When sophomore Rafferty Kugler was 14, her summer soccer team won the state cup tournament for the first time after losing the previous year, beginning their journey to the regional tournament.

Although only a sophomore, Kugler said she verbally committed to play soccer at the Division I level at the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee March 16, after receiving offers from a number of schools.

“I am really excited to meet new people and to play a high level of soccer and to get exposed to a new area because I don’t know Wisconsin very well,” Kugler said.

Kugler said the decision takes a lot of weight off her chest.

“I felt really happy but also kind of scared because it’s scary to know I have two years left of high school and I already know what my plans are going to be for the future. I also felt really relieved because when you are going through the process of scholarships and talking to coaches and things it can be really stressful and time consuming,” Kugler said. “I’m relieved the process is over and I have made a decision.”

Assistant varsity coach Brad Brubaker said although this decision doesn’t change his opinion of Kugler from a coach’s perspective, he feels proud of her achievement.

“I’ve always said that my job is not to get them to the next level but to make the experience here as rich and fun as possible, to push every kid to reach their full potential but I don’t know if that always has to translate into being a college athlete either,” Brubaker said. “It’s good for her and it bodes well for her on the soccer field as long as her expectations of herself don’t all of a sudden get out of whack.”

While at a conference meeting discussing the athletes in the program, Brubaker said other coaches commented on Kugler’s determination and speed on the field.

“It was interesting when I brought her up, a coach said ‘she’s just a sophomore.’ And another coach said ‘yeah, and she made us pay for it the entire game we played her,’ and another guy goes ‘yeah, us too,’” Brubaker said. “That’s when you realize a kid is making an impact when the other team remembers and kind of goes ‘oh yeah, she’s good.’”

Kugler said she feels honored to represent the Park community in the future.  

“I’m really excited to represent Park because we have a really cool community here and I love going to school here,” Kugler said. “It’s cool because I am the first girl to be committed to Milwaukee from Minnesota for the class of 2022.”

Brubaker said Kugler’s speed is an asset to the team, as she is capable of running at paces not many people can run at.

“The way she can beat people around the outside and go to goal, that’s just an attribute,” Brubaker said. “You see that kind of stuff when you watch top players, that they can change speed and I think she is really going to grow in the ability to fluctuate her speed but right now, she gets people to bite and then she blows by.”