News Archives: Q&A: Brooklyn Robert, Kennedy Hall and Jessica Winterford, GPRC Wolves Women's Soccer Alumni
Monday, July 6th, 2020
GPRC Wolves Women's Soccer Alumni, Brook Robert.
We caught up with GPRC Wolves Women Soccer Alumni, Brooklyn Robert, Kennedy Hall and Jessica Winterford to reflect on triumphs, disappointments, their love of the game and their time playing at GPRC.
What is your earliest soccer memory?
Robert: My earliest soccer memory is playing Timbits soccer and my dad being the coach. Our team was named the Scooters and I remember taking a picture with my foot on a ball. I still have that picture today!
Hall: I remember my first competitive soccer tournament was in Edmonton, and this meant a road trip. I remember being so excited to be hanging out with my best friends all weekend and playing soccer. The very first game was the most fun I’ve ever had playing soccer, and this was the start of the love I have for the game.
Winterford: My earliest soccer memory was falling in love with the game, outside playing in the grass with my life long best friend, Mirelle Martens. I was about five years old and remember looking forward to soccer Saturday’s all week long and have been hooked ever since!
Kennedy and Brooklyn, what was your journey to playing at GPRC?
Robert: I went to Jasper Place High School and Sergio Teixiera was my academy coach and best friends with Chris Spaidal. When I was in Grade 11, we travelled to Grande Prairie to play in a friendly tournament against GPRC. I remember talking to Sergio about what I could do better the next day that we were going to play and Spaidal was in the room. By the time we left Grande Prairie, I was given a full scholarship to come play at GPRC after I graduated high school. I took a tour of the College and Grande Prairie with Spaidal in my senior year of high school and decided that it would be a great fit for me.
Hall: I started soccer in U5 and in U10 began playing in the competitive stream. Since then, I have never stopped loving the game. Playing in the competitive stream, I was blessed to be coached by so many amazing people that had given me the tools to be competitive enough for college-level soccer. Growing up in Grande Prairie also contributed to my progression into college soccer. Throughout the years, I made long-lasting friendships that transferred into college soccer.
Jessica, in your opinion, who was a standout teammate and who was your toughest opponent?
Winterford: This is a tough question because of all the amazing teammates I have played with throughout the years, but Janai Martens really stands out to me. It still blows me away how dominant Janai was on the field. When we would play teams, they would always put their best and fastest defenders against her, and at times even had a player solely focused on marking her, but it made no difference. She is the most energetic and competitive person that I know. If you have ever seen Janai in action at the gym, you would definitely understand. Janai is the most all around amazing, dedicated athlete, and her enthusiasm and commitment are traits I have always admired. My toughest opponent in general will always be NAIT, but specifically… Megan Loyns was a fierce competitor and provided challenges in the midfield.
Brooklyn and Kennedy, what was your favourite moment and disappointment while at GPRC?
Robert: My favorite moment was on the bus ride home from the 2017 Championship. We collectively sang “We Are the Champions” by Queen. I remember looking over at Head Coach, Chris Morgan and he had tears in his eyes. I still choke up when I listen to that song! Truly amazing. My least favorite experience was losing to the NAIT Ooks in my 3rd year, 2015-16, in the semi-finals to a score of 1-0. It was heartbreaking as we were playing Provincials at home and we were so close to the final. In hindsight, it just made the next two years that much more memorable.
Hall: My favourite moment was playing against Kings University College in minus 20 weather with snow and ice covering the field. This game was the most challenging game to play because of the weather. However, it was the most fulfilling to score the only goal to win the game at home. I think the most disappointing moment during my three years at GPRC was playing against the NAIT Ooks in the Gold medal final in 2016. The game was the most competitive I have ever played and I truly believed we were capable of winning that game. However, placing second in the league was disappointing but also motivating for Nationals.
Kennedy and Jessica, you’ve both endured serious injuries while playing, how did those injuries impact your game?
Hall: I was very blessed to have played three amazing and fulfilling years, both personally and as a team, and I was very fortunate during those three years to not have any severe injuries. However, having a career-ending injury has been a vast learning experience for me. Not being able to play the sport that I had identified with for most of my life was incredibly heartbreaking. If I could go back in time to the day, I hurt my knee, I wouldn't change a thing because despite the heartbreak and disappointment, I have learned more about myself and my body. I don't think I would be where I am today without that injury.
