Latest / The BIG LIFE / Bounce Back: Ellie Walbruch’s ACL Comeback & BYU’s Tournament Push

Transcript

Bounce Back: Ellie Walbruch’s ACL Comeback & BYU’s Tournament Push · The BIG LIFE

0:00
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Big Life Podcast.
0:04
I'm Leah Klinke and I'm Kate Phillips and we're so excited to be here for today's
0:10
episode and we can't wait for you guys to hear from our special guests today.
0:15
Yes, so Kate, before we talk with our guests, we're going to kind of talk about
0:19
this last week of games and now going into the tournaments.
0:25
So we're going to talk more about that but how did your game go
0:28
this week um we had one game we played
0:31
on sunday against auburn and
0:34
it was our last game of the season because we didn't get we didn't do well enough
0:40
to make it to sec tournament unfortunately but we ended up tying auburn 1-1
0:44
if we would have beat them their chances of not making the tournament would
0:49
have i i'm pretty sure they wouldn't have made the tournament.
0:53
But we ended up tying, yeah, 1-1, scoring in the last couple of minutes,
0:58
which I guess was like a good way to end off.
1:02
I wish we would have ended with a win, but yeah, it's kind of unfortunate that our season's over,
1:08
but looking forward to starting the
1:11
spring and getting back to work here in the next
1:14
couple of weeks and looking forward to
1:16
this new chapter with a new team but
1:20
yeah how did your games go this weekend yeah well
1:24
that's unfortunate that you guys are done that's so sad
1:27
but I mean you guys had a good run and it's crazy like how fast it goes by and
1:32
it's just like over and now it's like what do you do now like it's crazy like
1:37
just how fast it goes and now it's just like done but you guys did well you
1:42
did so well so congrats on your season, because you did great.
1:48
We, this past week, we had two games, two away games.
1:51
So we were on the road for like four nights straight. So it was a really good, fun trip with my team.
1:56
We played Virginia Tech and we beat them.
1:59
And then we played Wake Forest, and we ended up tying Wake Forest.
2:03
So kind of a little bit of a bump in the road for us because we've been on a very good streak.
2:10
But, I mean, adversity helps us to learn and grow.
2:14
So I feel like it was actually good for our team to kind of be humbled a little
2:19
bit and know that everyone's playing us their hardest and anyone can tie us or beat us.
2:25
So definitely more hungry this week to just get better and improve from our tie.
2:31
But Wake is a great team. They're super organized defensively and,
2:35
yeah, very good. So they were able to hang on.
2:39
We were close to scoring again, but they hung on.
2:42
And they're a great team, so kudos to them. But, I mean, we'll get them next time if we play them.
2:48
Yeah. And then this next week, the ACC has their last regular season game.
2:55
So we'll play Pitt on Thursday.
2:57
And then right away for us, the ACC tournament starts.
3:01
So I know that SEC, Big 10, Big 12, all the tournaments kind of go differently.
3:07
And the amount of teams that make it and how the seeding works and everything
3:11
and the timing of the games.
3:13
But i'll just go over a little bit like how the acc tournament works for For
3:18
people that know so for people that want to know so first off there's an acc
3:24
regular season champion so,
3:27
We're still fighting for that.
3:28
So hopefully if we win on thursday, we'll play pit We'll be acc regular season
3:32
champions And then based on how you do in the regular season,
3:36
you'll get seated for the acc tournament and the acc tournament there's,
3:40
Oh, shoot. I don't even know how many teams make it. Eight?
3:45
No. Because the top two teams get buys. There's six teams that make it. Yeah, six teams.
3:51
It's like, wait, I don't even know. Yeah, there's six teams get buys.
3:54
Or six teams make it to the ACC tournament. If you're either the one or the
3:59
two seed, you'll get a buy in the first round, which is going to happen this
4:02
Sunday at, like, home site, so whichever team is seed had to hire.
