UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Many athletes will go through their childhood focused on solely one sport, essentially putting all their eggs in one basket in hopes of making it to the next level. This was not the case for Charlotte Williams. In fact, for the U.S. U23 Women's National Team member, soccer was not even her first sport – it was skiing.
"I skied before I played soccer, so that was my first real passion," Williams admitted.
As the daughter of an Olympic skier, Williams was clearly gifted when it came to hitting the slopes. Not only did she win the 2012 USSA National Junior Finals, but she once ranked as high as sixth nationally among skiers in her age group (born in 1996).
"I come from a big ski racing family," Williams said about her background on the mountains. "I got into the sport because my dad ski raced for a long time. He was on the U.S ski team for about ten years."
As a child, Williams would play soccer in her home state of New York, then during middle school she attended an intensive ski academy in Vermont from November to April.
"I would do that in the winter and then come back to New York for the rest of the year so I could play soccer," the advertising and public relations major said. "I did that until my junior year when I decided I really wanted to focus on just soccer so I could do that at the highest level possible."
Even after deciding to stop skiing to focus on soccer, it is clear that skiing has helped her improve not only as a competitor, but also as an all-around athlete.
"It was always tough for me, but I think it's helped me," Williams said about switching between the two sports all throughout her childhood. "I've learned a lot of lessons between each sport that I could carry over into the other and have made me a better athlete."
Head coach Erica Dambach, who was in favor of athletes playing multiple sports growing up and loved the idea of Williams' skiing upbringing, believes her unique skillsets in both sports make Williams an unparalleled student-athlete.
"You just don't see that anymore," Dambach said. "I love it. I love the idea of athletes coming from different backgrounds and seeing the games in different ways. I think that this is a lost art right now."
As for her play on the soccer field, Williams is having arguably her best season yet as a senior. She currently has seven points through the team's first eight games, including a one goal, two assist performance against Syracuse earlier this month.
"I think I've had some good moments, but there's always room to improve," Williams said of her game. "I'm never completely satisfied with how I'm playing and I always keep pushing to see if I can get to the next level."
William's competitive nature, which could be attributed to her move to a cut-throat skiing school at such a young age, is seen throughout the program.
"She's pushed me all throughout the offseason," redshirt junior defender Ellie Jean said of Williams. "She's been one of the biggest competitors in the offseason within the team and just trying to help each other grow in that sense."
"She's a threat," Dambach said of Williams, a member of the 2017 All-Big Ten Third Team. "I think she's a player that is circled on the opponents scouting report. She's dangerous in the space in front of the back line and at this point she looks to be more dangerous on goal."
Williams, who is climbing up the Nittany Lions' record book and currently ranks in the program's top 25 for career goals and assists, will look to continue her good play and keep her foot on the gas in her final season for the Blue and White.
If her background says anything about her future, it will be strong performances ahead for the Nittany Lion.
