University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Midfielder
/ Soccer
Photo by: Eric Miller
Get to Know the Gophers: TJ McKendrick
7/3/2018 10:12:00 AM | Soccer
The University of Minnesota soccer team has concluded their spring activities, and are in full offseason mode. GopherSports.com will sit down with each player on the 2018 team to get to know them better on and off the field!
TJ McKendrick was the next to sit down with GopherSports.com to get to know her more on and off the field!
Be sure to follow the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you do not miss anything this summer including the schedule release, tickets and more!
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GopherSports.com: What are your summer plans? Internship? Travel? Playing Soccer? ANYTHING!
TJ McKendrick: My plan for this summer is taking summer classes. I get to go home for about a week and go on a hiking trip for a weekend with my mom, so I am really looking forward to that.
GS: Heading out of school for a few months, what do you like to do with your free time? Hobbies? Interests?
TM: I like reading and doing crafts. I also love being outside so doing any outdoor activities is great. Hiking is one of my favorite activities to do outside of soccer.
GS: How did you begin playing soccer? What sparked your interest as a child?
TM: My parents just put me in when I was really young, like 3 or 4, and I just stuck with it ever since. I guess the feeling of just being on the field that is unlike no other.
GS: What other positions have you played in the past? For instance… if you were a goal scorer in high school, and you are not now, what has that position change been like? Or vice versa…
TM: I have been playing a lot more attacking center midfield here then I have in the past. It's cool to be able to be attacking minded almost all the time. I get up the field more frequently and gives me a new angle looking at the field. I've played a little bit of center back, but midfield has always been my favorite because you get to play both defense and offense.
GS: What kind of person would you describe yourself as? What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
TM: I think I am a loving and hardworking person. I don't give up on anything. For the soccer side I think I'm a smart and focused player.
GS: Have you played other sports in your life?
TM: I played a little bit of basketball growing up.
GS: Is there a story behind your number you have in college? What about what you had in high school?
TM: I've always found a way to connect my numbers. I was 15 in high school and since that wasn't available, 5 was my next pick because it was the closest to my number 15.
GS: What made you choose to come to the University of Minnesota? What does it mean to be a Gopher to you?
TM: When I came out to visit I really loved the place, the people, the city, the environment. Everything was so appealing to me and I felt that I would be able to fit into the team, the city, and it all. I felt like it would be a great place to take my next step in life in getting education and playing my favorite sport while I do it. Being a gopher to me means a lot because it means that I won't give up no matter what and that I will work hard in everything I do.
GS: What is your favorite part about playing soccer here?
TM: I love the atmosphere and all the things that Gopher soccer is. The girls are dedicated to each other and it's a fun place to push yourself to success and do your best with great teammates and coaches around you.
GS: Favorite Soccer player? Favorite Professional athlete?
TM: My favorite athlete has always been Mia Hamm.
GS: Favorite food/meal?
TM: My favorite meal has got to be my mom's grilled chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes.
GS: Favorite Sport besides soccer?
TM: I've always liked tennis and basketball
GS: Favorite place you have traveled to?
TM: My favorite places have been Florida, Hawaii, and Italy
GS: Favorite music genre?
TM: Country music
GS: Favorite animal?
TM: Elephant
TJ McKendrick was the next to sit down with GopherSports.com to get to know her more on and off the field!
Be sure to follow the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you do not miss anything this summer including the schedule release, tickets and more!
---
GopherSports.com: What are your summer plans? Internship? Travel? Playing Soccer? ANYTHING!
TJ McKendrick: My plan for this summer is taking summer classes. I get to go home for about a week and go on a hiking trip for a weekend with my mom, so I am really looking forward to that.
GS: Heading out of school for a few months, what do you like to do with your free time? Hobbies? Interests?
TM: I like reading and doing crafts. I also love being outside so doing any outdoor activities is great. Hiking is one of my favorite activities to do outside of soccer.
GS: How did you begin playing soccer? What sparked your interest as a child?
TM: My parents just put me in when I was really young, like 3 or 4, and I just stuck with it ever since. I guess the feeling of just being on the field that is unlike no other.
GS: What other positions have you played in the past? For instance… if you were a goal scorer in high school, and you are not now, what has that position change been like? Or vice versa…
TM: I have been playing a lot more attacking center midfield here then I have in the past. It's cool to be able to be attacking minded almost all the time. I get up the field more frequently and gives me a new angle looking at the field. I've played a little bit of center back, but midfield has always been my favorite because you get to play both defense and offense.
GS: What kind of person would you describe yourself as? What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
TM: I think I am a loving and hardworking person. I don't give up on anything. For the soccer side I think I'm a smart and focused player.
GS: Have you played other sports in your life?
TM: I played a little bit of basketball growing up.
GS: Is there a story behind your number you have in college? What about what you had in high school?
TM: I've always found a way to connect my numbers. I was 15 in high school and since that wasn't available, 5 was my next pick because it was the closest to my number 15.
GS: What made you choose to come to the University of Minnesota? What does it mean to be a Gopher to you?
TM: When I came out to visit I really loved the place, the people, the city, the environment. Everything was so appealing to me and I felt that I would be able to fit into the team, the city, and it all. I felt like it would be a great place to take my next step in life in getting education and playing my favorite sport while I do it. Being a gopher to me means a lot because it means that I won't give up no matter what and that I will work hard in everything I do.
GS: What is your favorite part about playing soccer here?
TM: I love the atmosphere and all the things that Gopher soccer is. The girls are dedicated to each other and it's a fun place to push yourself to success and do your best with great teammates and coaches around you.
GS: Favorite Soccer player? Favorite Professional athlete?
TM: My favorite athlete has always been Mia Hamm.
GS: Favorite food/meal?
TM: My favorite meal has got to be my mom's grilled chicken with asparagus and mashed potatoes.
GS: Favorite Sport besides soccer?
TM: I've always liked tennis and basketball
GS: Favorite place you have traveled to?
TM: My favorite places have been Florida, Hawaii, and Italy
GS: Favorite music genre?
TM: Country music
GS: Favorite animal?
TM: Elephant
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