Senior Spotlight: The Wetungu Way

What defines a leader on a soccer team? Someone who wears a captain armband around his bicep? Someone who is screaming in your face after a bad play? While senior defender Michael Wetungu may not be neither of those, he is no doubt a leader on Michigan State's men's soccer team.

Wetungu grew up in Rochester Hills, only he wasn't wearing green and white as a kid, he wore maize and blue.

"My mom was a huge Michigan fan because she went there, so I grew up a fan of her," Wetungu said.

But that didn't sway his decision to come to MSU.

"I knew this was the right place for me, I committed early in my sophomore year, it was the best choice for me," the current Spartan senior defender said.

During high school, Wetungu had the opportunity to compete in China versus teams from all around the world. He and his team, Vardar SC from Rochester, competed in the 2012 Manchester United Premier World Cup, where they played matches in Shanghai, China.

"It was an amazing opportunity that not many people get to do," Wetungu said.

That wasn't the end of Wetungu's career in non-collegiate soccer, as he has experience playing for semi-professional teams. Two years ago, Wetungu played for Lansing United. That team went on to make the playoffs, but lost in the first round of action.

Last summer, Wetungu was able to play for the Flint City Bucks. His team went on to win the USL League 2 Championship in August. Unfortunately, though, Wetungu wasn't there for it. His time with the team was cut short about mid-way through the season, with an injury. He had to head home to rehab and prepare for his senior season at Michigan State.

Now that he's back to full-speed and in the thick of the season, he has just started to reflect on his time here at Michigan State.

"There's four of us seniors, we've been through a lot, and I love them all," says Wetungu. "We've grown together and had good and bad times, but it's just made us closer".

You can see how close these guys are on the field when they pick each other up after a bad play, or when the celebrate like crazy after a goal. These guys are like brothers, Wetungu even lived with the soccer guys for two years here at MSU. Their bond is a strong one.

Wetungu has always tried to take the freshmen under his wing. He remembers when he was in that situation as a young player at a new school being thrust into DI athletics. He is now someone the younger guys can lean on when they need help getting through tough situations.

"My advice to them is to balance everything in your life. It's not all about soccer; it's academics and family too. In my eyes, family comes first, then school and soccer. So, I tell them that if they can balance all of that, you're on the way to succeeding here at MSU," Wetungu said. "I just try to give them the best example that I can".

Michael Wetungu might not have a captain armband around his bicep, but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he's a leader on this team. He wants to pursue a career in professional soccer, but if that doesn't work out, he has a backup plan. He has a passion for kinesiology and wants to help people rehab injuries, just like his.

Players Mentioned

Michael Wetungu

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