Join hosts Julie Jones and Kortney Harmon as they dive deep into the realities of freshman year with Michigan soccer player Josie Owen-Kren. This honest conversation explores the gap between expectations and reality, mental wake-up calls, and the challenges that shape young athletes today. From preparation strategies to managing new life demands, this episode equips you with insights to navigate your own athletic journey, especially if you're heading into your freshman year.

Josie shares her vivid memory of feeling "like a chicken with my head cut off" during her first possession drill at Michigan. Despite playing at elite club levels and feeling confident during captain's practices, everything changed once coaches arrived and competition intensified.

Key Insight: "In preseason, before we were with the coaches, we were playing 77... I felt great. We get into season with the coaches, all of a sudden everybody goes from like the 75% that I thought was 100% in preseason to like 110% the first day."

Coming from International Soccer Club (the same program as previous guest Katie Scott), Josie explains the dramatic difference between even elite club soccer and Division 1 college athletics.

The Two Game-Changers:

"Once you get to college, the talent from top to bottom is just like, it's pretty much all the same. It just ends up being who's more fit and who's faster at decision making speed."

The biggest piece of advice for incoming college athletes? Start running and learn to embrace uncomfortable workouts early.

Josie emphasizes finding ways to enjoy fitness while you're younger (sophomore/junior year of high school) so it's not a burden when you reach college. She credits this realization to stories her Marine father told her about improving his running times - advice she initially dismissed but now fully understands.

Not everyone immediately clicks with their team, and Josie's experience highlights an often-overlooked aspect of the college transition. While many of her former International teammates found their groups quickly, she struggled with social connections during her first semester.

The Self-Isolation Trap: When things don't go as planned athletically, it's natural to withdraw socially - but this makes everything harder.

The Turnaround: Second semester brought better relationships as Josie learned to put herself out there more, despite being naturally introverted.

One of the most challenging aspects of Josie's freshman year was realizing she would be red-shirted. The turning point came through advice from a junior who had been in the same situation.

The Game-Changing Conversation: After not traveling to away games and uncertainty about her status, Josie requested a sit-down with her coach. The key was asking for clarity so she could focus on her role rather than constantly wondering about her playing time.

Coach's Response: "I don't want to waste your eligibility" - which Josie appreciated, having seen other players burn eligibility for minimal minutes.

The Mental Shift: Once she knew her role as a red-shirt, Josie became the team's biggest cheerleader and could focus on being the best teammate possible.

Both hosts emphasize a crucial lesson: As a freshman, you'll need your coach more than you'll ever ask for help. The gap widens when you're not getting what you want, but that's exactly when communication becomes most vital.

Julie's Coaching Insight: "As a freshman, you can't get them in your office. As a sophomore, you can't get them out." The comfort level changes dramatically once players realize coaches are there to help, not just withhold opportunities.

Research from Harvard shows that social connection, not test scores or intellect, determines success in college. This applies to athletes too - those who are more socially connected tend to be more successful than those who isolate themselves.

Josie Owen-Kren is a soccer player at the University of Michigan who previously played for International Soccer Club. She's experienced the full spectrum of the freshman transition, from injury recovery to red-shirting to finding her place both athletically and socially. Her honest insights provide valuable perspective for any athlete navigating the college transition.

"I think the biggest thing that I actually didn't do for myself that I would have loved to look back on to make my experience better was actually giving myself a lot more grace, like understanding that this transition is a huge transition."

"Everything changes the second that [coaches] happens. And it was just like I was not expecting it. I don't know why I wasn't, but I just had not thought about that aspect of it for sure."

"I think uncertainty is the thing that we hate the most. The problem is that you don't control the information that you get. So sometimes you have to be the one seeking that information."

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