Michigan State University Athletics
Josh Barens: Overcoming the Obstacles
11/11/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 11, 2015 
By Kacy Kobakof, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Mich. — When Josh Barens first stepped onto the fresh-cut grass in DeMartin Stadium, winning was the only thing on his mind. Since that first step to his final steps here at Michigan State University, he has overcome adversities that have shaped him to who he is today.
As a child, soccer was the one sport that stuck with Barens.
"I started playing soccer when I was four," Barens said. "My grandpa was really into soccer so I think that helped. It was something I was just naturally good at, and you tend to stick with something you're good at."
Growing up a Michigan State fan, Barens knew that MSU was where he wanted to play. Once the Spartans started to show an interest in him, he knew that it was meant to be. In his first season as a Spartan, Barens started 21 games and competed in all 22 games of the season.
Finishing the season with two assists, he credits the seniors for his successes that year.
"The seniors made it a little easier on me when I was a freshman," Barens said. "The adjustment was that I had to recognize what my role was, which was much smaller coming in as a freshman."
Barens' second season was just as successful, playing 90 minutes in 16 of the 19 games and tallying one assist. Then tragedy struck. Barens tore his ACL.
"My first ACL tear was after my sophomore season," Barens said. "It was in the spring off season. We were playing the University of Detroit. I took a step and I was just a little bit off balance, then it just went."
Although a serious injury, Barens kept a positive attitude through rehabilitation. Then two years later, history repeated itself -- on the exact same day. Barens re-tore the same ACL on April 5, which was the day he had it repaired two years earlier.
The second time took more of a mental toll on him than the first, but Barens' family, teammates and coaches served as his support system.
"It was definitely worse mentally because I had felt like I had put in so much time and effort to come back. I finally came back, feeling like I was going to play that fall, and then tore it again," Barens said.
Impressively, his injuries allowed him to see the sport of soccer in a new light.
"What I've learned most from my teammates is what sports are really about," Barens said. "I think sports are more about building relationships that you're going to have for the rest of your life. I didn't realize this at first before I tore my ACL. I was just about improving myself and becoming a better player and winning. That's all I really played for. After the ACL injuries, the thing that I've learned most, especially through my teammates, is that the relationships are what are most important because they're the ones that are there for you all the time."
Facing adversities with teammates by his side helped Barens immensely.
"The thing that I would take away from this team is the lesson that I learned," Barens said. "Sports are the best teacher in life. I don't think there is another thing that you can do and grow up into that will teach you more about life than sports. Just by dealing with people, overcoming adversity, working with people towards a common goal, all that kind of stuff. I didn't realize that until now."
Barens saw his situation as an opportunity to better himself by beating every unfortunate card he was dealt.
"This has been the hardest thing I've had to deal with sports wise because I've always been able to play healthy and it got taken away from me for three years. I felt that if I could push through it and at least come back and play one more time, then that would be achieving all the obstacles for me."
Finally healed, Barens had the opportunity to lace up his boots and step back onto the field again.
"It was like playing soccer for the first time all over again," Barens said. "Playing on senior day this year after overcoming everything and getting to play the full 90 minutes has been one of my favorite memories. Winning a Big Ten game on senior day, that was definitely special. I was just so happy to be able to get on the field and play and work hard with the people that I'm with every day."
It is not every day that someone overcomes adversity in such a way that Barens did. His constant fight to recover is definitely admirable.
"I'm going to miss being around the team," Barens said. "The relationships are what I'll miss the most."
By Kacy Kobakof, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
EAST LANSING, Mich. — When Josh Barens first stepped onto the fresh-cut grass in DeMartin Stadium, winning was the only thing on his mind. Since that first step to his final steps here at Michigan State University, he has overcome adversities that have shaped him to who he is today.
As a child, soccer was the one sport that stuck with Barens.
"I started playing soccer when I was four," Barens said. "My grandpa was really into soccer so I think that helped. It was something I was just naturally good at, and you tend to stick with something you're good at."
Growing up a Michigan State fan, Barens knew that MSU was where he wanted to play. Once the Spartans started to show an interest in him, he knew that it was meant to be. In his first season as a Spartan, Barens started 21 games and competed in all 22 games of the season.
Finishing the season with two assists, he credits the seniors for his successes that year.
"The seniors made it a little easier on me when I was a freshman," Barens said. "The adjustment was that I had to recognize what my role was, which was much smaller coming in as a freshman."
Barens' second season was just as successful, playing 90 minutes in 16 of the 19 games and tallying one assist. Then tragedy struck. Barens tore his ACL.
"My first ACL tear was after my sophomore season," Barens said. "It was in the spring off season. We were playing the University of Detroit. I took a step and I was just a little bit off balance, then it just went."
Although a serious injury, Barens kept a positive attitude through rehabilitation. Then two years later, history repeated itself -- on the exact same day. Barens re-tore the same ACL on April 5, which was the day he had it repaired two years earlier.
The second time took more of a mental toll on him than the first, but Barens' family, teammates and coaches served as his support system.
"It was definitely worse mentally because I had felt like I had put in so much time and effort to come back. I finally came back, feeling like I was going to play that fall, and then tore it again," Barens said.
Impressively, his injuries allowed him to see the sport of soccer in a new light.
"What I've learned most from my teammates is what sports are really about," Barens said. "I think sports are more about building relationships that you're going to have for the rest of your life. I didn't realize this at first before I tore my ACL. I was just about improving myself and becoming a better player and winning. That's all I really played for. After the ACL injuries, the thing that I've learned most, especially through my teammates, is that the relationships are what are most important because they're the ones that are there for you all the time."
Facing adversities with teammates by his side helped Barens immensely.
"The thing that I would take away from this team is the lesson that I learned," Barens said. "Sports are the best teacher in life. I don't think there is another thing that you can do and grow up into that will teach you more about life than sports. Just by dealing with people, overcoming adversity, working with people towards a common goal, all that kind of stuff. I didn't realize that until now."
Barens saw his situation as an opportunity to better himself by beating every unfortunate card he was dealt.
"This has been the hardest thing I've had to deal with sports wise because I've always been able to play healthy and it got taken away from me for three years. I felt that if I could push through it and at least come back and play one more time, then that would be achieving all the obstacles for me."
Finally healed, Barens had the opportunity to lace up his boots and step back onto the field again.
"It was like playing soccer for the first time all over again," Barens said. "Playing on senior day this year after overcoming everything and getting to play the full 90 minutes has been one of my favorite memories. Winning a Big Ten game on senior day, that was definitely special. I was just so happy to be able to get on the field and play and work hard with the people that I'm with every day."
It is not every day that someone overcomes adversity in such a way that Barens did. His constant fight to recover is definitely admirable.
"I'm going to miss being around the team," Barens said. "The relationships are what I'll miss the most."
Players Mentioned
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