INTRODUCTION: Soccer players run a lot, don't they? Would you believe nine miles in one game? Tommy Nelson '22 believes it because he does it every game. The Buisiness/Finance major trained early in high school by running a distance relay for the track & field team.

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How young were you when you started playing soccer?
I was three when I started playing soccer in a small goal league.
 
Who introduced you to it?
My dad introduced it to me.  He was asked to be a coach of a 4 year old team and insisted that I be allowed to play even though I was too young.  I spent most games just chasing the older kids as they played.
 
How long was it before you were playing with travel teams?
I would say I started traveling around 9 or 10 to small tournaments in the midwest, but really switched to a travel team when I was 12 or 13.  I left my small club to join a bigger one that would play at a higher level. 
 
Did you know then that this was the sport you wanted to play in college?
I always knew that if I wanted to pursue a sport in college, it would be soccer.  I always enjoyed playing it and spent the most time trying to work on improving my game.  
 
With all the running that midfielders have to do, are you exhausted once the game is over?
When I play a full game as a midfielder or outside back, I am constantly running around nine miles per game.  This means after the game I am usually tired and ready for a nap or a good meal.  

 

You ran as part of the 4x800 meter relay team at Shawnee Mission HS in Leawood, KS. Does the track experience help with all the running in soccer?
My experience in track has been vital to helping me run in soccer.  Back in high school my schedule would be track practice directly after school, grabbing a bite to eat, then heading directly to soccer practice.  This helped me develop some work ethic and grit which serves me well with all the running in a soccer game. 
 
It was a year-round sports schedule in HS for you wasn't it – football, soccer, and track? How were those divided up?
I grew up playing just about any sport I was allowed to play.  So back in high school I was accustomed to playing multiple sports in the same season.  Soccer was year-round for me, while other sports were more seasonal.  I played other sports at the same time as soccer.  My sophomore year was my busiest, with me playing football in the fall as a kicker, basketball in the winter then running track in the spring.  
 
If a friend came to the game and had never seen you play before, how can they tell you are playing well?
Soccer is a hard sport to judge for people because it can be more subjective than sports like basketball and football, but I would say if they could tell I'm playing well if they see me running the full length of the field a lot.  This means I would be a part of the offense and defense. 

You played club ball with Sporting Blue Valley 99s. Where did the team travel for tournaments?
We traveled all over.  The biggest tournaments we played were in Dallas, Phoenix, and Orlando.  
 
When you are home, do you work with any youth programs – coaching, counseling, working behind the scenes, etc.? What do you like about doing that?
When I am home I mostly work for my parents restaurants, so I have not been involved with coaching locally.  
 
What led you to the University of Rochester?
When I was looking for school one of my dad's friends, ironically named Tommy, played at the university and recommended it to me.  Once I toured the school and realized the caliber of the soccer program I knew it was the right place for me.  
 
You are majoring in Business with a concentration in Finance. Why does that appeal to you?
Finance and business have always appealed to me because I enjoy learning how I can start with a certain sum and use it to make more.  I believe that learning how the world works in terms of finances is a very important skill to have.  
 
Are you involved in any campus groups tied to your studies?
This semester I did the UR innovations project in which I had to come up with a creative solution for a local business.