News Archives: Q&A: Sydney Embleton, Danja Fredrickson and Michelle Brodeur, current GPRC Wolves Women's Soccer athletes
Wednesday, July 8th, 2020
GPRC Wolves Women's Soccer athlete, Michelle Brodeur.
We chatted with current GPRC Wolves Women’s Soccer athletes, Sydney Embleton, Danja Fredrickson and Michelle Brodeur to discuss their journey to GPRC, favourite moments so far and their passion for the game.
What is your earliest soccer memory?
Embleton: I’d have to say when I was in house soccer and I had just finished my last game of the season and I told my mom that I wanted something more competitive, more aggressive. When the next season started, I tried out for the competitive rep soccer program and made the team. I’ve had a fun and progressive soccer journey since then.
Fredrickson: It’s hard to think back on a specific memory, but most of my younger soccer years were spent questioning why I played an outdoor sport that was mostly just running, in a place where it rains the majority of the year.
Brodeur: My earliest soccer memory is when I was too young to play and I would have to go and watch my brother play soccer. I was so excited to hear that in the winter I was going to be able to play on a team and have practices and games. I remember my first season, we had these awful neon green jerseys and socks and at half times you would get a snack.
What was your journey to come play for GPRC?
Embleton: My progression to college soccer came through years of rep soccer and then playing in the BC Soccer Premier League with the Thompson Okanagan Football Club (TOFC). I played rep for four years then moved up to TOFC and played my last two years of high school with them. From there, I got recruited by GPRC Head Coach, Chris Morgan and have had two great years with the Wolves!
Fredrickson: I had played high level soccer almost my entire life and wanted to continue into post-secondary. I went to multiple ID camps and practiced with different schools, GPRC being one of them. I had been planning to go play with the University of Lethbridge when Head Coach, Chris Morgan got in contact with me again and offered me a spot on the Wolves.
Brodeur: I was in Calgary for Provincial’s of my women’s team and one of the girls who played on GPRC at the time who was also on my women’s team came down for the weekend from preseason. We started talking and GPRC didn’t have a goal keeper for the year and she wanted me to come play for the Wolves. She gave Head Coach, Chris Morgan my number and he called me. I honestly had no idea what he said because I had not learned his lingo and could not understand his Irish accent. All I understood from our conversation was soccer, come play, please. I asked if I could think about it and get back to him. I talked to my parents and they were against it because school started in a few days and I wasn’t registered at GPRC. I ended up telling Coach Morgan, no. I then got a call from the girl who asked me to come play and her roommate. We chatted and she made it clear that this was a once in a life time chance. So, I registered for GPRC and told Coach Morgan I would come play for the Wolves. At this point, my parents were not happy with me going but they were not home at the time so I quickly packed all my belongings into garbage bags before they would come home. My mom ended up coming home before I left and we talked. She was a little freaked out but my friend’s dad was on his way to pick me up so I could stay with them before the drive to Grande Prairie the next day. It was a big change but one of the best things I have ever done in my life.
What are some of your favourite memories representing GPRC so far?
Embleton: Some of my favourite memories so far are the bus trips! Yes, some are a little long but I enjoy watching movies, singing on the bus, dancing and talking with everyone! It’s a fun experience and you truly learn while you’re away competing what it’s like to represent GPRC and the athletics program.
Fredrickson: Getting to know so many new people and being able to continue to play the sport I love has been an amazing experience. Some of my favourite memories so far with my team have been off the pitch. All the opportunities we’ve had to work with young soccer players in the community has made my experience as a GPRC athlete very fulfilling!
Brodeur: My favourite memories so far would have to be when we got second in Provincial’s and were going to Nationals for the first time in school history. It was a hard battle in the semi-final and we won. The year after we once again won gold in Provincial’s, beating NAIT in penalty kicks. It was the best feeling to see everything we worked for pay off. All the running and time in the gym really showed that while GPRC is smaller than some institutions, we can compete with the large city institutions who have more people who play soccer. It was amazing going to Nationals and seeing different places of Canada that I had never been to before.
Have you endured any disappointments in your career so far?
Embleton: Yes, there will always be some disappointment but it comes with experience, knowledge and growth. I was disappointed the year we did not qualify for Provincials as that is one of our biggest goals of the season. As an individual and as a team, we put in so much time and dedication to each other, our coaches and the sport. It is truly devastating to not reach those goals but there’s always next year.
Fredrickson: Games that we should have won and difficult loses are always at the top of the list. However, having the season cancelled this year is the biggest disappointment. All the hard work that has been put in so far seems to be wasted, but this an opportunity to work on areas of my game that need improvement.
Brodeur: A few disappointments so far have been the season we lost the whole team but four players. It was hard being on a team that grew up playing together to a new team with players from different provinces. Getting to know your team and each other is a big part of any sport and can be difficult when you only have four returning players. We did our best and didn’t do too bad that year but it’s still hard going from winning Provincial’s to not going to Provincial’s. This past season was hard because we had a team capable of repeating the Provincial victory we had a few years ago and it was in our grasp but we ended up losing our last game of the season due to a few mistakes. We were a young team and had very little experiences in the ACAC and it showed. It’s a whole new level of soccer and people were not prepared for the physical and mental exhaustion that can occur.
In your opinion, who has been a standout teammate and who has been your toughest opponent so far?
Embleton: The best player I have played with so far would have to be Lydia Lavigne from my hometown team. She is full of skill and her energy lights up a room. She was a joy to play with and always brought a new level to practices and in games. My toughest opponent would have to be Melissa Webber, I played against her in my first two years at GPRC and she showed me what college soccer is like. I have had to play against her in many different positions on the pitch and she truly showed me a new vision and level of soccer.
Fredrickson: The best player I have played with so far is Michelle Brodeur, our goalie, who has saved us so many times it’s hard to keep count. The toughest opponent I have played against so far is Yumi Ishimura in my first year. She was a fifth year midfielder who played with NAIT.
Brodeur: A standout teammate I’ve played with so far is, Nikki Panas. The toughest opponent I’ve face so far would have to be NAIT. They are a big school and have so many skillful players.
What advice do you have for prospective GPRC student athletes?
Embleton: The advice I give to prospective student athletes is the time you have being a student athlete flies by. You need to work hard, dedicate yourself, make mistakes so you can grow and learn from those mistakes to be the best you can be. That’s all anyone is going to ever ask from you. The time and effort you put into being a student athlete will show and will be recognized whether it be from yourself, your teammates or your coaches. It is a great experience overall and you learn a lot about life and yourself in the process!
Fredrickson: Put in the work! Double session days are hard and conditioning sucks but it is worth it in the long run. ACAC is not like club soccer and everyone else is putting in their max effort. Conditioning may be awful, but nothing is worse than feeling left behind.
Brodeur: Give it your all whatever sport you are in. Time goes by so quick. Leave your mark on GPRC and show who you really are. There is always help whenever you need it. Trust your team and your coaches because they have your back. Have fun playing the sport you love and do not take your time here for granted.
Learn more about the GPRC Wolves Women’s Soccer team here.
Find the GPRC Wolves on social media here.
