HUSC Past Player Michaela Schenk

What was your jersey number with Hartford United? 
My jersey number for United was 0.

Where are you currently playing and what position(s) are you playing? 
I am currently playing at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh as a goalie.

Do you have a goal to play professional soccer after college? 
I do not have the goal to play professionally although it would be pretty cool.

Do you plan to coach once your playing career is over? 
I kind of would like to coach younger kids. Maybe U-8 where the kids actually know how to play soccer but it’s not that competitive.

Were you excited or nervous to join HUSC? 
I was really excited to join HUSC because it was a step up from the previous club I was playing for. Also because many of my friends were going to play with HUSC also.

Any memories of the transition to HUSC that you can share for new players joining us? 
I would definitely have to say that some of my closest friends now are ones that I have met after joining HUSC and a soccer team where you have close friendships, and that makes the games so much more memorable.

If you could meet up with one HUSC coach for breakfast who would it be and why? 
I would definitely have to meet up with Jimmy D (Jim Dietlmeier) because he made practices fun when we didn’t want to be there and I miss him as a coach. He also never failed to believe in us as a team and pushed us to do our best.

If you had to do it all over again, is there anything that you would do different? 
I would honestly say that if I had to do one thing differently I would have definitely joined HUSC earlier than I did. I was asked multiple times by my mother if I wanted to switch clubs and I said absolutely not each time because I couldn’t leave some of my best friends.

What was most important to you in your development as a player with Hartford United SC? 
I would have to say that the most important thing to me in the development as a player at HUSC was that the coaches we had were very knowledgeable in the sport and knew how to make us better as a team and as individuals. Also, that they weren’t afraid to be honest and corrective criticism is one of the things I like most, because I want to know when I am doing something wrong.

What is your proudest accomplishment with Hartford United SC? 
My proudest accomplishment with HUSC was last fall when my U-18 team took first at our Kick Some Grass tournament. This was one of the best feelings during my HUSC time as it was our last year playing for HUSC and our team was like a separate family to me. Taking 1st was one of the most exciting feelings, especially through all the games we had to play.

What advice would you give current players as they set goals in hopes of playing at the college level? 
Some pieces of advice that I would give to current players is to never give up on your dreams. I have had the dream of playing college soccer ever since I was 5 years old. And now that I am living my dream continuing my soccer career, everybody has the chance as long as they work hard and are dedicated to themselves. Another thing is that it is definitely different walking onto a new team full of people you have never played with before, but they are just more friends you will make in your life.

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