NAOTB: Taylor Ziemer
Sep 02, 2019 | Soccer
Each week 12thMan.com checks in with a newcomer on the Aggie soccer squad. This week junior Taylor Ziemer chatted about her life in a soccer family, her year in the Netherlands and her arrival at Texas A&M.
At what point in the transfer process did you decide to go to Texas A&M?
"Pretty much right after I decided to transfer, I knew I wanted to go to A&M. I wanted to come because my sister was here and it just felt like the right choice. I didn't really look anywhere else."
What do you remember about your visit in Aggieland?
"My unofficial visit was when I was a sophomore in high school about six years ago. When I first visited, I thought it was a really cool place. It was one of the first schools I visited, so I was extremely excited. I thought the campus was really cool. I remember stepping out and thinking that it looked like a college would look in a movie. I thought that if I were to picture, in my youth, a university in my head this is what I would picture. I thought it was pretty cool."
How much did you know about Texas A&M before you transferred?
"A lot, my sister came here so I knew a decent amount from her. I didn't do a ton of research on like the schooling or much, but I knew what I knew from my sister and from common knowledge being at another university."
Having been around a little bit now, what would you say is your favorite thing about being here?
"The facilities and resources are incredible. I think the stadium, the locker room, the nutritionists, athletic trainers, sports performance coaches and everything we have here are amazing. I have never been anywhere that has more stuff, resources and better facilities, so I think that's a lot of fun. Also, I have made a lot of friends so far, and the team is awesome. It's been an easy transition in, so it's been good in that way."
You spent last season playing club soccer in the Netherlands, what did you learn from that experience and how has it helped you as a player?
"I learned a lot. For the first time in my life, I really had to fight my way into a position. They didn't know anything about me except my soccer resume. They had never seen me play when they brought me in. I spent the first half of the season barely seeing any playing time. You play a 90-minute game with three subs. If you don't start, you are probably not going in. I really had to fight my way into a position, which was awesome for me. It was exactly what I needed - gain confidence back and know that I could do it. I also got to play in the midfield. It was really helpful for gaining back my confidence and just feeling more comfortable again and happy playing soccer. It was an incredible experience and I am really happy I did it."
How did the California trip go?
"California is nice. I love California. It's the best state. The weather was incredible, I love being home. I think we are going to learn a lot from the games, I don't think they were our best games, practically, but I think we are happy to have left there with four points. Obviously, a win against Pepperdine would have been awesome, but it was a good weekend. We learned a lot hopefully we can play a lot better in the upcoming season."
So I saw you taking shots at the end of your practice, what are the coaches trying to get you to work on as far as personal development?
"Working with the team, finding my role, and getting used to playing college soccer again."
How excited are you to play in front of the 12th Man?
"I am very excited. I spent the last year in Holland. We had around 100 fans per game. We played in a huge stadium that was always empty. Seeing pictures and hearing all about it here, it's an incredible atmosphere. I am so excited for the fans, the noise, and the excitement. I think it's going to be a lot of fun playing in front of the 12th Man."
What do you think are our best soccer attributes?
"I think I know a lot about the game. Both of my parents are involved in soccer along with my uncles and grandparents. So it really runs in the family for me and is something I have grown up watching, playing and experiencing. I understand the game pretty well and that's something I can add. I feel like I can help coach people on the field and try to make things run more smoothly."
So how big of an influence did that have on you growing up as a child coming from that family background?
"Soccer is all that I have really ever done. I have played since I could walk. It was a way that we bonded as a family. We play the day after Christmas, on Thanksgiving and other holidays we get together and play soccer. So it's really just been a huge part of my life and is something I can connect with my family about. My family being so involved it has been something that has defiantly influenced, motivated, and taught me a lot. I am really grateful for that."
Who would you say is your biggest soccer inspiration?
"My biggest soccer inspiration is probably my brother. He doesn't play anymore, but he is the best player I have ever seen play live. He is so incredibly good with the ball. He hasn't played for about five years, but he still has his touch and I just think watching him play was always such a treat. He is the kind of player I want to be like.
Professionally, right now, I would go with (Christian) Eriksen. He can hit a shot from anywhere. He is super mobile and he is really good with the ball. He always makes good decisions on the ball. That's something I would like to do, make the right decisions and play the best ball if possible. Also, Eriksen can hit a mean free kick which I was working on out there. I would love to be a free kick specialist. It is something I am working on."
What do you think your favorite memory is about playing soccer?
"I don't think I can pinpoint just one, but my dad always put on a camp called Hoek Camp. A Dutch coach named Frans Hoek would come over and run a camp with a lot of foreign coaches - mostly Dutch coaches. I would go with my cousins, sister and brother, and we would play in the camp. It was so much fun bonding and playing at the camp. Those are the best memories of me playing soccer and having fun. We played three time a day and did a ton of cutting stuff, skills stuff and it was the most incredible thing for my development. It was a fun way to play soccer."
What is your major and career ambition?
"I am a political science major. Career wise I would like to go to Europe and play soccer as long as I can. I think it was a great experience and I would like to continue that. Living in Europe was awesome. Experiencing a different culture and being able to travel around was very fun. After that, I would like to go to law school. I don't know exactly what I want to do with that, but I love to argue. My whole life I have always wanted to fight for other people. I was always the one standing up for my siblings and talking back to my parents, so I think in some way I would like to stand up for somebody."
