Illinois Soccer alum Sarah Warren talks Illinois Soccer and her goal of competing in the Olympics with United States Speed Skating. Warren graduated from the University of Illinois in 2019 with a major in bioengineering and a minor in chemistry. She is currently pursuing a master's in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

What made you choose Illinois?

"Playing college soccer was always a dream of mine, and when I went to visit Illinois, I just felt like it was everything I had dreamed of. Illinois offered a world-class engineering program and the soccer program encompassed every value I thought was important to have on a team. Therefore, I knew the minute I stepped on campus, it was where I wanted to be."

What is your favorite memory from playing soccer in college? 

"My experience at the University of Illinois led to many favorite memories, I have to admit. My favorite soccer memory was playing Minnesota in a sleeting snow storm because we had to win the game to make it to the Big Ten Tournament. It was the worst conditions anybody has ever played in (a ball passed on the ground would turn into a snowball), but the team rallied and fought all game. We ended up winning 3-1 and I am almost positive Janet did a FIFA slide through the snow. However, my favorite overall memory from my entire college experience was all the little moments I had with my teammates. Every day something reminds me of a funny moment that happened in the locker room or on the bus or in the apartment. I began to realize that it was these little moments that add up and create such a positive memory about playing college soccer." 

If you could go back and talk to yourself at 20 years old, what advice would you give to yourself? 

"I would tell my 20-year-old self to slow down and enjoy the ride. When you are at school, every single moment seems like the most important thing. However, when you take a step back, you realize that life is more about the journey than the destination." 

What is your current job title and what does that position entail? 

"I am currently training for the Olympics in Long Track Speedskating. This training involves two-a-days almost every day of the week. I also am a TA at Johns Hopkins University, which involves grading assignments and helping students with any questions they may have on the material. "

How did your athletic involvement transfer to life skills off the field?

"College soccer taught me discipline, perseverance, and working through adversity. Waking up every single day and being the best you could be in both school and soccer was not always easy. However, you knew that your coaches and teammates deserved your best, so you would always try and find a way to give everything you had. My life now isn't all too different from my time at Illinois because of my current training regime and school work. However, even though skating is an individual sport, you have a team that you work hard with every day. Soccer has taught me not only the work ethic component, but also taught me the value of teammates and how you can use each other to push past your limits, while still wanting everyone to succeed. My college career had many ups and downs and two ACL tears and four surgeries was definitely not in my plan when I first stepped foot on the field. However, soccer showed me that no matter what life throws at you, it is your job to do everything in your power to not only get back up but be better and stronger than you were before. There were no excuses because you saw the adversity many athletes faced every day and these athletes continued to power through. This determination comes in handy on those hard work outs that nobody wants to do because you remember what you and your teammates overcame, and it puts everything in perspective."

Favorite accomplishment? 

"My favorite skating accomplishment was participating in the Inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2012 in Innsbruck, Austria. I used to think my most important accomplishment in my soccer career was being able to overcome my ACL injuries. While these injuries really shaped who I am as an athlete, I realized I could not have overcome this obstacle without the support of my teammates. Therefore, I think the most important thing that happened during my time at Illinois was finding my best friends because they are people I now consider family and I have soccer to thank for that." 

Can you share one of your current goals or projects that you are working on? 

"Currently, I am trying to make a US Senior World Cup team and eventually the Olympic team. While 2022 would be amazing to qualify for, my eyes are set on the 2026 Games!"

Is there a place that you have traveled that you believe everyone should see? If so, where and why? 

"My favorite place I have traveled has been Collabo, Italy because of how beautiful it was. This small town is in northern Italy and has extraordinary mountain views and the most welcoming of people. While there is an incredible outdoor rink (which most people probably won't use), the most memorable part of Collabo was the beauty that the small Italian town offered. An example that encompasses this idea is that we stayed in a bed and breakfast where one family owned the hotel and would cook all the athletes a multiple course meal every night. The family would always come and check to make sure everybody finished their food because they wanted to know we enjoyed it. It was amazing how 'at home' this town made everybody feel when we were thousands of miles away from the US."

Any last words? (Updates, advice, etc.) 

"I would just like to say thank you to all of my coaches and support staff. I grew so much as a person during my time at Illinois and it is because of the lessons I learned on that field. I also want to let any current players know how special it is to be an alumnus of the University of Illinois. The Illini family is so much larger than you could ever imagine. I currently live in Utah, and I still have people scream I-L-L whenever I wear my Illinois gear. So- to any Illinois player, realize how much bigger it is than yourself and take so much pride in the fact that you get to represent the University of Illinois for the rest of your life."