The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 4 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on December 4, 2020.
Ean Goldstein ’23
Staff Writer
Men’s soccer player Jan Roessler ’21 recently earned the Roy W. LeClere Award. The LeClere Award is given to the male Midwest Conference athlete that has earned the highest grade point average during his junior year. Roessler has been named an Academic All-MWC for each of the past three years and is the third Forester to earn the Roy W. LeClere Award. Stentor staff interviewed Roessler about his experiences playing soccer at Lake Forest College, as well as what this award means to him.
Stentor: Where are you from and what is your major?
Roessler: I was born and raised just outside of Cologne, Germany before I came to Lake Forest College. I am a double major in finance and computer science.
Stentor: What are your plans for after graduation?
Roessler: I am currently searching for full-time positions in the financial services industry, preferably as a technology consultant or quantitative trader. However, during these tough and uncertain times with the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities are limited.
Stentor: How long have you been playing soccer?
Roessler: I have been playing soccer for as long as I can remember, but I think I joined my first real club team by the age of 3 or 4.
Stentor: What is your best memory with the Lake Forest men’s soccer team?
Roessler: Honestly, every moment I get to spend with my teammates is cherished. But I will always remember our team winning the MWC Tournament in 2017 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament competing against the University of Chicago. That truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Stentor: What advice would you give for how to balance academics with soccer?
Roessler: The biggest advice that I can give is living on a set schedule. Once you have found a routine that works for you, stick to it. I think when trying to manage a rigorous course load, whilst also being an active member of any sports team, requires great discipline and commitment. To give one specific example, one advice is to try to get all your required schoolwork done before going on away trips.
Stentor: How is being a goalkeeper different from other positions in soccer?
Roessler: The goalkeeper position is very unique, with the most obvious reason being that I am the only player on the team that is allowed to use his hands. But to me, it is more than that: The goalkeepers are a little bit of a separate unit on the team, as we get to work with our Goalkeeper Coach Sean Avila every practice before joining the team. I also believe there is a different intensity that comes with being a goalkeeper. Every mistake that I make will most likely lead to our opponent scoring.
Stentor: After you make a save, what is going through your mind?
Roessler: I don’t think there is much time to get overly excited after making a big save. Of course, it’s an immediate confidence booster, however, my main priority after making a save is to either start the counterattack when I see fit, slow the game down to let my team reset and find their positions, or to organize my team for the following set-piece situation. There is never a minute when any player on the field can switch off.
Stentor: What does it mean to you to win the Roy W. LeClere Award?
Roessler: Being awarded the Roy W. LeClere Award is a huge honor. I am proud to be only the third Forester to be recognized with this award and it just shows me that my hard work on and off the field [over] the past four years did not go unnoticed.
