Stuart Ziegler has chosen to continue his soccer career at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO (Rumor has it that another Zizzer may be joining him – I’ll have to confirm that). Stuart was kind enough to answera few questions about the recruiting process and his decision.
How do you feel now that you have decided where you will be attending college?
It is like the greatest relief I’ve ever experienced. It has been a very stressful Senior year up until now.
Was it an easy decision for you?
It was an easy decision once I found out that I will be on a full ride (Editorial Note: athletic and academic scholarships combined will amount to a full ride for Stuart). It was not my favorite school, but I did enjoy the atmosphere. i am very confident that I made the right choice.
What was the biggest factor in your decision to attend Missouri Southern?
I would have to say the money. Other schools I was looking at cost at least $7000 a year. Also, they have one of the best nursing and study abroad programs in Missouri.
What do you plan to major in?
I plan to acquire a double major in Business and Science of Nursing.
What do you know about those departments at Missouri Southern?
I don’t know much about the business department. the Nursing Program is a very respected program. It takes hard work and dedication to get through. It is an accomplishment to be accepted into the Nursing Program.
Anything you can tell us about Missouri Southern – The school ingeneral or the Soccer Program?
They have the nicest dorms out of the ten schools I visited. The classes are small, so it provides opportunities for relationships between students and teachers. Joplin is a great town. It is in the middle of Springfield, Tulsa, Fayetteville, Kansas City. This year’s recruiting class is one of the best Coach Cirillo has ever brought in.
What thoughts do you have about the recruiting process – Good, Bad, or Indifferent?
The whole time my Mom was pushing me to contact coaches and get my name “out there”. The hundreds of hours I spent preparing for college drove me up the walls. It definitely paid off in the end. If you want to play college soccer, start this process in your Junior season. I want to thank my Mom, Coach Schmitt, and Jeremy Alumbaugh for their help in this process.
