Joining one of the several different club teams offered at KU is a great way to get involved and stay active. With sports ranging from softball, tennis, fencing, crew and even quidditch, it’s not difficult to find a team that you would be interested in. Kendra Weinstein, a sophomore majoring in psychology, made the decision to join KU’s Women’s Soccer Club team her freshmen year, after the suggestion from a friend that was on the team. “I had a friend that was a year older that played on the club soccer team and loved it, so I kind of decided to try out on a whim,” said Kendra.
However, this isn’t to say that Kendra didn’t have any soccer experience prior to try outs. Kendra started playing soccer when she was 5 and moved on to premiere/club soccer teams around the age of 10. She continued playing soccer up until her sophomore year in high school, but decided to take a break from organized sports and joined the yearbook staff for the remainder of her time in high school. After graduation, Kendra missed the close-knit relationships she had with her yearbook staff and decided that trying out for the women’s soccer club team would be a good way to make new relationships through the sport she loved as a kid.
The try-outs for KU’s club soccer team are a three day process. The first day consists of small-sided drills and gradually move onto larger-scale drills. The second and third days are mainly made up with scrimmage matches and every day ends with sprinting. On top of such rigorous tryouts, players have to deal with the intense heat, which can be a huge deterrent for those that are used to practicing indoors. But Kendra did not let these factors get in her way – working as hard as the rest of the players, she found her name on the roster for the team as the forward and midfielder. “It was a pretty empowering experience for me. I had never before set myself up for failure and managed to work through my lack of ability and doubts and really proved to myself that I could do it,” said Kendra. On top of being an official team member, Kendra was also elected President of the club this past February.
Along with soccer and school, Kendra interns for a non-profit organization called RebeL, Inc., and also works part-time. As busy as this soccer star is, she knows how important it is to bring out your inner-child every now and then, and not take life too seriously all the time. “I like having dance parties with my roommates and doing the kind of stuff I did when I was a kid — drawing on the driveway in chalk, going bowling, tie-dying t-shirts or anything else random that seems fun,” said Kendra.
After college, Kendra hopes to keep soccer in her life, mainly as a hobby and an outlet, but it is without a doubt that this club team has been a big part of her life.
“Joining the team was a huge test of self-confidence and perseverance for me, and I’m extremely grateful to have been given the chance to be a part of this amazing team and meet a bunch of incredible people,”said Kendra.