Hellwig excited to be a Texan
It didn’t take Macy Hellwig long to fall in love with Tarleton State University.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Denis Morris Catholic High School spent a couple days at the Division 1 school last month on an official visit and was blown away.
The attacking midfielder had chatted with school staff about a soccer scholarship and quickly knew it was the right fit after seeing the institution in person.
“I just remember immediately after getting there thinking this is where I want to be,” she said. “It was a really unique opportunity too because next year will be their first season with a (girls soccer) team so I’m really excited for that.
“It was a really unique position to be in so I wanted to accept the offer.”
Hellwig, who said the offer was for a full scholarship starting in the fall of 2022, minus the cost of books, also felt comfortable when she was given a tour of the tiny town (21,000) of Stephenville, which is located about two hours southwest of Dallas.
“It was just the atmosphere. We ended up going out to the different restaurants around there and it just felt like home,” she said. “Everyone was so kind in the town and people, just strangers, were smiling.
“The whole town is a university town so everyone there supports the games.”
Hellwig ended up going to a Texans’ football game and came away impressed.
“That was a really unique experience as well,” she said. “It was so weird to see (no masks) and actually being able to be in a big crowd and the facilities they have too. It’s so amazing how much they can do for the athletes down there.”
Hellwig isn’t sure of her major yet — she’s leaning toward psychology or criminology and criminal laws — is relieved to have such a big decision off her plate.
“It’s such a nice feeling,” she said. “It was a really stressful like process, I just remember I would have nothing left to do for school but then I would always be so nervous for university and then the regular application process for the Canadian schools as well.
“We ended up accepting the offer and it was just like a big lift off my shoulders. Just getting that offer was so nice.”
Hellwig began playing soccer when she was three and moved from Club Roma, to the St. Catharines Jets, and then to the Empire Soccer Academy before switching to a League 1 team in Hamilton where she currently plays.
While she loved the sport, Hellwig did not envision herself playing beyond high school until recently.
“I started a little bit later. I just remember getting into high school not even thinking about university or what I wanted to do,” she said.
Hellwig was then introduced to the NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) program which helped guide her.
“It was shocking that it (recruiting) started so early,” she said. “I was a little bit late to the process.”
In December of 2019, Hellwig began the recruiting process and then the COVID pandemic hit a couple of months later.
“We had a whole bunch of tournament showcases but then obviously COVID happened so then it was just a whole year of training on my own,” she said. “I was just trying to keep myself active, as there was like no soccer at all.”
Hellwig attended a soccer showcase last summer which she remembered not going particularly well, but then took part in anther one this past July in Brampton where she started to feel herself again.
“I ended up getting woman of the match a few times,” she said. “I remembered that I was still able to play because it was so different. And we were starting soccer again going against people, not the 10-person social distance practice.”
From there, Hellwig attended an FTF (First Touch Football) Combine in August where she won the overall most valuable player award out of 60 participants, which opened the eyes of the coaches at Tarleton.
Hellwig can’t wait to start the next chapter of her journey, but admits it might be difficult to move so far away.
“There will be moments when I am enjoying times with my friends and it will hit me that it’s not going to be like this next year,” she said. “It will be a whole new group of people, a whole new city, and so far from home too, but then I’ll get excited about it.
“I’ve come to accept it is what it is and I have to enjoy this now and it won’t be like this forever, but it’s also nice to know my home life was really nice and coming home for Christmas will be nice to see everyone again from here.”
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