Chalk Talk: Interview with D1 Soccer Player Kelsee Pottorff

THE FAM: Hey Kelsee!!! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

KELSEE: I’m Kelsee Pottorff and I'm a soccer player at UC Irvine. I'm from Fresno, CA, but I played club soccer for San Juan ECNL(Sacramento). My family is that “crazy soccer family” due to the fact we have all played soccer our entire lives. Both of my parents played collegiately, while my dad also has experience playing professionally. My younger sister is currently a D1 college soccer player at San Jose State. I'm a Psychology and Social Behavior major at UCI with the intentions of pursuing law, but I’m also looking into other careers that involve public service. When I’m not studying or playing soccer, I am coaching high school/middle school athletes or working with a soccer analysis company called TraceUp. In my free time, I love cooking, watching movies, or hanging out with my friends.

THE FAM: I love it! Let's get into the nitty gritty of your soccer life. Practically, what does your daily life look like as a college soccer player?

KELSEE: My daily life as a college soccer player is pretty standard. Our team has a set chunk of our day reserved for practice and strength training. We also always have individual meetings, film, and additional training sessions. My class schedule works around my practice times, so I either attend class before practice or later in the day. Its a pretty structured like! 

THE FAM: What are some of the things that motivate you to work hard? Do you see working hard and following Jesus come together or separate? 

KELSEE: Being a follower of Christ is the most prominent motivator in my life. I am aware that in everything I do regardless of which aspect of my life it specifically pertains to. Integrity is my most valued principle and that stems from the fact that I’m motivated to be the best version of myself in all areas of my life.  My family is also motivates me a lot. I know I would not be where I am without their immense contributions and sacrifices, so I strive to honor them in everything I do. I am also highly motivated by the standards I set for myself. I have always been a competitive person both on and off the field, therefore I compete to be the best version of myself in everything I commit to. I appreciate being challenged in all areas of my life, whether that is personally, spiritually, athletically, academically, etc. I’ve established mantras that help assert my integrity in various aspects of my life and promote the way I want to live it. 

THE FAM: What do you do to get fed spiritually during the week?

KELSEE: Prayer. I pray about everything. I pray numerous times throughout the day about anything I need to have a conversation with God about. In addition to praying, I have scripture that I read daily that also serves as motivation to conquer the day ahead of me and be the best version of myself. On the weekends I make sure I attend church. Being a collegiate athlete with an impacted schedule can make it challenging to attend a consistent service time every weekend. With that being said, I make it a priority in my life to attend some form of service whether it is a morning service, night service, or even an online stream of a service.

THE FAM: What are some of your biggest obstacles to following Jesus and playing sports?

KELSEE: Through my experience, the biggest obstacle to following Jesus and playing sports is time restriction. Playing sports or having other obligations does take time away that could be utilized spiritually. Ive learned that this shouldn't be an excuse but it is a challenge I face daily. 

THE FAM: In what ways do you want to grow?

KELSEE: I am a firm believer in constantly challenging oneself; A part of that comes from my competitive nature and another part of it is that I love challenging myself to be the best I can be. Theres always room for growth! I usually try to make my environment as challenging as possible. This includes surrounding myself with people who constantly challenge me to grow. I am beyond blessed to have the people I have in my life. I have a family who is always encouraging me to be the best person I can be. I have coaches and teammates who push me to be the best athlete I can be. I also have amazing friends who challenge me to live my life to the fullest and make the most out of every opportunity presented.

THE FAM: If you could give one encouragement to the next generation of soccer girls, what would it be?

KELSEE: Challenge yourselves to be the best version of yourself that you can be, not only as soccer players, but as people. Stay true to yourself and your beliefs and remain confident in who you are. Soccer players are all unique in their own way. As people, take pride in your individuality. Be confident in who you are and what makes you who you truly are. Find what motivates you and use that to challenge yourself on a daily basis in all the areas of your life.

Kelsee Pottorff