Winterford: Facing two major injuries was challenging to say the least. Before starting college soccer, I had already gone through my first ACL and meniscus reconstruction. In my second year at GPRC, during our home opener, I got into a bad tackle and I instantly knew that I had torn my other knee - it is a feeling like no other. I was devastated because I knew the challenges that I would again have to face. The second recovery was very different; I worked hard at my physiotherapy and toughed it out to be back playing for preseason of the following year. A very interesting, and strange coincidence is that my sister Kate also tore both of her ACLs while playing soccer. This was a unique experience in that we had a strong support system for one another, for both comfort and motivation. It was secretly very challenging watching from the sidelines as our teammates played every day. I am pretty sure that we worried our mom when came back to play, but she was always there cheering us on.
Kennedy, is there anything you would have done differently as a student athlete while at GPRC?
Hall: If I could do one thing differently as a student-athlete, I would have put more effort into the student aspect of being a student-athlete. If I could have put the same amount of energy I put into being a good athlete as I did into being a good student, those efforts could have supported me more in the future.
How supportive were your families when you were playing soccer?
Robert: Incredibly supportive, my dad never once missed a game day! Even when we went to Nationals, he tagged along! All my parents were very supportive.
Hall: I am very fortunate to be a part of a family where my happiness was extremely supported. My family fully embraced my life as a student-athlete at GPRC. They were and still are to this day involved with the GPRC Men and Women's team. I don't think I could have asked for a better support system than the one I had and still have to this day.
Winterford: My family has always been very supportive throughout the years. My dad coached many seasons throughout youth soccer and drove the bus every summer for our preseason trips. My parents always opened our house to girls in the summer during preseason even when I was not playing college yet and hosted many team meals. My parents were silently my biggest fans and allowed me to work through my own challenges and earn my own success. By my side they felt my joys, triumphs, and disappointments along the way.
Jessica and Brooklyn, how proud are you to have played four and five years, respectively, at GPRC?
Winterford: I am very proud to have played four years at GPRC. It is something that I will always look back on fondly. The small community is something I really value about Grande Prairie in general, and the community feeling at GPRC is so strong and made me feel at home during my four years. It is also such a wonderful thing to be able to now inspire the young players that I coach to one day do the same.
Robert: I am extremely proud to have played at GPRC for five years! It was an incredible experience that I wouldn’t change for the world.
Brooklyn and Jessica, tell us about the ACAC Championship win in 2017.
Robert: The Championship was the most incredible experience of my life because we won but also because I believe for our group, it was so much more than that. We had finally beat the NAIT Ooks and won the Championship! I remember crying, hugging my teammates, and the Men’s soccer team had come down to celebrate with us and our families. It was an incredible experience!
Winterford: Oh, the memories! This win was so special in many ways as we defeated NAIT. We had such a wonderful group of girls and coaches, and for many of us, it was our last year playing. I will always remember celebrating with my teammates, coaches, the Men’s team, and all our families. The memory of having everyone there cheering us on and celebrating with us is what I will cherish the most.
What are your best memories of representing GPRC?
Robert: I have had so many incredible memories, as you can see throughout reading the answers to these questions. Something I will never forget is, throughout my last two years specifically, standing with my teammates in a line before every game singing the national anthem. It is a moment that comes back to me every time the national anthem comes on. I loved standing in the starting line-up and representing unity and our College. It was incredible and I will remember it forever.
Hall: The memories I have made at GPRC are some of my most cherished. The sense of community representing GPRC will be tough to recreate. Being part of the GPRC Women's team held a sense of belonging, and the passion created on the field is beyond describable. It was a blessing to be a part of a team that is extremely special to me and will be for the rest of my life.
Winterford: I will always take with me the memories of playing alongside all my best friends. Many of us were so privileged to be able to grow up together playing soccer in Grande Prairie. This was even more special because the bond extended to our families, and our parents were also able to enjoy the time together throughout the years. Having the opportunity to play college sports is always special, however these connections have made my memories that much sweeter.
What advice do you have for current student athletes at GPRC?
Robert: Don’t blink! They say these will be some of the most amazing experiences you have in your life, and they are right, but they go by so incredibly fast. Take it all in and enjoy every second. Even when it’s hard, it’s worth it!
Hall: The best advice I could give a current student-athlete at GPRC would be that being a part of a team is beyond special. Being a small part of the puzzle helps build an identity and a sense of belonging that is very hard to recreate. Cherish all the good, the bad and the ugly memories you can make because when you look back, they can and will influence your life for the better.
Winterford: The advice I would give is to take advantage of these times to the fullest. You really do get out what you put into it, and so much is controlled by how hard you work. I am sure everyone has heard that it goes by so fast, and to appreciate it while it lasts, but it really is true. Respect your teammates, coaches, trainers, and all those aiding in your experience, making good relationships can last a lifetime. You only have one chance in your life to play college sports, so you may as well make the best of it while also focusing on your academics.
Learn more about the GPRC Wolves Women’s Soccer team here.
Find the GPRC Wolves on social media here.
