Q & A with Loyola's Men's Soccer Junior Lee Zarzecki
Oct. 15, 2004
Coming off an injury that sidelined him for the entire 2003 season, Loyola University-Chicago men's soccer player Lee Zarzecki is healthy and back on the field for the Ramblers. The junior midfielder from Collinsville, Ill. kept himself busy in the off-season as he was one of the Horizon League student-athletes chosen to attend the NCAA Leadership Conference this past May, while this past summer, he trained with Colorado's Major League Soccer team. Horizonleague.org was curious what he thought about the Leadership Conference, as well as his opportunity to train with the Rapids.
Q:What role has athletics played in your collegiate experience?
A:First and foremost, the role of athletics in my life goes beyond my collegiate experience. Moreover, simultaneously attending class, playing a sport and still maintaining a social life is something that takes quite an effort to perfect and an achievement I take great pride in. It has taught me the importance of self-discipline as well as the importance to always set goals.
Q:What experiences have you had with collegiate athletics?
A:I have had so many experiences playing soccer at Loyola. Some are great memories that I will cherish forever, while others are life lessons I will never forget. I suppose the best experience I have had over the years is getting the chance to make irreplaceable friendships and bonds between peers just like myself who I may have never met without playing soccer.
Q:How was the NCAA Leadership Conference?
A:I've often said that the week I spent in Orlando at the 2004 NCAA Leadership Conference was the best four days of my life. It was one of the most inspirational and moving events that I have ever been a part of. College athletes, including myself, from teams throughout the nation came together to celebrate the unique opportunity we have been given.
Q:What is the importance of developing the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at Loyola?
A:The most intriguing thing I found when traveling to this year's NCAA Leadership Conference was the overall success other universities' Student-Athlete Advisory Committees achieved. I felt the athletes at Loyola would succeed in making our SAAC a progressive organization on campus if we simply made them aware of what the committee stands for. The significance of unifying our athletics remains unseen, but our overall goal is to establish credibility to the organization so future athletes can build off of our success.
Q:What is it like as Loyola's SAAC President?
A:Being Loyola's SAAC President is a new task that I have recently taken on. I feel extremely fortunate to have the group of friends which makes up our organization. Each of us is excited to get the ball rolling on upcoming events and it seems we are all driven to succeed. Although I am the president of SAAC, there really are 25 individuals who are leaders in their own regard working together to obtain results.
Q:How do you promote the soccer games in order for students to want to come to the games?
A:At the beginning of the school year, our team as well as other teams in the athletic department volunteers to help freshmen move into their dorm rooms. Each team usually offers a couple of hours and hands out Loyola athletic schedules while helping the new students get comfortable on campus. We also hang a large banner above the entrance of our student union before each home game.
Q:How did you get to train with Colorado's MLS team?
A:Two summers ago I had the opportunity to play with the St. Louis Strikers, a Premier Development League team based in my home town, Collinsville, Illinois. When deciding where I wanted to play last summer, I spoke with a few people who had highly recommended playing in Boulder, Colorado. I simply called the coach and owner of the team and sent them a sports résumé that stated my achievements and a list of coaches I previously played for. I was fortunate enough to be chosen among 200 players to come and live in Colorado and play at such an amazing level.
Q:How was your experience training with the team?
A:My experience in Boulder was absolutely the highlight of my career to date. I had the chance to play with several college All-Americans and train against the Colorado Rapids nearly once a week. The team was incredibly organized and each member of the team truly sacrificed his summer to become a better player. Most notably, we advanced to the third round of the Lamar U.S. Open Cup and were national finalists in the PDL National Championships.
Q:What other experiences have you had playing soccer?
A:There are so many friends, memories and opportunities that have come into my life simply through the game that it would be too lengthy mentioning all of them. I suppose the most notable experiences I have had are traveling to the Netherlands with my club team in high school, living in Colorado all summer and playing against some of this nation's best players. The most important experience is getting such an amazing education which I most likely could not have afforded had it not been for a ball and hours of practice. I really feel this sport has taught me the key principles in life: you cannot succeed in life without having someone to lean on. Being a leader first starts with respecting yourself, and the impossible can happen when you put your mind to it.