4:06
So fortunately for us, we've already locked in either a 1 or a 2 seed So we're
4:11
going to have a bye this weekend, which is nice So we'll play Thursday,
4:14
hopefully we'll beat Pitt And then we'll get a bye on Sunday,
4:19
And then we'll be straight into the semifinals of the ACC tournament Which is next Thursday,
4:25
But then those other four teams have to play for the last two
4:28
spots in the ACC semis But it's
4:31
sweet because we would already be into the semis So that's cool for
4:34
us I mean took a lot of hard work in the regular season
4:37
but so that'd be great if or I guess
4:40
when we get a bye and then yeah we'll play that
4:42
Thursday hopefully we'll win the semis on Thursday and then the final is in
4:46
North Carolina on Sunday so that's how our tournament works and then afterwards
4:53
obviously if you win any of the tournament titles you get an automatic bid into
4:58
the NCAA tournament but with the ACC's like,
5:01
If you make it to the ACC tournament, you'll definitely make it to the NCAAs,
5:06
and probably a couple other teams will too.
5:08
So that's exciting kind of how many teams from our conference get to go to the
5:12
NCAA tournament normally. On a normal year, it's like probably seven or eight.
5:18
But it's because of our strength of schedule is like super high.
5:21
I mean, every team is like so freaking good. So it makes sense.
5:26
So that's how our tournament works. I know like all the other conferences are
5:29
different, but yeah. Yeah.
5:32
What will your guys' week look like? Because you have a week off Thursday to Thursday.
5:38
Mm-hmm. Your guys' week, I guess, I don't know if you even know,
5:42
but what do you think your week will look like going into that semifinal game? Yeah.
5:48
Yeah. So first priority after the pit game for us is going to be to rest mainly.
5:53
Players who don't play a lot of minutes will have a harder practice on Friday.
5:57
So we'll travel back Thursday night. Friday we'll
6:00
have like a hard practice or recovery and then
6:03
it's like different every week for us but this week
6:06
we're gonna have Saturday we're gonna have a practice no we're
6:11
having practice Friday Saturday we're having off Sunday we're
6:13
gonna have practice and then Monday we're gonna have off so a little
6:16
bit more like downtime and recovery just because we're
6:19
already so far into the season so everyone's already fit everyone has
6:22
gotten good experience in game
6:25
minutes if you play a lot so everyone's ready so it's
6:28
just a lot about like recovery especially now like everyone's legs
6:31
are tired at the end of the season people just need
6:33
breaks like injuries are starting to like creep in
6:36
like little things are nagging so our coaching staff is really good about just
6:40
giving us rest like as much as possible so that's nice so two off days and then
6:45
tuesday we'll train wednesday we'll train and fly to north carolina and then
6:51
we'll play on thursday and then we'll.
6:54
Yeah, hopefully, trophy on the line. So hopefully we'll get that trophy.
7:00
But first, we have to stay in the present, and we're focusing all of our energy
7:06
on Pitt because we have the opportunity to win a trophy on Thursday if we beat Pitt.
7:11
So all energy is going into that right now for us.
7:14
Yeah, that's good. Not looking ahead. I mean, you have a lot of season left still.
7:20
But what is your guys' mindset going into the postseason then?
7:25
Because I mean, you do have a lot of games left if, and I expect you guys to
7:28
do well. And I think you do too.
7:31
Um, kind of what's that mindset going to be like? Yeah.
7:34
So definitely we have a lot of expectations for our team.
7:37
Like we have very high goals for us, but we're all about our coach really drives
7:44
home a point for us every day of not chasing success.
7:48
So just staying in the present, focusing on what you can control every day and
7:52
giving it your all in every training session. And he's been big on,
7:55
like, attention to detail, like, just really focusing and giving your 100% on everything.
8:00
Like, he called us out today in practice because we weren't doing,
8:04
like, a simple, like, passing thing, right?
8:06
And he's like, well, if you're not going to do this right, like,
8:08
we're not preparing for the game, right?
8:09
And, like, that's going to impact us in the game. So...
8:13
Yeah, just focusing on every detail. Like, what can we do now?
8:16
Like, and honestly, we're focusing on the game Thursday, I guess.
8:19
But it's like today during practice, we just were like focusing on today practice.
8:23
Like, what, how can we get better today?
8:25
Like, let's not even think about that game yet. Like, what are we going to do today to get better?
8:29
So I feel like that's the most important thing. Not chasing success and staying
8:33
in the present moment for us.
