The Person Behind the Player: Sam Witteman

Last week the U23 US Women's National Team traveled to Umag, Croatia to compete in the Istria Cup. This will be my final competition at the Under 23 age level. The Youth National Team experience has provided me with so many tools and memories I will use and cherish through the rest of my soccer career and beyond. The opportunities I have been given through my sport and this organization allowed me to grow both as a player and as a person. My experiences with these teams allowed me to see the world, play with the best players in the country and create some memories I will never forget. This trip, I'm sure, will be nothing less, if not more memorable than the rest.

22 players from 13 different states.  Our paths all very different, merging with this team and opportunity. Each player on this team has a unique story to tell. There is no formula for success and no shortcut to reaching the highest level. Each found their way to this very moment with this very team in a different way. Our journeys through this sport and to this level have all taken different courses. Some battle injury, some develop later than others and some find their breakthrough at the most unexpected time.  So let's take a look into some of my teammates, and the journey they experienced.  If there is one thing I have learned, it is that we each have a special story to tell. 

The Person Behind The Player: Samantha Witteman

I met Sam about a month ago in Carson, California at the last U23 training camp. Her bubbly personality and grit on the field made this friendship almost instant. As a player, Sam is a communicator, she's feisty and she works harder than anyone on the field. Her competitive spirit and passion to win makes her the ideal teammate and friend. This past January Sam was drafted by the NWSL's newest team, the Orlando Pride. This is a big move for Sam, who originally grew up and played college soccer in California, but she is excited for this new chapter in her life. Although her soccer career seems to be falling into place somewhat perfectly, this was not always the case. 

Sam's path was different from most. Sam's club team was not a part of the ECNL, but she still found a way to pursue her dream and continue her soccer career in college. She attended the University of California, Berkeley where she struggled to find playing time in the early years, rarely seeing big minutes as a freshman.

While her lack of experience and limited time off the bench could have kept her from developing, she instead used it as motivation. She began training on her own, doing extra fitness and doing the little things to push her into the next level of her potential. By her sophomore and junior year she was playing big minutes. She finally felt like she was coming into her own and feeling more comfortable at the college level. Her senior year, she was the captain and she played a variety of positions, and by the end of the year people began to notice. Those little things she did in the beginning got her to where she is today. Representing the United States of America at the Under 23 age level. She will also represent the city of Orlando after she was drafted this past January.

Sam's story was interesting to me because she wasn't the kid who everyone knew about in the beginning. But her story proves that hard work and dedication WILL make the important people notice. She decided she wanted to make a name for herself, and then she did. There is no formula to success or to reach your desired goals. Sam didn't play on an ECNL team, therefore her exposure was limited. She wasn't given a huge scholarship to play soccer, but she never gave up on her dream and she found a way to make it happen. "You just have to want it badly enough and be willing to do the things necessary to get there. You have to be willing to do what's best for your team and find a way to make an impact no matter your role". Sam took ownership of her training and because of that she now has the opportunity to play professional soccer.

Another way she made a name for herself was by being versatile. Sam can play almost any position, but explained that there are difficulties that come with it. "Changing positions can be difficult, especially within a single game. In college I played 7 different position over the course of one game. It can be hard to get comfortable and establish a rhythm, but really it comes down to doing what's best for the team". Being versatile and having the ability to play different positions also increases your value as a player. At both the collegiate and professional levels, this quality can be your ticket on the field.

As for me, I am just enjoying my time in this beautiful country. So far we found a good result in our first match vs. the full Slovenian National Team, where we won 3-0. We have two more matches against Poland and France later this week. I got the chance to ice tub in the Adriatic Sea and am attempting to learn some Croatian while I'm here! Hope y'all enjoyed the first installment of the Person Behind the Player. Stay tuned for another great story!