NCSA caught up with soccer standout Kirsten Haneberg about her high school career and the opportunity to compete at the college level.
NCSA: What motivates you before a big game?
Haneberg: Before big games, I listen to songs on my ipod that motivate me. The beat of the songs move fast, just like the game. While listening to the music, I imagine how the game will be played and how I will react in different situations. This helps me focus and be prepared for anything that can happen in the game.
NCSA: What are you looking forward to if and when you get the opportunity to play on a collegiate level?
Haneberg: When I go on to play college soccer, I look forward to moving to a new city where I can meet new people and have new experiences. I'm an independent person and I'd love to explore the environment and see what the city/town has to offer. I’m always looking to improve and taking my game to the next level is one of the most important factors in choosing a college.
NCSA: Why did you get involved in the sports you played in?
Haneberg: I've always been a competitive person, in academics and even in sports during gym class. My family felt it would be best to feed this competitive side through sports. My passion for soccer exceeded above the other sports I played, and I informed my parents that I would like to take soccer more seriously and compete at a higher level. I sacrificed a lot to compete at such a high level, but in my eyes, it has been well worth it.
NCSA: Tell us about your interactions with college coaches so far. Are you getting a lot of letters, surprised about where the colleges are from, who you are hearing from? Any funny or interesting anecdotes?
Haneberg: I have received lots of letters or friendly e-mails from coaches. Surprisingly I have heard from Division 1 colleges and even the top academically rated schools. What impresses and excites me the most is when I receive a hand written letter from a coach. It encourages me when I accept a letter that was written personally, instead of a mass produced letter with my name at the top.
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?
Haneberg: While my high school team does not start until spring of 2008, my Club team is doing very well this year. We are in the Premier division of MRL and are competing against the best teams in the country. While this is exciting, it is challenging to play with these girls as any high level soccer game is. But we are working hard to improve our style of play and I believe we will have a good season. Playing in big games and against the top teams in the nation stimulates me. I love the pace of the game and playing my hardest to prove myself.
NCSA: What are your goals – athletically, academically and in your community – for the rest of the school year? Are you looking to improve your speed, skills, acing a course?
Haneberg: Athletically my goal would be to improve my speed and left foot. For my team, I want us to win at least one of the major tournaments we will be going to this fall. Academically, I am taking lots of honors classes and am looking to getting a 4.0 at least. In addition, I am involved in the Interact Service Club in my school, I am looking to get more students involved so we can accomplish more and help more people.
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?
Haneberg: I’ve learned to always respond back to the coaches, and to keep my options open, not to commit to a school too early. In addition I’ve learned to do lots of research and have questions ready when I am going to talk with a coach. Most importantly I’ve learned that I am in charge of my own destiny of which college I will be going to. How much work I put into it will show in the number of options that I will have.
