Newspapers / North Carolina Wesleyan University … / Feb. 4, 1994, edition 1 / Page 7
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FEBRUARY 4,1994 — THE DECREE — PAGE 7 Duerler stars on and off soccer field By MARIE LENANE When 7-1/2-year-old Julie Duerler was told by the man in charge of Little League Baseball that she was a little girl and could not sign up for the boys team, soccer did not seem like the best alternative. Julie said, “I told my mom that I didn’t want to play. It was my dream to play baseball. I always wanted to be a professional base ball player, but my mom told me that I was playing soccer, and that was that.” Little Julie soon discovered soccer wasn’t all that bad. “Once I got my knee pads, and the whole uniform, I was running around with my socks pulled all the way past my knees, and get ting ready for my games two hours early. I just loved being a part, so I went out there and gave it everything I had,” Julie said about her start in the game of soccer. Giving it everything she has is a way of life for Julie Duerler. Now, 14 years later and North Carolina Wesleyan’s first ever All American soccer player, Julie has led the Women’s Soccer Team to the NCAA tournament the last three years. Duerler, who runs two miles in 12.5 minutes, on average, dur ing soccer’s dreaded “hell week” of pre-season conditioning, has also managed to bring home more than one perfect 4.0 GPA as a Biology major. She has estab lished herself as a team leader on and off the field. Julie has been a team captain since her sophomore year. “I was kind of scared my sophomore year having to take on the role of captain, but the support of my friends and my team made it that much easier,” Duerler said. ‘That’s one of the best things about playing for Patrick Baker. He strives to make his team a close knit group. We’re like family out there, and it makes a big difference.” In N.C. Wesleyan’s Women’s Soccer guide for 1992, Coach Patrick Baker said “Julie Duerler typifies the ideal player any coach loves to have in their program. She represents herself, the team, and the athletic department in a first class fashion, and we feel lucky to have her at Wesleyan.” Since arriving at Wesleyan in 1990 Duerler has been named First Team All Dixie Conference every year. First Team All Ameri can, third and first team Adidas Scholar All American, and N.C. Wesleyan’s 1991-1992 and 1992- 1993 Athlete/Scholar of the Year. Julie is an athlete, but soccer is not her whole life. The daugh ter of James and Patty Duerler of Grove City, Ohio, Julie is one of three children. At home she is active in local soccer leagues, as well as her church. This summer Duerler traveled to the impoverished country of Haiti through her church group and Christian Service Interna tional to work with children in an orphanage. “I always wanted to go out of the country and work in a really poor country to see what it was like there,” Julie said of her ex periences in Haiti. “I learned to appreciate my childhood and life in America that much more.” Julie is one of the most in volved students on campus. As a member of the Judicial Board and Student Government Association she is active in enforcing Wes leyan policies and voting on stu dent issues. She is also the Secre tary of Pi Epsilon Sorority. “One thing I do every year as a part of being in Pi Epsilon So rority, is to work with My Sister’s House in Rocky Mount. It is a women’s shelter and every year we spend time during the holi days with the women and their children. It gives me a good feel ing to help out,” she said. Julie’s scholastic achieve ments have not been overlooked. In 1991 she was named to Omi- cron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Fraternity on campus. “Oh, that,” Julie says with a nervous giggle. “It’s always nice to be recognized, but I am just doing what I am supposed to. I am a student, and as a student I want to participate in everything I can. Gosh, I am involved in ev erything because it’s fun to me. The Mendsliips I have made have helped me through any tough times, and that’s worth more to me than anything.” Dr. Robert Walton of the Bi ology Department said, “Julie is a role model in our department. She is so mentally focused, and her work rate is so high that the other students seem to feed off her and it makes such a differ ence. But, besides all that, Julie is just an all around great per son.” One thing that amazes every one about Julie Duerl^ is her abil ity to get it all done. Julie says that it can be difficult managing her time, but that she wouldn’t give any of it up. “I don’t consider what I do any different fi’om anybody else. I just get up every morning and I know what I have to get done by the time I go to bed. I can’t sit still; I always have to be moving. Maybe that’s why I manage to get things done,” she said. With all of this under her belt and one semester of college left, Julie Duerler has a world of opportunity open to her. “Veternary medicine is my life-long dream — I love any thing to do with animals. I’m ma joring in biology, and medical school is something I’m definitely considering,” she said. Presently looking at N.C. State, Julie is hop ing to fulfill the dream of medi cal school next year. If only that man at Little League Baseball knew who he was turning down. Today’s 5*2” Julie Duerler may be the fin* “little gill” to break into profes sional baseball. Interested in helping to tutor 6th graders? Then come by the P.I.T. Stop (Peer Interaction Tutoring) Every Wednesday, 3:15-4:15 p.m. in Doc’s WESLEYAN SOCCER STANDOUT JULIE DUERLER FEATURE FILMS Black History Month Films Thursday, Feb. 10, 7 p.m., Doc’s “A Raisin In the Sun” Tuesday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.. Doc’s “Five Heartbeats”
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