8:35
So that's definitely our mindset. Because it's easy to get caught up in,
8:38
oh, like, if we win, then this happens.
8:40
If we win, like, we might get a one seed. like whatever like well yeah but that's
8:46
like just too too many what-ifs like you have to.
8:49
Actually win a game first for any of that to even happen so yeah yeah I think
8:55
one thing that's interesting about postseason also is that like some of these
8:59
teams you're going to be playing for the second time and then like even later
9:04
you could be playing a team for the third time Yeah.
9:07
What do you think that looks like? I don't even know. Like, scouting a team?
9:11
Do you even scout a team for the third time?
9:14
Maybe, like, maybe they're doing some different corner or something.
9:17
But, I mean, at that point, you already know what the team is going to do unless
9:20
they switch formations.
9:22
Yeah. Or whatever, but. Yeah. That's actually crazy that, yeah,
9:28
you bring this up. Because I feel like this happens a lot, especially in the ACC.
9:31
Like, we've played teams...
9:34
Yeah, like three times in one season. The first thing is it's hard to beat the same team twice.
9:40
So it's easy. Like you played them the first time. You're like,
9:43
oh my gosh, we did great. Like we figured them out. We scored a bunch of goals, whatever.
9:47
But the second time, like they're coming after you and they're ready for whatever
9:51
you're going to throw at them. So it's hard to beat a team a second time.
9:55
We definitely do scout them and we just kind of go over the same stuff.
10:00
But yeah, I feel like it's just big to, especially
10:03
when you're playing multiple or the same team multiple
10:06
times like focus more on yourself and like how your
10:09
team is gonna play versus like everything the other team
10:12
is doing but it definitely is hard especially like
10:15
all the teams are like so close it's not like this
10:18
team is way better than this team like everyone is like at an even level
10:21
like on any given day any team could win so it's just
10:24
honestly whichever team brings the most energy and
10:27
passion and like is the most technically sound and has their game together that
10:34
day that wins so yeah yeah it is hard like I don't like playing I'm like I have
10:40
to play like Florida State three times like I don't want to do that but we will
10:44
it's just the reality of it though so,
10:48
yeah it is what it is but I like that you said it is it it is hard to beat a
10:53
team twice especially like you were saying like momentum's also huge in soccer
10:58
and you score a goal and the momentum shifts like crazy energy everything.
11:05
And that's huge. I mean, some goals can be flukes and stuff during a game and
11:11
you think, oh, our team did this well when we played them.
11:15
But teams are different later in the season.
11:18
Like, you're fighting for your livelihood. You're fighting for your last minutes of soccer.
11:22
So you can't really, like, settle on a past score.
11:27
Yeah, totally. Yes, for sure.
11:31
Yeah, I remember my freshman year, we played Florida State at home,
11:36
and we, like, totally crushed them. We beat them 4-0 at our home.
11:39
And then we played them in the ACC tournament, and we ended up losing that game.
11:44
Like, so it's, like, not even the scoreline matters. It's just, like, any...
11:48
Any team can win, and again, it's hard to beat a team twice.
11:51
But it's also in these tournaments, like I forget, now there's no ties.
11:55
So there's going to be overtimes, there's going to be penalty shootouts.
11:59
It's going to be interesting to watch for sure and to play in,
12:03
but hopefully we'll just win so we don't need to go into any extra time.
12:09
It's what makes soccer fun. Yeah, so much fun, yeah.
12:13
But yeah, no, it'll be interesting. kind of talking
12:16
about the games last week too i feel like one of the big
12:18
ones was that miami beat unc yes that
12:23
was crazy yeah except unc is not
12:26
honestly doing as well as they usually are yeah point i mean it's interesting
12:32
because i mean they won they they won the national championship last year again
12:37
back to a point of teams are different each year and you can't settle on past games past,
12:45
whatever I think I saw something that
12:47
like Miami hadn't beaten like a right I
12:50
don't know I could be completely wrong with this but like a
12:53
ranked team or something like it
12:57
was something like that but yeah I mean anything can happen and yeah anything
13:03
can happen right now I think like UNC is not even going to make the ACC tournament
13:06
as of now so we'll see I think they're like on the bubble for even NCAAs but
13:12
they're I feel like the committee's gonna put them in for sure.
