NCSA caught up with soccer standout Ellen Rehfus about her high school career and the opportunity to compete at the college level.
NCSA: What motivates you before a big game? What's your pre-game ritual(s)?
Rehfus: Before every game I like to be alone and listen to upbeat music. If I don't drive my self I will listen to my headphones instead of the car radio. I use that time to focus on my own goals for the game and what I need to do to win.
NCSA: What are you looking forward to if and when you get the opportunity to play on a collegiate level?
Rehfus: I am really looking forward to playing college soccer, because I know that I will be surrounded by athletes who are just as competitive and demanding as I am. I know that most everyone there will love to play and work hard to succeed for themselves and their team.
NCSA: Why did you get involved in the sports you played in? (Is it a family tradition, do you admire an athlete in the sport)?
Rehfus: I became interested in soccer in a very unusual way. I wanted to play sports, but neither of my parents knew anything about the sport, and being the oldest child I was the first to make such a decision. I ended up choosing soccer because I was curious to know what it was that the players wore under their socks, and later learned that they were called shinguards. The sport stuck and I have enjoyed it for twelve years since.
NCSA: How are your team(s) doing so far? (Club teams, high school teams)? Any challenges this season? How are you excelling personally, how does that compare to previous years?
Rehfus: So far this year I have been unable to help my club soccer team as well as my school team because of a torn ACL. My school season is just beginning and I hope to play soon. We are looking forward to a good season.
NCSA: What are your goals - athletically, academically and in your community - for the rest of the school year? What are also your goals for the summer? Are you looking to improve your speed, skills, acing a course?
Rehfus: I plan to increase my GPA from a 3.4 to a 3.5 and be released to play soccer again before I graduate. Over the summer I will concentrate on working to save up some more money for school and getting into good shape in preparation for the fall soccer season.
NCSA: Tell us about what you've learned since being with NCSA. Have you learned about how to talk with coaches? Have you learned some rules on playing at the next level? What's the biggest take-away you have from your experience here?
Rehfus: Going into the recruitment process I was nervous about how to talk to coaches and not finding a school that would fit my needs both academically and athletically. As for finding the right fit, there are so many schools out there. I think that I could spend a large portion of my life looking for schools and have difficulty deciding.
There are multiple choices for each individual. You will have no problem finding one that fits your social, academic, and athletic needs while catering to your lifestyle. The program has helped me become better organized by making phone calls, keeping track of emails, and scheduling multiple official visits.
