Catching Up With The #ProDawgs: Justin Schmidt
March 20, 2017 | Men's Soccer
The University of Washington men's soccer program has produced over 60 professional soccer players in over six different leagues between the MLS, USL, NASL and more. 20 former Washington student-athletes are currently playing or involved on 17 different organizations. This spring we will catch up with each of our current #ProDawgs to see what they have been up to since their time at the University of Washington.
This week, we talked to Justin Schmidt who was a member of the 2013 Pac-12 Championship team and 2016 senior class.
Q: What team are you currently playing for, and how long have you been with them?
A: Real Salt Lake. This is my first season.
Q: Is being a professional athlete what you imagined it would be? Why or why not?
A: To be completely honest, I wasn't really sure what to expect. You can listen to stories and get different people's point of views on everything, but until you experience it on your own, you'll never really know. The part that surprised me the most, is the amount of free time. We go from the college life, where our entire days are planned for us, to work days that are over by 1:30. That has been the hardest thing to adjust to; finding something to fill my time with.
Q: What was it like starting your first MLS game? What was going through your mind?
A: Nerve-racking. Sure, I've played in "big" games before, but never to the extent that my first game was. You're playing in front of a much larger audience, in person and on air. It was crazy to think that I was playing in a game that I was watching only a couple of months ago, aspiring to be in their positions. Despite the nerves, it was a blessing to be out there and I wanted nothing more than to make sure I was helping my teammates out by doing my role, like they had trusted me to do.
Q: What's it like having some former Huskies in the same organization as you?
A: It's been great having all of them (Craig Waibel, Henry Ruggiero and Taymour Roushdi) around. It provides a certain level of comfort that not many are fortunate to have right off of the back. Not to mention having two former teammates (James Moberg and Michael Gallagher) provides an additional layer of comfort. I couldn't be luckier.
Q: What was the 2017 combine like?
A: Honestly, it was strange. Trying to show that you are a capable player with players that you have never met before was interesting. Soccer is a team sport and a lot of a team's success comes down to chemistry. There can be all the talent in the world but if a team does not mend well together, the game doesn't flow well. Trying to get as comfortable with the players around me as soon as possible, and trying to learn their playing styles was a bit of a challenge but it did well to show me that I'm not in my same comfortable, little college world anymore.
Q: What years did you play at UW?
A: 2012-2016
Q: What did you major in?
A: Communications
Q: What is something you miss most about UW?
A: Being a part of a community that were all (relatively) going through the same thing together. Whether it was athletics or academics, there was always someone who knew the place you were at.
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from playing at Washington?
A: Winning the Pac-12 championship at Oregon State. Nothing could beat the celebration that followed thereafter.
Q: Any advice for any current or future Huskies that want to play professionally
A: Understand that every decision you make will have an effect on your career, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It may not immediately lead to a career ending consequence, but we are always distracted before we are destroyed.
