Maris Weddle '24 Recruiting Profile

I started playing soccer when I was three, and immediately fell in love with the sport. While many of my teammates have come and gone, I have always stayed with soccer, developing my skills on and off the field. I will never give up on a game, going until I have nothing more to give. I am aggressive to the ball, aggressive on defense and offense. I always listen to my coaches and I love cheering on my team, and keeping their best interests at heart. I have always taken soccer seriously, and leave everything I have out on the pitch. I always have a place for soccer in my life. 

I have always been told I have a good Soccer IQ, with a great ability to see and read the field, along with the ball and plays. I believe this is due to my many years of soccer and the coaching I have gained from college coaches and working with players much older than myself on teams. I have played u18 and u19 for the past 3 years, at different levels, and started playing u11 select at age 8. I was invited to play at a very selective level, but turned it down to recover from an ankle injury. The winter of my freshman year, my u16 team played a u19 winter league and won, where I played mostly forward and offensive winger. 

My freshman year I did not play high school soccer due to knee pain from the previous season, but hopped right into the high school season my sophomore year. While I didn't make varsity, I put effort into JV and started every game, playing either a defensive mid, winger, or outside back, occasionally subbing into the center back. I spent most of my summer between my sophomore and junior year, recovering from patellar tendonitis in both knees and honing my skills once I was cleared to play. My Junior year I once again made JV, but had chances to play up at a Varsity level. I played mostly center and outside back, with some defensive mid. I played a defensive wing when pulled up for varsity.

I take academics very seriously, and while I have struggled in the past with my grades, I have been very focused on bringing my grades up and my GPA. I have worked hard to keep myself afloat through various challenges, including multiple run-ins with covid and injuries. 

I am looking forward to the college experience, and hope to get a degree in physical therapy so I can help other athletes the way I needed help with my injuries. It’s been a lifelong goal of mine to play college soccer. I’m willing to work hard, learn, add to my playing style, and reach my goals.