Senior Spotlight: Brian Winterfield
11/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Jazzy Teen, MSU Athletic Communication Student Assistant
Green has been running in the veins of center midfielder Brian Winterfield as long as a soccer ball has been at his feet. After experiencing 16 years of friendships and memories made possible through an intense love for the game, the lifelong Spartan will soon be lacing his cleats one last time.
"Both of my parents went here and the first song I ever learned started with 'On the banks of the Red Cedar,'" explained Winterfield.
The opportunity to wear a Spartan jersey of his own, took years of preparation. Picking up the game at age five, Winterfield spent most of his youth traveling to and from soccer practices and tournaments all over the state.
A native of Grand Blanc, Michigan, Winterfield played for a variety of elite travel teams including the Genesee Stars, Michigan Wolves and Vardar Soccer Club; as well as a few years on Grand Blanc High School men's soccer team.
"Early on when MSU contacted me, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. I had wanted it my whole life," said Winterfield.
Through the years of playing on so many different teams against so many people, I knew almost everyone on the team now through the years before Michigan State, when we were playing with or against each other."
During the last four years, Winterfield and his teammates have seen a great deal of success on and off the field.
His redshirt freshman year resulted in a win over the University of Michigan, and a journey to the Elite Eight.
"I know this seems funny or even cliché, but honestly one of the best memories on the field was when we beat Michigan my freshman year," laughed Winterfield.
Spoken like a true Spartan.
The following season, Winterfield saw a great deal of time in the midfield position as the Spartans went to the Elite Eight for the second-straight season. At the same time, Winterfield was recognized as just one of six Spartans in the Big Ten with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Closing out another strong season last fall, Winterfield's soccer career was going to take an unexpected turn when he fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during the first week of preseason in the spring.
"Everyone is always worried about whether they'll play right away or not. You're only here for such a short amount of time, and you have to make the best of every situation you're given because things will happen that you have no control over," said Winterfield.
After having to miss a majority of games in the first half of this season, Winterfield took on a positive outlook from the sidelines.
"If I can't help on the field, then maybe there's something else I can help with," said Winterfield. "I like to think of myself as a guy people can turn to regardless of the circumstance. I want to be as positive as possible, because like I said, you have to cherish every moment. What really matters is being able to help your team do whatever they can to win, on or off the field. It's really about helping each one of your teammates."
Starting to pick up playing time again as his foot heals, the redshirt junior is making the most of his time left at DeMartin Stadium. He made a decision early on that he would not use his extra year of eligibility, and make this season his last at Michigan State.
Winterfield interned for the company Stifel last summer and later accepted a fulltime offer with the investment banking firm. Once he attains a finance degree this May, Winterfield will begin the next step of his life in New York City.
"I'm looking forward to it honestly. It wouldn't have been possible without Damon [Rensing]. He does a lot of other things behind the scenes for me and rest of the team, to really help us get to the next step - whether that's soccer or not. That's just the culture here," said Winterfield.
As for his last year playing soccer, he says it'll be the biggest adjustment thus far.
"It's a transition for sure when you're leaving something that you've done your whole life. Something that has been everything to you, something that has contributed to most of the memories in your life," said Winterfield. "You may not love it all the time, but at the end of the day there's something about the game that you can't quite explain - for some reason you love it more than anything."
Aside from the game itself, the time spent with teammates will be missed the most.
"These are the people that you spend so much time with, and you love them. You feel better when you're around them."
No matter how far he travels, his ties to Big Ten soccer won't fade. In addition to the teammates he's leaving behind, Winterfield will follow Wisconsin women's soccer, where his younger sister Allie plays midfield.
As postseason is near, Winterfield will wear number 18 with pride in his final games, closing a cherished chapter of his life.
"There's just something special about this place. I will really miss it, but am ready for what's next."