13:16
Me and my teammates were like actually just talking about that because we were
13:20
talking about the the Miami game and we were like we'll see but the thing is
13:25
RPI too is like oh like I mean a lot of it comes from that if you don't know
13:31
what the RPI it's based off of your,
13:34
What is it? It's based off the teams that you have played in their level of
13:39
difficulty based off their schedule.
13:42
Yeah. Rankings are a lot like Miami, like Memphis.
13:48
They are ranked number three, I think, right now. They haven't lost a game,
13:52
but their RPI is crazy high because they play.
13:56
This is also very interesting. They play so many SEC and ACC-ranked teams during
14:04
their offseason. Really?
14:07
Like, before? Non-conference. Yeah, non-conference. I see it. Yeah.
14:12
During their non-conference. And then during conference, they aren't playing
14:15
that high of a level of team. Right.
14:18
Yeah. But they're winning games. And then their RPI just shoots up.
14:21
I mean, they're a great team.
14:23
Yeah. They're a very, very good team. but their
14:25
RPI is crazy high because they they won so many
14:28
games against SEC teams whose RPI is hard because
14:32
you're playing yeah it's every week yeah yeah that's kind of I feel like a team
14:39
like Memphis like they're historically good like especially in the past few
14:43
years like that's what you have to do their coach is kind of like very smart
14:46
for that because yeah they wouldn't be ranked as high if they just played.
14:51
Like lower level teams or like their teams in their conference like
14:53
their non-conference schedule is probably way harder
14:56
than their actual conference schedule for them so that really
15:00
gets their RPI up and yeah I mean if they're able to beat
15:03
and do good against SEC teams like they can do good against anyone so that's
15:08
smart for them but it is going to be different like for them like they're probably
15:12
going to fly through their conference tournament and then win a couple NCAA
15:17
games and And then they're going to have to replay some SEC or like ACC Big Ten teams.
15:22
But they haven't probably played them since like August. So that's going to
15:26
be kind of a shock for them.
15:28
It's definitely interesting. Like for teams that are middle conferences,
15:33
not a Power Five conference.
15:36
And then they, like, you're just used to playing a great team every week.
15:40
And it's not the same. But yeah, you bring up a good point.
15:44
It'll be interesting. Yeah, it'll be so interesting. Yeah.
15:49
But we're excited. We have to bring on our guest.
15:52
So we're really excited. Can't wait for you guys to hear from her.
15:56
Yes, we can't wait. Let's bring her on. Today we welcome Ellie Walbrook,
16:00
who is a forward on the BYU women's soccer team.
16:03
She played her freshman year at UCLA, where she was part of the 2022 national championship team.
16:09
And then after transferring to BYU, she's had an incredible three years with 17 goals and counting.
16:15
This past summer, Ellie also played for Utah United in the USL Women's League,
16:20
where she was named MVP and they won the championship.
16:23
Off the field, she's majoring in sports journalism with the hopes of becoming
16:27
a sports broadcaster one day.
16:29
She's an amazing player in person, and we're so excited to have her on today.
16:35
So, Ellie, why don't we start off with you telling us a little bit more about
16:39
yourself and your journey to BYU?
16:41
Yeah, awesome. Thanks for having me, guys. Like you said, my name is Ellie Walbrook.
16:46
I was actually born in Denver, Colorado, but I call Utah my home.
16:50
Been here since I was like three years old, so very fun.
16:54
Grew up with a soccer family. My dad played soccer. He's from Germany,
16:58
so kind of has that background.
17:00
And then my older brother plays soccer. I have two younger sisters.
17:03
My youngest one plays soccer, and the one in the middle is kind of that cheerleader,
17:07
girly girl, so she kind of skipped out. But super competitive family.
17:11
My parents both played D1 sports. my mom played.
17:15
Basketball my dad played soccer so kind of grew up in that ended up playing with real colorado,
17:23
my senior year grew up playing with the roca ecnl all throughout my call kind
17:29
of club soccer and then decided not to play high school and i moved to real
17:33
colorado to finish my club soccer there and then ended up committing to ucla
17:38
my freshman year of high school when the rule change was you could commit when
17:42
you're a freshman in high school.
