Senior Stories: Mairn Utilizes Family Bloodlines to Compete on International Stage

By Jayden Hewitt, Special to MSUSpartans.com

Michigan State senior center back Allie Mairn was astonished when she first walked into a locker room with UEFA logos. She was a new member of the Latvian national soccer team, an unexpected experience for an American who hails from Grand Rapids, but she was ready for the adventure.

Her new soccer life as a member of the Latvian team has brought her to new countries, helped her meet extended family, and play her sport at a national level - all while learning a new culture and a new language.

It's been two years since she joined the team, getting called up five times and playing in UEFA Nations League matches and UEFA Euro Qualifiers matches.

Her soccer journey is rooted in ties to the past. Mairn's grandmother and her family fled Latvia in 1944 due to World War II and expected Soviet occupation after the Nazis relinquished control that same year. They spent five years in a camp in Germany before making it to the United States in 1949.

Allie Mairn

But Mairn was unaware that her Latvian roots would lead to an opportunity of a lifetime.

"(I) Didn't think anything of it until probably early high school, I had one of my club coaches, (who) was Latvian as well," Mairn said. "And he kind of talked to my mom a little bit and mentioned, 'Did you know, if your grandparents were born there, you're eligible to play (for the country)?'

It took roughly two years to gather the proper paperwork, as much of it was displaced because of the war and Soviet occupation. She went through the process to get dual citizenship and a passport.

Finally, Mairn was called to play with the Latvian national team, during the spring of her junior season at MSU. However, there was a kicker: it was Mairn's first time in Latvia, and she didn't fluently speak the language.

She had heard her grandmother speak Latvian and knew phrases, according to her parents, Todd and Theresa Mairn, but that was about all. She has since learned more soccer-based terminology, while also adjusting to a different style of play and culture.

"The first time, I was so nervous, because obviously they don't speak English at practices and meetings or anything," Mairn said. "So everything is in Latvian, so I was super nervous going there.

"There's one other girl that was born and raised in America, too, so she helps me out a bit, and then I had a few girls that are fluent in English as well, so they would kind of help translate for me. But from the start, it was like, super difficult."

Mairn started playing soccer at five, with her talent taking her to teams across Michigan. After time with Midwest United, Mairn joined the Michigan Hawks in Livonia. The drives were long, the scheduling was tiring, but Mairn was committed to the grind that is club soccer.

"We're fully immersed, but we were always of the opinion, if she's dedicated and has the passion for it, it's not my dream; if it's her dream, then we'll back it," Todd said.

Theresa added, "She said, 'I'm all in'. I'm like, "OK, you're gonna miss proms, you're going to miss your friends and hanging out on the weekend. You're not going to be on a school team.'

Mairn began playing significant minutes at MSU, even without starting games, in 2023. She was yet again a key contributor in 2024, and in 2025 has started in six of MSU's contests.

Head Coach Jeff Hosler initially offered Mairn when he was the head coach at Grand Valley State. She chose MSU over University of Miami, Baylor and West Virginia, among others. Her parents attended Michigan State together.

Hosler said Mairn has grown since she got to MSU.

Allie Mairn

"Really, Allie, as a freshman, was incredible. She stepped into the lineup, coming off the bench a lot, gave us a lot of really big moments until she went down later in the season with an injury," Hosler said. "But she's a consummate leader. She's obviously having a major impact in her senior year.She brings great field presence, she's vocal.

"You know, I think her teammates probably describe her as like 'Mama Bear' of the group, because she is caring, and kind of looks after everybody."

Hosler discussed the physical and mental toll of switching between two teams and how Mairn handles it with ease.

"Allie has never made an excuse in four years," Hosler said. "You know that every day, physically, she's not probably ever 100 percent, but she never uses it as a crutch."

Mairn's leadership and toughness come from a place of maturity and a will to succeed, but with any sport, communication is also key. Her defensive running mate, senior center back Maggie Illig, arrived in the same class as Mairn and they clicked immediately.

In their last year, though, not only are the goals high, but leadership is crucial for two integral parts of the defense.

"It's our last season, so we really want to make our mark and the ultimate goal is to win," Illig said. "And I think as two center backs, like, we control a lot of that.

"I think you're not always going to have your best day every day, you know? But having each other's back and knowing that if I'm having a bad day, I know Allie's gonna have a great one, so. But we have that relationship and trust with each other, so it always is going to work."

Life after MSU presents many options, whether it be playing soccer or finding a career in her chosen major, marketing.

"I feel like I have the pro aspirations and potentially would love to play in Europe," notes Mairn. "I think that would be super cool. I will see what opportunities arise and if there's a good one, I would love to go play for a few years. Eventually, when soccer is over, I'll use my marketing degree and pursue a 'real-world' job."

Senior Stories: Mairn Utilizes Family Bloodlines to Compete on International Stage

Players Mentioned

Maggie Illig

Allie Mairn

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