The Inspiring Journey of Reese Mendenhall: From Childhood Passion to Collegiate Triumphs
The versatile player Reese Mendenhall has been inspired and intrigued by soccer for as long as she can remember. Since she was three years old, soccer has been a significant part of her life, and the exceptional female athlete has passionately pursued the sport ever since. While soccer plays a major role in her life, Mendenhall is also passionate about other interests and has discovered a lot about herself through the sport.
Early Influences: Family and Beginnings
Being the youngest in her family, the beginning stages of her soccer career were heavily influenced by her parents and brother. Both her brother and father played soccer, which led her parents to encourage her to give the sport a try. In the early stages, it was simply about kicking a soccer ball and chasing it around. Mendenhall explains, “like any other sport, I was just kinda put into it.” All she could think about was having fun in what she played, and soccer was that for her.
Igniting Passion: Finding Love for Soccer
It wasn’t until Mendenhall got older that her passion for soccer truly ignited. She explains that her love for soccer was immense. Mendenhall just wanted to play, which is why at that age, her parents had a huge impact. “My parents could already tell that I had a love for it. They were doing things to support me that I didn’t even realize were helping me. It was easy because I felt like I was the one who led the journey and wanted to do the extra reps as well as play as often as I could,” she explained.
Transition to College: Challenges and Growth
Mendenhall was so captivated by the game that she never looked too far ahead. She was always present in the moment, focused on where her feet were. She didn’t realize how high her chances were of playing college ball. As a freshman in high school, she already had schools reaching out to her. Mendenhall explains that she didn’t know what she was doing or what she wanted at the time. The same was true for her parents; it was their first time navigating the recruiting process as well. This situation reminds me of the quote, “Be kind to your parents; it is their first time living life too.” In this case, Mendenhall and her parents were figuring out how to navigate the process together.
She explains, “I think it is a lot better now for athletes. The different rules that are now in place within the NCAA and with recruiting—they can’t talk to you until your junior year of high school now. When I was in high school going through the process, there were no rules, and you did whatever you wanted.” Mendenhall details that as a freshman in high school, she was either 13 or 14 years old, and the process was overwhelming. However, she points out how grateful she was to have the opportunities at such a young age. One of those opportunities was Grand Canyon University (GCU), where Mendenhall ended up committing during her freshman year of high school. These are precious stages in life, often filled with fun, youthful memories. Curious about how Mendenhall managed it all, I asked her to share her experience. She explained, “I remember not really feeling like it was a sacrifice to give those ‘fun’ things up. I wanted to go to the game and I wanted to go to practice. I don’t remember ever feeling like I had to miss ‘Julie’s’ sleepover because I had a game in the morning. It was more like, ‘I need to sleep because I have a game in the morning.’” Having known Mendenhall for six years now, I can attest to her drive and dedication. She has always been incredibly motivated, yet it never seemed like she resented it.
Her dedication and commitment only grew when she reached the college level. She recalls that transitioning into the college environment was a significant journey. Mendenhall spent many training sessions and games striving to earn a starting spot. Her opportunity came when they played against Seattle U, and she felt that all her hard work was finally paying off. She explains, “I owe it all to being fit and controlling the controllables. Had I not done that, I don’t think I would have played for the rest of that season.”
College Journey: Grand Canyon to Florida Gulf Coast
Mendenhall played three years at Grand Canyon University (GCU) and is now finishing her last two years at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). She reflects, “I am grateful for my time at Grand Canyon. It felt like I was there from ages 14 to 20. I think I was ready for a different experience.” I admire Mendenhall for this. Unfortunately, for many, including myself, it takes a lot to put yourself first. However, the only person who will truly look out for you is you. Mendenhall is a perfect example of this. She went through tough times and faced challenging decisions but is now thriving at FGCU because of it.
She has garnered numerous awards and titles at both schools. For instance, she has been named to the Preseason All-WAC Team and the All-WAC Second Team. Additionally, she has been recognized on the ALL-ASUN First Team, ALL-South Second Region Team, and the Academic All-District Team. Mendenhall has served as a captain for both GCU and FGCU, winning a conference championship at each school. Despite facing numerous injuries throughout her career, including an ACL tear, compartment syndrome in her calves, and a broken collarbone, her passion for the game propels her forward. She plans to extend her career overseas after college. Mendenhall stands as an inspiration in the realm of women’s sports.
