“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where The Collegian sits down with first-year student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.
This week, staff reporter Rocco Santoro sat down with five first-years from the Butler women’s soccer team: Alexi Mumford, Chrissy Graves, Claire Pingel, Kensey Teffner and Elsa Maurer.
Alexi Mumford is a 6’0” goalkeeper from Chapel Hill, N.C. Photo by Carlee Skimming.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: Why did you pick Butler?
ALEXI MUMFORD: The amazing coaching staff and the environment. I knew right away I could jump in and fit in with the team.
TBC: How did you first get into soccer?
AM: [Both] my dad and brother played goalkeeper in college, so I was bound to be a goalkeeper.
TBC: As a goalkeeper, if your team has possession for most of the game, do you ever get lonely in the box and sing or talk to yourself?
AM: If my team is seriously dominating, I will sing myself a song here and there, and get a few stretches in.
TBC: Do you have a favorite soccer memory?
AM: Training with my brother and dad back at home.
TBC: If you could have lunch with anyone, who would you pick and why?
AM: [For a soccer player], I’d probably pick Virgil van Dijk from Liverpool. He has so much swagger and confidence, and I strive to be like that when I’m out on the field. Katy Perry [as well].
Chrissy Graves is a 5’9” defender from Kensington, Md. Photo by Carlee Skimming.
TBC: What made you choose Butler?
CHRISSY GRAVES: The coaches. They were super welcoming with everything, [especially] on my visit. Once I met the team, the culture was really good [and] I could tell [the culture] was already super good and it felt like a family.
TBC: What made you want to play soccer?
CG: I was thrown into five sports and I felt like [soccer was the sport I was best at], and I stuck with it at that point.
TBC: What are you most looking forward to this season?
CG: The Big East games, specifically UConn and Providence because it’ll be a week-long trip and I think [it’s going to] be super fun. Also, I have never been to Connecticut or Rhode Island, so that will be fun.
TBC: Do you have a favorite soccer memory, and why is it your favorite?
CG: My first college game. I got to start which was a really good moment for me and I was super excited about that. We did not win, but it was still a really good game and really fun to be out there.
TBC: What is your dream last meal?
CG: I like quesadillas, specifically chicken with vegetables. That is my favorite food.
Claire Pingel is a 5’8” midfielder/defender from Saint Louis, Mo. Photo by Carlee Skimming.
TBC: Why did you pick Butler?
CLAIRE PINGEL: I love the coaches [and] the team culture was great on my visit. It’s even better since I have been here. I love the style of play and the hands-on learning.
TBC: What made you first get into soccer?
CP: When I was 4 or 5, my parents put me into [soccer] and [I] stuck with it and went to club [soccer].
TBC: How do you prepare before a match?
CP: I am not really superstitious so I do not have rituals or anything, [but I listen to] music and [spend] time by myself to get in the right headspace.
TBC: Do you have a favorite soccer memory, and why is it your favorite?
CP: Junior year of high school, we won state and that was really fun and a cool experience.
TBC: What is the top thing on your bucket list?
CP: Go travel [around] Europe [and] do something over there.
Kensey Teffner is a 5’7” defender from Linden, Mich. Photo by Carlee Skimming.
TBC: Why did you pick Butler?
KENSEY TEFFNER: [Butler’s] playstyle matches what I was looking for. The environment’s really positive and something that I wanted to be a part of, and the coaching staff is great.
TBC: How did you first get into soccer?
KT: I have an older sister, and as the younger siblings always do, you end up doing what your older siblings did. My sister played soccer and I got into it when I was 4 years old.
TBC: Do you have a favorite soccer player, and why?
KT: Kelley O’Hara. She always has that grit and work ethic that I feel like everyone strives to have.
TBC: Do you have a favorite soccer memory, and why is it your favorite?
KT: [My club] team made it all the way to the national finals, and in the semifinals we came back down 3-0 at halftime, then we came back and ended up winning in penalty kicks.
TBC: Do you have a dream vacation spot?
KT: The Maldives because the water is so pretty.
Elsa Maurer is a 5’9” defender from Muskego, Wis. Photo by Carlee Skimming.
TBC: Why did you choose Butler?
ELSA MAURER: I really like the coaches, the style of play and how close the team is. When I came here on my visit, they were really close and it felt like a family. [Now] that I am here, I feel like everyone on the team is my family.
TBC: You won a lot in high school, how do you plan to continue that success at Butler?
EM: Bringing positive energy no matter where you are, what role you are playing and having a good attitude when you come to everything really helps and carries the team.
Always having a good work ethic at practice and [to] keep pushing no matter what [helps with continuing that success as well].
TBC: What are you most looking forward to this season?
EM: Big East play and traveling. We go [to] the East Coast a bunch of times for a week, and I’m really excited to travel and see places.
TBC: What is your favorite soccer memory?
EM: Winning state [with my high school team].
TBC: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
EM: Super speed [so I can be] fast on the field.