Soccer sensation Levi Friesen has many special memories from the game he’s loved so much, and he was able to do some very special things, thanks to hard work, dedication and the support of family.
The beginning
“So, right at the start, it was mostly my mom,” Friesen says with a laugh when reflecting on how he got into the sport in the first place. “I joined Morden Minor Soccer for as long as I can remember. I joined the high school team in grade nine year, and we got third in provincials that year. Then over the years, I’ve joined an indoor league in Winkler. I’ve helped coach some younger groups there, and I’ve worked my way up to captain of the high school soccer team this last year. I am currently participating in Winkler Storm as a starting defender.”
There was a simple reason why soccer appealed to him at such a young age. “I think it was just the enjoyment from kicking a ball around with my friends,” he says with a chuckle. “After school or just out of practice. Just kicking a ball around and having fun with everyone, and the running and endurance and health benefits it gave me.”
Taking it more seriously
Friesen can pinpoint when he went from it being casual to more of a dedicated passion. “I would have probably had to be around two years ago when my coach at the time recommended me initially for Winkler Storm 2, actually. I tried out and I made the team. Right there, it was like, it really stood out to me that this is what I want to do. I’m enjoying this. I’m good at it. I’m going to keep doing it kind of thing.”
He adds the change in mindset has also been something he’s proud of. “It’s really just a lot more work, right? So every single practice, you’ve got to take it to 100% and give your all. Even just on your own. Like you can’t just be sitting around at home all the time. You’ve got to go out and do stuff for yourself. So, just doing stuff for yourself and working specifically towards a goal. So I’ve set a goal to get better at this, and just working until I get that.”
Getting the call as Captain
One of the highlights in Friesen’s career was being named captain of his high school team. “It was amazing,” he says proudly. “A lot of those guys I’ve known for four or five years now, and it’s really awesome to just basically get the time to hang out with them all and play something we love together. It was really an awesome experience and a great way to finish my high school career.”
Early-season moment
In a soccer life filled with laughs and memories, there is something that happened early in his final season that stands out for Friesen. “Yeah, originally, so right around the start of the year, we had a GVC tournament, and we did very well in that. We got third overall. I felt like during the second game, we won the first, lost the second, but very close. The second, we had a comeback, actually, it was 3-0, and we only lost 3-2. I feel like after that, we really picked up the pace, and especially after that, we knew we could do it.”
The future
Not just a gifted athlete, Friesen has worked hard in school, too, and he says he has a pretty good idea of what his future looks like. “So the next step is for sure university,” he says with a smile. “I’m looking to do either soccer in university or just continue directly into the field of study I’m trying to do. So I’m looking into kinesiology and perhaps becoming a physiotherapist. If that helps me with my soccer career at all, I’ll take it.”
Family at the center
At the core of all that he has done and will do, Friesen says it’s his family, and he says there’s no way he’d be where he is without them. “Well, it’s really incredible, honestly. It helps lift my spirits so much when I look over, and every single game I’ve ever played, there’s always someone in my family in the stands. I remember a specific time for Winkler Storm 2, there was one game, there were three people in the stands, and my mom was one of those. She drove all the way out just to watch me, and it’s really something that keeps me going and keeps my head up. When my family is so supportive of me, I feel like there is nothing in the world I can’t do.”