Name: Julie Friesler

When third-grader Julie Friesler first saw kids kicking a ball around the school soccer pitch behind her house, she went up to Englishman Jim Jolley -- the man in charge -- and asked to get into the game. "The rest, as they say, is history."

Q: What can you tell us about your soccer accomplishments?
I grew up playing with the Milwaukee Kickers SC (pre FC Milwaukee). I went to Whitefish Bay HS and as a freshman was the only one to make the varsity team. During my four years as a starter at WFB, I was all-conference and team captain. The details are a little fuzzy as this was a LONG time ago. I played four years of Division 1 ball at UW-Milwaukee under three different coaches. With a right knee that endured four surgeries, I spent as much time in the training room as on the pitch. I do recall senior day. We played cross-town rival Marquette and won the match 2 - nil. I was fortunate enough to tally both goals -- a great way to end my career at UWM.

Q: What is your earliest soccer memory?
I am not sure if this is my mom's memory or mine . . . The summer before third grade, my sister, mom and myself moved into our new home and neighborhood. While I was involved and loved all types of sports, I had never kicked a soccer ball and didn't know about the game. Our house faced the back of my elementary/middle school, which had a huge playground, tennis courts, football field and soccer pitch. I was looking out our picture window and watching a bunch of kids running around kicking a ball. I went up to my mom and said, "I think I'd like to go and try that out." She pointed at the man who seemed to be in charge and told me to go and ask him if I could play. The rest, as they say, is history. I came home a few hours later with grass-stained knees and a passion for a game called soccer. That man, an Englishmen named Jim Jolley, was my first soccer coach, my high school Spanish teacher and followed my soccer career through college. He would often sit at the end of our bench in high school or I would look up and see him in the stands at Engleman Field.

Q: What was your most embarrassing moment on the soccer field?
This actually happened just recently. I was playing in a match that my team was winning quite handily. Everything was clicking for us and the goals were coming very easily. My teammate sent a beautiful ball across our offensive goal mouth and all I had to do was lightly touch it and it would have gone in. Instead, as the ball came across, my eyes got huge and I took a big 'ol swing at it (something you should never do). Instead of making easy contact I decided to go for the side 1/2 volley. I missed the whole thing and the ball rolled out of bounds for a goal kick. My teammates and I were laughing so hard that we did not even realize the opposing team had taken their goal kick.

Q: What's your favorite food?
Either tofu squash curry (#26) from Lao Lang Xang or Coconut Encrusted Tofu from Dobhan, both on Atwood Avenue in Madison.

Q: What's your favorite vacation spot?
That's a tough one . . . so many places I have been, and so many places yet to see. I guess it is a tie between the Indonesian Island of Bali, beach camping on Kauai, and the Kalalau Trail.

Q: Who is your hero?
My sister.

Q: What's the best part of coaching children?
To watch their development and know that I may have had something to do with them achieving their goals. Also, helping them understand that team sports is about so much more than the sport itself.

Q: What was your favorite class in grade school?
Gym, lunch and recess. Did I mention Gym?

Q: What's your dream job?
Being a professional photographer for either Sports Illustrated or National Geographic.

Q: What's your greatest accomplishment?
I don't know. I hope it hasn't happened yet . . . !