Earlier this quarter, I made it a goal of mine to learn more about our athletes and the athletics program in general. This led to the opportunity to interview a handful of players from our men’s soccer team. The following profile series will be a look into who they are and what being an athlete means to them.

Hailing from Lemming, Denmark, Mathias Fog is one of the multiple international students attending SPSCC specifically to be part of our athletics program. Having been raised in a sporting family, he has been playing soccer with friends and family since the age of three. Growing up with sports made it easy for him to develop the experience and vigor necessary to be a serious athlete. Eventually, Mathias started to play for a local team and the desire to play soccer at a professional level sprouted. 

So, why SPSCC?

For many international athletes, studying in the US can be a good way to pursue both academics and athletics as a future career due to how ingrained collegiate sports are in our culture. By taking this route and getting in contact with an agency that assists students looking to study in the U.S, Mathias will be able to earn a business associate degree while developing his skills as a soccer player. After spending some time looking into various schools and their soccer programs, he received an email from Maxwell Sampson, SPSCC’S head coach. The two connected very well, Mathias noted, saying that he appreciated coach Sampson’s honesty and the vision that he had for the soccer program. 

As a defensive player, what are you paying attention to during a game?

“The first thought is to simply play soccer,” Mathias said, explaining that this is to get yourself to focus on carrying out the plays you know as a way to not overthink and freeze up in the moment. He went on to express the importance of implementing the playing style that the team has established together and expects of themselves. Aside from this, he mentioned that the other essential thing to pay attention to is –of course– your opponents. In particular, you want to figure out what their weaknesses are, anticipate what repetitive plays they will make, and ultimately break their playing style.

How do you navigate effective communication as a team?

With just a few months in the soccer season and many cultural backgrounds –all with their own understanding of the game– coming together on one team, building good communication with one another has been greatly prioritized by the whole team. To Mathias, it is very important to make the effort of learning the individual boundaries of each of his teammates. He feels that that can be achieved by maintaining an eagerness to listen, being mindful when speaking and giving others grace when needed. 

What do you think is the most important quality for an athlete to have?

“Skill and talent are good but hard work beats talent everyday.”

Being good at something doesn’t mean much if you aren’t actively maintaining and improving those skills. Mathias continued, saying that this means not only practicing as much as possible, but also making a serious commitment to taking care of themselves so that they’re always ready for the next game. 

What do you like most about participating in athletics?

Mathias put a lot of emphasis on the relationships that he has been able to make since joining the team, “It feels like I’ve known them for years,” he said fondly. This feeling of closeness was expressed throughout every interview and one that was truly palpable whenever the team was on the field. Aside from the sense of community, Mathias also enjoys athletics because he personally believes that people are naturally happier when they are staying active in some capacity and does what he can to implement this philosophy into daily life.

What are your goals for the 2024 soccer season?

“My goal is always to grow as much as a player and person as possible” Mathias said, following with a strong belief that your achievements as an athlete can be a reflection of your personal growth. By the end of the season, Mathias knocked this goal out of the park. His development as a player is simply undeniable, and him earning the award ‘Most Improved Player’ at the end-of-season team award ceremony is the proof to show for it. This path of improvement is sure to be followed into the next year, so be sure to keep an eye out for the friendlies in the Spring quarter and the 2025 playing season to see our team in action!

Follow this link: South Puget Sound CC for more information on athletics at Spscc.