Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Fedor Puts The Team Above Herself To Build Championship Contender
August 04, 2017 | Soccer
BOULDER – Embracing the role as a reserve is not an easy thing to do. Every student-athlete wants to be the star and, after all, nearly every student-athlete was "The Star" when they were in high school.
Courtney Fedor is no different. At Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, she won a state championship and was a three-time all-county selection, earning honorable mention all-state as a junior before missing most of her senior season with an injury. With a résumé like that, she came to Colorado in 2014 with high expectations to make immediate contributions.
As a freshman, she started the second match of the season after a last-minute injury to one of her teammates, but settled for just five appearances in her first year in Boulder.
"It wasn't what I expected at first," Fedor. "I wasn't playing as much as I expected, but I learned to make the most of my role within the team and understand where I belonged. And the friends I've made here are outstanding and the academics and everything [is great]. Soccer has been going well now and it's been a really good three years.
"There's no point in having a poor attitude about [not playing much as a freshman]. You just control what you can control and fitness has always been a big part of who I am. Just always being super fit, that's something I can control, and anything else comes from there. Having a positive attitude has helped me along the way."
Head coach Danny Sanchez has also recognized Fedor's fitness, as well as many other qualities she brings to the team.
"She's always been one of our three most-fit players. She's a great student, she's a great teammate. As a senior now, she's a leader; she sets the example on and off the field. When she's been called upon over her three years, she's performed well."
Her positive attitude and strong work ethic have helped Fedor's playing time increase each season and has her entering her final season ready for whatever comes her way. She played in nine matches as a sophomore and made 17 appearances last year as a junior, helping the Buffs to their best season in the Pac-12, tying for second place in the conference and finishing with 15 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Her attitude was also something that drew Sanchez and his coaching staff to her on the recruiting trail. While many prospects have the natural talent to play and compete in the Pac-12, not all have the drive to work hard every day and put the team first.
"I think the thing that we noticed on [her official visit to Colorado] was how good of a person she was, how committed, how focused she was to be the best student-athlete she could be," Sanchez said. "As we recruit and there aren't a lot of things separating [different prospects], you start to nitpick and those become bigger factors. She knew the challenge of [coming to CU], but she was willing to accept that challenge. That's pretty inviting for us. We want players like that, that are willing to compete every day in our program."
Her versatility also serves her and the team well.
"She can play anywhere along the back line, and in the spring, we even played her a little in the midfield and we did that a bit last fall," Sanchez said. "She's athletic, she's fast, and for her size, she's strong. She's made a huge commitment to the weight room in her time here. Having that versatility will only help her cause for getting more playing time going into her last year."
Last season, she was called upon midseason when injuries decimated CU's back line. Fedor was thrust into action in the middle of a battle for the Pac-12 title. After two players went down in back-to-back games, she stepped in to play important minutes over a four-game stretch, helping the Buffs extend their winning streak to 10 matches, the second-longest winning streak in school history.
After proving herself as a contributor on the field, she remained a part of the rotation after Kahlia Hogg and Joss Orejel returned from injuries. Fedor saw her first postseason action of her collegiate career, appearing off the bench against Oklahoma State and No. 3 South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.
The success she and the Buffs had last season has given her confidence heading into the 2017 campaign and has also set high expectations.
"I would love to play as much as possible, but I'm happy with whatever role is given to me," Fedor said. "I know as a team, everyone is working really hard to be the best we can and hopefully we'll [finish as well as we did last year or better]."
"Every player wants to play, but she never puts herself in front of the team and that's important for success," Sanchez said.
When her playing days come to an end, she is looking forward to using her degree towards a career in the health care industry. An integrative physiology major, Fedor carries a 3.79 grade point average. After graduation, she plans on moving home to Bellevue, Washington, to gain experience in health care before applying to physician's assistant schools to pursue a master's degree. She would like to be a PA when she completes her degree.
"Courtney will be very successful in her career after college," Sanchez said. "Her determination, demeanor, attitude and overall quality as a person will benefit her as a physician's assistant or whatever area she focuses."
