Chicagoan Corinne Harris ’16 plays forward and outside midfield for the Michigan women’s varsity soccer team. She has been playing for more than ten years and is excited to be a starting player as a freshmen!
Her Campus: When did you start playing soccer and what teams have you been a part of? How do these teams compare to playing in the Big Ten?
Corrine Harris: I started playing competitive club soccer when I was eight years old for the Chicago Magic Soccer Club in Frankfort, Illinois. I switched to the Naperville Soccer Association when I was 15 years old. This team was really strong and we won a national championship, but college soccer requires another level of focus, hard work, and competition that you only really understand once you start playing. Playing in the Big Ten is awesome because it is so challenging and you get to play against some of the best teams in the country. Every game is tough, and it’s really exciting to go out there and fight for Michigan.
HC: Did you always know you wanted to be a college athlete? What was the process of becoming one like?
CH: Playing in college has always been one of my biggest goals. The process starts really early—recruitment letters come starting freshman year in high school. It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice—my junior year I was gone for eight weekends in a row either making college visits or for games, but its really worth it once you get to college. It’s a privilege to play college soccer, especially at a school like Michigan.
HC: What are you studying at Michigan? How do you balance classes with practice and games?
CH: I wanted to come to Michigan because obviously it has great academics and athletics. I am currently studying English, Spanish, political science, and anthro-bio, but I hope to major in either psychology or communications. Balancing work and soccer can be a challenge sometimes, but we have great support from our team, coaches, and the University. Plus, I learned pretty good time management skills in high school where I also had to travel a lot for soccer.
HC: What has been the highlight of your first season so far?
CH: We have won two double overtime games, which is always exciting. Winning at Northwestern was fun because I got to play in Chicago, my hometown, in front of friends and family. We also just tied the unbeaten streak record for the women’s soccer program here with a 7-0-1 record in eight games. Honestly, a major highlight is just stepping onto the field with the team every game and knowing we’re all fighting for each other and our school.
HC: Do you hope to continue with soccer after college? If so, what will that process be like?
CH: I would love to continue with soccer after college. As of right now there is no professional league in the US, but if something comes up I would love to pursue it. I’m not sure exactly what that process would be like, but its something I definitely hope to find out!