17:43
So I ended up committing to UCLA. Just felt like that was the best decision for me at the time.
17:49
And honestly, I don't regret going there. I learned a lot about myself as a player, as a person.
17:55
I grew a lot and have a lot of friendships that will last a lifetime.
17:59
And obviously, you dream about winning national championships as a little girl.
18:03
So being able to be part of that team was unreal.
18:07
And then, yeah, I decided to transfer kind of that right after we won the national championship.
18:12
I think for me, I just kind of looked at it as I kind of wanted more for myself
18:17
and something at UCLA was missing.
18:20
And so coming back home to Utah and committing to BYU, where I've known the
18:25
coaches since I was a little girl, I've known the players, grew up going to
18:28
like ID camps, summer camps here.
18:31
So been at BYU and have loved my time here.
18:35
Love the girls, love my coaching staff. It's also nice being close to home.
18:39
So yeah, that's a little bit about me.
18:41
What was the transition like coming to BYU after being at UCLA?
18:46
Yeah, I mean, I think for me, it was super easy.
18:50
I knew most of the girls because a lot of the girls from BYU are Utah natives.
18:56
So like the soccer world here is super small. So most people know each other.
19:00
And like, I grew up playing with a bunch of the upperclassmen,
19:04
whether they were on like LaRocca or Avalanche, ECNL, like it's a very close circle.
19:10
So coming back, it was a really easy transition. I feel like I just flew right
19:15
into it and got a roll and kind of ran it with it.
19:20
We also saw that your brother does play soccer for BYU. So what's it like having
19:25
your brother also playing there like with you?
19:27
Yeah, it's good. The BYU men's team, they're a club team.
19:31
So my brother, he played Utah Tech, which is a Division I soccer team in St. George.
19:37
It was like three hours, kind of close to Vegas a little bit.
19:39
So he played there for his first two years.
19:42
And then he transferred here about a year ago. And he's played here.
19:48
Their club team's amazing. It's also nice to have him close.
19:51
He just got married, so he's actually expecting a little baby girl in December, so that's kind of fun.
19:57
But yeah, it's super fun to have him here and close, and we always train together,
20:01
which is nice on the BYU facilities, so it's been really fun.
20:05
Do you think having a family that was really big into sports,
20:10
like you said, both your parents played college athletics, and your brother
20:13
has helped you with your transition in playing college athletics?
20:19
Yeah, I think it's been huge. I mean, I grew up in a really competitive household.
20:24
So my parents or whether that being my brother's little sister have always wanted the best for me.
20:29
So if we win the game, like they're always telling me like what I could have
20:32
done more, just really holding to me to a high standard.
20:35
And I think that's helped me so much in my in my career, just like holding myself
20:40
to a high standard so I can compete with the greatest girls in the nation.
20:45
And yeah, I think I grew growing up for sure has helped me with that.
20:49
Yeah, that's awesome to have kind of your family like all influence you and
20:53
help you and support you and they can all relate to you in that. So that's pretty cool.
20:58
So last year you sat out due to injury, right?
21:02
So what did you like learn from that experience? Like how did that help you
21:06
become better this year?
21:07
And kind of what lessons did you learn from that? Yeah, I mean you never wish
21:12
an injury upon anyone and like for me i've never been injured in my whole life
21:16
Not even like any state stitches or staples So tearing my acl is probably the
21:20
worst one that could have happened So that kind of sucked but for me,
21:25
I really just trusted in god's plan for me I'm a big believer in that god has
21:29
a plan for each and every one of us And so I might have not liked that but just
21:34
really Trusting in him and his plan has made me a better person And I think
21:39
a big thing I learned was just like, I'm more than just a soccer player.
21:44
Like my worth is more than just a soccer player and the stats and all that kind of stuff.
21:48
So I learned a lot about myself and how I'm much more than a soccer player.
21:53
I can be a leader off the field as much as I can be on the field.
21:56
And so just stepping back in, I feel like I've worked really hard to get back
22:00
into the shape and the fitness and just competing at where I was before.
22:06
So, and I feel like I really haven't skipped a beat. So it's been nice and just
22:10
having a good support system for me through it all has been huge.
