SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: Shauna Stadelmaier
11/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
MSU Women's Soccer senior defender Shauna Stadelmaier is comfortable with her role on the Spartan squad. Always ready to be the next woman up, Stadelmaier came through for her team in critical games by securing the Spartan backline.
"I'm always ready whenever they need me," she said. "I'm always mentally and physically prepared. Just being able to play the full 90 minutes is exciting and a privilege to be able to make an impact on the game. It's just really important to stay mentally focused, taking one game at a time."
Stadelmaier delivered on defense this season in multiple games. On Sept. 25 she stepped up to play against Michigan after two of her teammates exited a game due to a collision. She earned valuable minutes in the second half against Northwestern to deny the Wildcats any scoring opportunities after their first half goal on Oct. 11. Going from playing more minor minutes, Stadelmaier delivered a full 90-minute performance as well as her first start of the season against Maryland on Oct. 21.
Reflecting on the culmination of her time in East Lansing, the senior said that traveling as well as beating Michigan were highlights of her career as a Spartan.
"Winning against Michigan is definitely a high point in my career, especially being able to play in that game, because I've never beat Michigan, personally, being here for four years," she said. "I think, too, ever since my freshman year, playing and being able to travel with the team, even if I'm not playing. Those experiences have been just awesome. We've been to some pretty awesome places, including California."
Stadelmaier is no stranger to the MSU soccer program. The Midland native has been coming to soccer games at DeMartin Stadium since she was young, having participated in a soccer camp with the program.
"Being close to home, it's only an hour and a half from my house," Stadelmaier said. "That's always nice to be able to go home to my family and for them to be able to come to the games."
Stadelmaier, who has appeared in 37 games in her four-year career, which included 10 starts, cites the international organization, Athletes in Action, as a major part of her years on MSU's campus.
Athletes in Action helps athletes "take their passion, faith and sport to new places," according to its website. The organization, founded in 1966, has a presence in more than 60 countries.
"That's definitely been a big part of my time here at State," the senior said. "It's really provided an opportunity to meet other athletes. I came in my freshman year and got involved right away, and now I'm a senior leader. I lead Bible studies with my team and with Gabby (Gauruder) and Kaylee (Phillips), and it's just been a great way to meet people and learn how to worship God in your sport."
During her freshman year, Stadelmaier said she had the opportunity to go to the organization's Ultimate Training Camp, which hosted Division I athletes in Colorado.
She said that she was thankful to been able to have had that opportunity early in her college career to better apply her leadership skills on and off the field throughout her remaining three years.
"Just learning how to take each game or each practice, moment by moment, and not get caught up in earthly things I would say," Stadelmaier said. "It's been really helpful to keep my thought process on [my] internal perspective and how can I impact my teammates in that way."
If there is one commonality shared between the entire student body at Michigan State University, being a member of the Spartan family might be it. It's a bond that nearly 500,000 Spartans around the globe share, and for Stadelmaier, it's no different.
"The atmosphere, and being a Spartan and my Spartan family," said the senior defender. "I've been able to meet so many other athletes too, especially through different clubs like Athletes in Action, and those friendships.
"It's hard because you'll meet people and they're not the same grade as you, and someone will leave. And then you'll leave, so definitely those friendships and the atmosphere of campus during football games, and celebrating a great win."
Stadelmaier was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team twice while receiving the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award two consecutive years as well. Despite constantly being busy with soccer on top of school, Stadelmaier said balancing her schedule has helped her improve her time management and leadership skills, even when she's not on the field.
The skills she's compiled will help after graduation, when Stadelmaier said she will be attending school to become a physician's assistant.
"I'm taking a year where I go to work and get my patient care hours for PA school, and I'll apply at the end of this year," she said. "Hopefully, I will get into the schools I want which are in Colorado. Every time I go out to Colorado, I just love it. I do have family out there in Denver, so that's always nice to be close to family."