In the meantime, Fedor and her teammates will be chasing a Pac-12 title this fall. Whatever her role, one thing is clear: she will be ready when called upon.
Courtney Fedor is no different. At Interlake High School in Bellevue, Washington, she won a state championship and was a three-time all-county selection, earning honorable mention all-state as a junior before missing most of her senior season with an injury. With a résumé like that, she came to Colorado in 2014 with high expectations to make immediate contributions.
As a freshman, she started the second match of the season after a last-minute injury to one of her teammates, but settled for just five appearances in her first year in Boulder.
"It wasn't what I expected at first," Fedor. "I wasn't playing as much as I expected, but I learned to make the most of my role within the team and understand where I belonged. And the friends I've made here are outstanding and the academics and everything [is great]. Soccer has been going well now and it's been a really good three years.
"There's no point in having a poor attitude about [not playing much as a freshman]. You just control what you can control and fitness has always been a big part of who I am. Just always being super fit, that's something I can control, and anything else comes from there. Having a positive attitude has helped me along the way."
Head coach Danny Sanchez has also recognized Fedor's fitness, as well as many other qualities she brings to the team.
"She's always been one of our three most-fit players. She's a great student, she's a great teammate. As a senior now, she's a leader; she sets the example on and off the field. When she's been called upon over her three years, she's performed well."
Her positive attitude and strong work ethic have helped Fedor's playing time increase each season and has her entering her final season ready for whatever comes her way. She played in nine matches as a sophomore and made 17 appearances last year as a junior, helping the Buffs to their best season in the Pac-12, tying for second place in the conference and finishing with 15 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Her attitude was also something that drew Sanchez and his coaching staff to her on the recruiting trail. While many prospects have the natural talent to play and compete in the Pac-12, not all have the drive to work hard every day and put the team first.
"I think the thing that we noticed on [her official visit to Colorado] was how good of a person she was, how committed, how focused she was to be the best student-athlete she could be," Sanchez said. "As we recruit and there aren't a lot of things separating [different prospects], you start to nitpick and those become bigger factors. She knew the challenge of [coming to CU], but she was willing to accept that challenge. That's pretty inviting for us. We want players like that, that are willing to compete every day in our program."
Her versatility also serves her and the team well.
"She can play anywhere along the back line, and in the spring, we even played her a little in the midfield and we did that a bit last fall," Sanchez said. "She's athletic, she's fast, and for her size, she's strong. She's made a huge commitment to the weight room in her time here. Having that versatility will only help her cause for getting more playing time going into her last year."
Last season, she was called upon midseason when injuries decimated CU's back line. Fedor was thrust into action in the middle of a battle for the Pac-12 title. After two players went down in back-to-back games, she stepped in to play important minutes over a four-game stretch, helping the Buffs extend their winning streak to 10 matches, the second-longest winning streak in school history.
After proving herself as a contributor on the field, she remained a part of the rotation after Kahlia Hogg and Joss Orejel returned from injuries. Fedor saw her first postseason action of her collegiate career, appearing off the bench against Oklahoma State and No. 3 South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.
The success she and the Buffs had last season has given her confidence heading into the 2017 campaign and has also set high expectations.
"I would love to play as much as possible, but I'm happy with whatever role is given to me," Fedor said. "I know as a team, everyone is working really hard to be the best we can and hopefully we'll [finish as well as we did last year or better]."
"Every player wants to play, but she never puts herself in front of the team and that's important for success," Sanchez said.
When her playing days come to an end, she is looking forward to using her degree towards a career in the health care industry. An integrative physiology major, Fedor carries a 3.79 grade point average. After graduation, she plans on moving home to Bellevue, Washington, to gain experience in health care before applying to physician's assistant schools to pursue a master's degree. She would like to be a PA when she completes her degree.
"Courtney will be very successful in her career after college," Sanchez said. "Her determination, demeanor, attitude and overall quality as a person will benefit her as a physician's assistant or whatever area she focuses."
In the meantime, Fedor and her teammates will be chasing a Pac-12 title this fall. Whatever her role, one thing is clear: she will be ready when called upon.
Players Mentioned
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