22:15
It sounds like your transition after having an injury and coming back has been really good.
22:21
What were you looking forward to most at the start of this season after coming back from injury?
22:27
I think the biggest thing is just stepping back on the field with the girls
22:31
who have been by my side through it all.
22:34
I tore my ACL in the spring last year, so it was just super devastating.
22:39
I stepped into this role as a captain on the team and just being a leader that
22:43
everyone looks up to. and getting that injury in the spring and not being able
22:47
to play in the fall with such a young team was kind of hard.
22:51
So just really being able to step with that team onto the field and just having
22:56
them on my side, whether it's through losses or wins has been huge.
23:00
And obviously getting that first goal back from such a long injury was so good.
23:05
And I feel like the gates have just been opened.
23:07
And yeah, like I said, I just trusted in God's plan. He's been through my side
23:11
kind of the whole time through it. So yeah. Yeah, that's awesome.
23:16
That sounds like you have a great mindset coming back from your injury and everything.
23:20
And I mean, that's a serious injury, but I like how you just stayed positive
23:24
and trusting in God's plan.
23:26
Like, I think that's huge. And I'm a big believer, too.
23:29
So I think that's really inspiring for mothers to hear and for younger girls to hear, especially.
23:35
Like, even if this is your first injury, if you get injured,
23:38
like, you'll make it through and just trusting God's plan for you. I feel like that's huge.
23:43
What specifically do you like about BYU and your team this year?
23:47
Yeah, I mean, I think for us, we're a super young team. Like this year, we only have one senior.
23:52
So we've kind of gone through the ups and flows of the season,
23:56
losses that you think you should have won.
23:58
But just growing, I think we're still growing. I don't think we've played the best soccer.
24:03
And I think that's still in front of us. So I think it's just fun to grow with
24:07
such a young team, whether that's on the field or off the field.
24:10
We've really worked on our culture, especially having that young team.
24:14
That's what's going to make us win games is having that strong culture.
24:17
So building that from the foundation and just working on that has been really fun.
24:21
And obviously playing for BYU and representing something bigger has been a big
24:25
part of us. And that's what makes us so special.
24:28
So it's just fun to step on Southfield and know that we're playing for more than just soccer.
24:33
So I love this team and it's been a blast this season.
24:36
What's been your favorite memory so far with this team in this year?
24:41
Oh, that's a good one. I think, obviously for me, I think beating UCLA.
24:46
I mean, that's my old team and them coming to Southfield and me being able to
24:51
score that 1-0 goal to win the game was pretty fun,
24:55
especially with a sold-out crowd and my family in the stands and obviously against
24:59
UCLA, my old team, which was a blast, and they were ranked at the time.
25:03
So I think that's my probably my favorite one so far.
25:07
Yeah. Kind of going off of that, how is it you guys, I feel like are known for
25:11
like such a huge crowd at your home games. Like, how is that?
25:14
How does that play into y'all's soccer? And how does that help your team?
25:18
Yeah, I mean, I think I might be biased, but I love Southfield.
25:21
Like, I feel like it's such a hard place to play at, especially if you're an away team.
25:25
But for us, like the fans and like having so many people in the stands rooting
25:30
for us and wanting us to win and having so much like energy and the atmosphere. It's like unmatched.
25:36
It feels like you're in a college cup game every single home game you play at.
25:40
It's been huge. And I think that's a big part why we're so good at home is because
25:44
we have that fan base and it kind of intimidates other teams.
25:48
So it's unreal. And I don't think there's another place like it.
25:52
You were talking about how your team is very young this year and you guys still
25:57
have a lot of things you can work on and stuff.
26:01
What would you say are your goals for the rest of the season or even going into next year?
26:08
Yeah i think i mean we still have an opportunity to make
26:10
the big 12 tournament so just hoping to win
26:13
on thursday against our rivals up at
26:16
utah playing up there that's always a massive game because they hate us and
26:20
we hate them so i mean you guys probably know but yeah i think just kind of
26:25
focusing on our process has been a huge thing we've been talking about this
26:28
season i mean doing what we do and not worrying kind of about the other team
26:33
i feel like we can still do that better.
26:35
And I think still, I think we'll make an NCAA tournament game because of our RPI.
