BRIONNA HALVERSON
The following is a spotlight profile on Brionna Halverson, Saint Louis University's nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award. The Atlantic 10 institutions nominated a total of 14 outstanding student-athletes for the award (READ MORE). The A-10 will profile each of the institutional nominees.
PROFILE
A three-time All-Conference selection, Brionna Halverson was also named All-Region by the United Soccer Coaches as a junior and senior and named to the A-10 All-Championship Team twice and as a freshmen was a member of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team. Named to the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll each year, Halverson was also active as a volunteer, working with Food Outreach to stock Food Pantries and serve lunch. She also volunteered her time assisting with lunches at the Jesuit Hall nursing home, while visiting with the residents and nurses. Halverson used soccer as a way to help those with disabilities through activities within the sport.
FEATURE STORY:
Brionna Halverson is enjoying the process at Saint Louis University
SNAPSHOT
Sport: Soccer
Position: Defender
Major: Public Health
Minor: Healthcare Ethics
Hometown: Bolivar, Mo.
Q&A WITH BRIONNA
Q: If You Could Know the Absolute and Total Truth to One Question, What Question Would You Ask?
What is Space. Enough said
Q: What was the hardest obstacle you faced as a student-athlete?
The hardest obstacle I’ve faced as a student-athlete was the mental health balance between school, athletics, and one year injury. This is an area where there has been lots of growth and learning as the years have gone on.
Q: What is one thing you would go back and do differently if you could?
If I could go back and do one thing differently I would change my self talk and how hard I was on myself. Looking back I should have given myself more grace and realized how much I was doing.
Q: Who or What has been your biggest inspiration or motivation?
There are many individuals who have inspired and motivated me but I would say my biggest motivation has been Coach Shields because she has known my overall goals from the beginning and has helped me grow and develop as a person and a player. She will forever be one of the biggest influences on my life.
Q: What hard goals have you set and/or accomplish?
A goal I have set for myself is becoming a professional soccer player and it has been the biggest eye opener that I am at the end of my career and there is a realistic possibility to achieve this goal!
Q: What Was your favorite class/professor and why?
Mrs Arnold was the best! She taught a public health biology class right around the time the pandemic started. It was a difficult class but she was always so personable and easy to talk things through that she made me appreciate learning and growing in my education.
Q: What is something you learned about yourself during the unique COVID year?
One of the biggest lessons I learned during the pandemic was learning to trust the process. That was an extremely difficult time for everyone mentally and I found myself in the same position. But having faith and believing that things would end up the way they needed to be helped me power through.