang out with my teammates and the other athletes. I miss the conversations and laughs. I even miss the early morning workouts even though I am not a morning person.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being around your current group of teammates?
A: My teammates are one of the things that I cherish the most. I have been able to meet incredible people from different countries and social backgrounds that all came together to play soccer. Without them I would not have been able to push through my rehab and all the hard practices. They are all great people in their own ways. For sure not everything is perfect and there is drama sometimes, but as a team we have managed to get through it. Sometimes you just need a thoughtful comment, a powerful cheer, or a helping hand, and my teammates have been and are still always there for me even when everybody is forced to be home due to a global pandemic.