26:40
So just really prepping ourselves mentally, physically, and all that kind of
26:44
stuff just to focus on our process and what we can do to win the games and kind
26:49
of get the outcomes we want and feel like we deserved.
26:51
So that's been huge for us. And I think we still have a good chance for postseason play.
26:56
Yeah, that's great. Kind of pivoting to your summer team. What was it like playing
27:02
last summer with Utah United and...
27:05
What did winning the championship and like the MVP award mean to you?
27:10
Oh my gosh. Playing USL was so much fun because I feel like for us,
27:15
it was a lot of Utah girls.
27:16
So it was like a lot of Utah girls from like Utah, Weber State.
27:20
We had seven from TCU, just kind of Utah native girls that have kind of grown
27:25
up enemies and just being on like one super league team from the state of Utah was so fun.
27:32
And I think we showed how much talent there is in Utah.
27:35
And just like I feel like we didn't even like
27:38
take it seriously like I feel like it was
27:41
just a high school team where you're just coming together
27:44
and we all knew how each other played like we really connected
27:47
and our chemistry was so so good and
27:50
it was so easy flowing so being able to play and obviously
27:53
I feel like we killed teams especially in our
27:56
league that we had was really fun and
27:58
I think winning that MVP award was just
28:01
a cherry on top of the whole thing I mean
28:04
that was like kind of my first real games back
28:07
for my ACL injury so just being able to be like oh I'm kind of the same player
28:13
I was before my injury was huge for me and just I think growing for the fall
28:18
season playing with that USL team made me so ready for fall so I love the USL
28:23
and it was so fun and I can't wait to do it next year.
28:25
Yeah. Playing in the USL, I also played summer league for a USL team back home.
28:32
And it's so fun coming back and playing with like your club teammates.
28:36
It's so fun. I'm like, it's unmatched. The energy, it's just so much fun because
28:40
it's like away from everyone. Yeah, it's cool.
28:43
Yeah, me too. I played for you. I was injured a little bit in the summer,
28:47
but it's so much fun when I got to play with them too. Yeah.
28:51
It's a blast. Yeah, good experience.
28:54
How do you balance being a student athlete, being a student while also being
28:59
an athlete? And what do you do in your free time also outside of soccer and outside of school?
29:05
Yeah, I think balance is the big thing. I prioritize soccer,
29:09
but also like academics is a huge part in what I want to accomplish in college
29:14
and just really having a set like calendar.
29:18
Like I'm a big believer in like planners and like planning my day out time by time.
29:24
So for me, I love to like schedule my practice, classes, and then in between
29:29
I'm doing my homework, staying on top of things. I think the biggest thing is
29:33
just managing your time as best as you can is the best advice I could give.
29:38
I feel like it's as you keep going through college, it gets easier and easier as you do it.
29:43
So, yeah, I mean, I feel like it's pretty manageable, which is which is good.
29:48
Some things I like to do outside of soccer. I love to travel.
29:51
I mean, I've been to like 14 countries, so I want to continue to travel.
29:56
I love to hang out with my friends, shop. I mean, we I'm a big shopper, which is probably bad.
30:01
But yeah, just doing anything outdoors. Utah is really fun outdoors going to
30:05
the lake hiking A bunch of those things, but yeah, it's been fun. I love utah.
30:11
I saw that you're a journalism, what is it, is it journalism major?
30:16
Yeah, sports journalism, yeah.
30:18
So I'm also a journalism major and want to do something sports journalism, broadcasting.
30:23
How do you decide that as your major and then how have you liked it so far?
30:28
Yeah, I think it really, I really decided while I was out with my injury, I'm not having soccer.
30:34
I was like, so like, what am I going to do with my time?
30:37
And so I kind of got like these internships with BYU TV. BYU TV has like a big
30:42
broadcasting sports kind of broadcasting.
30:45
So I did an internship with them and just kind of fell in love with the broadcasting side of it.
30:51
And yeah, I think we have a great resource here at BYU because their broadcasting is so amazing.
30:57
So just try to get in with all those people to kind of get my name out there.
31:01
And then there's this guy named Greg Rubel. He's like does all of our like he's
31:06
called the voice of the Cougar. So he does like all the football games,
31:08
basketball games, and just kind of got with him and I'm doing an internship with him.
