Former Woolwich Wolfpack soccer player Brett Springer was recently recognized for his outstanding performance and sportsmanship as the athlete of the week for the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Springer moved out east to attend St. Thomas University in New Brunswick, where he continued to play the sport that he loves most, soccer.

“It’s really just a passion of mine. I love it, it’s that simple,” said the athlete of why he loves playing the sport.

Just in his first year of school, Springer started off the season with goals in each of his games, putting the Tommies soccer team in a tie for second place. As a striker, Springer knows as an athlete it is important to stay attentive and gain control of the ball, which helped get him recognized by the ACAA and CCAA in the first place.

Earning those kudos proved a real motivation, he notes.

“It’s almost like a starting point in what I need to maintain,” said Springer. “Honestly, it feels pretty good. I didn’t really expect it – it’s an honour.”

Just last week, Brett’s dad Gerry Springer flew in to visit him at school and over lunch they discussed how simple things used to be in terms of soccer. Gerry said he is proud of how far Brett has come and is proud of his CCAA and ACAA accomplishment.

“I always knew I wanted to further my soccer career in university and the coach messaged me and we just had a good connection,” Springer said of his choice to pursue soccer at St. Thomas University from among the other schools that gave him offers.

The Bamberg-born player has loved soccer from a young age. Springer recalls that he first started playing non-competitively around the age of three and eventually joined the Woolwich Wolfpack at the age of nine. He was always influenced by his family who also share a love for sports and encouraged him to take up sports. Until the age of 16, Springer played locally before he decided to join the Kitchener Elite Academy  team until he moved away for school. No stranger to sports, Springer also grew up playing hockey for the Twin Centre Stars, but was more drawn to soccer.

Now Springer is studying psychology at university while he balances his athletics, which is not always easy, he notes.

“It’s difficult, but if you really set your mind to it I feel like anything can be done and can go accordingly,” he explained.

Between studying and soccer practice, he is learning how to adapt to being a university student. The success of the soccer team has been a big part of his school equation. The top schools will be chosen later in the season to compete at the national level.

Visit the STU Tommies Athletics website to keep up with the team and to find out more about the stats.