31:13
And so I just kind of fell in love with that outside of soccer.
31:15
And I hope to be like a sports broadcaster or like a sideline reporter after
31:20
hopefully my professional days.
31:22
So, yeah, I don't know. I think that's a big blessing in my ACL recovery is
31:27
just kind of falling in with something else besides the soccer.
31:31
Yeah, kind of going off of that, like you kind of mentioned it,
31:34
but what are you planning for after college? What are your plans?
31:38
Yeah, I want to play professionally, whether that's in NWSL or overseas.
31:42
I don't really know yet, wherever life takes me.
31:45
But I think that obviously I want to be a sports broadcaster after and then
31:50
having a family, being a mom is up there as well. but that's way, way, way past.
31:56
But yeah, I think that's a good plan and just hopefully to play professional
32:00
after my last year next year.
32:02
Well, thank you so much for coming on, Ellie.
32:05
We really appreciate you taking your time talking to us and we wish you the
32:10
best of luck with the rest of your season. Thank you, guys.
32:13
Thanks, you too. Appreciate it. It was really good having Ellie on.
32:18
I think we learned a lot about I mean the transfer process talking
32:21
about injuries I mean coming back from that
32:25
and obviously she's killing it this season and over the summer as well so I
32:29
think she's a lot to look forward to this year and next year I mean BYU still
32:35
has a chance in the tournament so looking forward to see how they do in LA with
32:39
the rest of the season my biggest takeaway from,
32:43
what she talked about was something
32:46
I think is pretty interesting that athletes have a chance of doing.
32:50
She talked about doing an internship through BYU Athletics when she was her.
32:55
And that's something that I think a lot of people, like a lot of athletes have
33:00
a hard time finding internships and stuff just with time.
33:04
And I've talked about this a little bit over the summer. It's hard finding an
33:08
internship just because we're.
33:10
A lot of our time is to soccer and we have to be at school early and everything,
33:14
and it's easy to kind of put that on a back burner.
33:18
But she took advantage of having such a good broadcasting program at BYU and
33:26
being able to do an internship through them.
33:29
I think that's huge, especially with wanting to go into that outside of when she's done with soccer.
33:36
Mm-hmm yeah right kind of
33:39
going off of that I really liked how she yeah
33:41
talks about her internships and then she also just talked about the overall
33:44
like balance that you have to have in which we've mentioned like
33:47
a lot before like it's not just about soccer and
33:51
it's not just about school and soccer there's more to that I
33:54
really like how she talked about like all her hobbies and
33:57
what she likes doing for fun hanging out with friends going shopping like
34:00
going hiking I just feel like that's so important to not tie up your identity
34:04
in soccer or school and just it's important to be well-balanced for sure just
34:09
so that you can live happily too and not be so stressed out and yeah just have
34:14
a good overall balance for things so yeah I think also.
34:20
What you're saying with the balance, too, when it came to her injury,
34:24
she seemed to be having such a great mindset just because of that and figuring
34:30
out her role on the team, which is very hard in an injury, even as a captain and everything.
34:37
But I think she was able to deal with it or seemed like she dealt with it really
34:41
well just because she had other things going for her that she was doing well
34:47
and wasn't dwelling on that injury.
34:50
Right. Yeah. And it especially must have been hard for her because it was her
34:54
first ever injury and it was an ACL.
34:57
Like that's a big first injury. But she sounded like the rehab process went
35:01
great and she was able to get right back to things.
35:03
So that's also an inspiration for like younger people or girls in college who
35:08
are struggling with an injury.
35:10
Because even if you go through the worst injury of them all,
35:13
you can still come back, be the MVP of your summer team, have a great college
35:17
season, and I'm sure she'll go on to play pro after.
35:20
So that's definitely hopeful for a lot of people.
35:23
Yeah. Yeah, it was great having her on, and I think we learned a lot,
35:27
and a lot of younger athletes can take away a lot from Ellie. Mm-hmm. Yes.
35:36
So that's it for today. Thank you guys all for listening to this week's episode
35:41
of the Big Life Podcast, and we hope to see you all next week. Bye!