SE: Raised a Jayhawk, Sutter’s Path to K-State Soccer ‘Meant to Be’
Oct 04, 2018 | Soccer, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
In some ways, Haley Sutter feels like fate brought her to K-State. It certainly wasn't how the K-State soccer senior was raised.
Her father, Bill, played football at Kansas in the 1980s. Her uncle also played baseball for the Jayhawks. So, naturally, Sutter grew up rooting for Kansas. Even as a lifelong Kansas fan, however, she said she remembers dream-filled conversations with her high school teammates about the possibility of K-State adding a women's soccer team.
"We were talking about that probably my junior or senior year, like, 'If K-State got a team, we'd definitely want to play on it.' We wanted to stay close to home," said Sutter, who found out K-State was adding soccer during her freshman year at Memphis, in the fall of 2014. "I was already considering transferring at that time, so I think once I heard about that, I was, like, 'It's meant to be.'"
Still, she had to somewhat convince her parents, the people who had bought her a closet full of red-and-blue gear growing up.
"They weren't too thrilled about me leaving, in general; the transfer process is kind of hard. Once I said, 'What about K-State? I heard they're getting a new program,' they were a little iffy about it," Sutter said, "but they just wanted me to do what I wanted to do and what would make me happy, so they supported me."
A team captain and K-State's current active leader for consecutive starts with 35, Sutter said she's felt nothing but support since she arrived at K-State in 2015. Sutter said she's also enjoyed seeing the program grow from the ground floor, as she and Krista Haddock are the only two Wildcats left from the program's first year of existence.
"I just love the overall dynamic at K-State. Their motto of, 'It's a family,' you can definitely tell people care about you and they want you to do well and they want you to feel included. I think it was very easy to transition here. People are very welcoming and they've stayed that way, so that's something that's been really helpful," she said. "I've just had a good experience. I think starting a new program is tough but it's cool to be part of. You have your ups and downs, but I feel like every moment is worth it."
One of those high moments came against Kansas last season, K-State's first in the Big 12. The Wildcats topped the Jayhawks, 1-0, in their first ever soccer matchup. It was likely the only time Sutter and her parents were all happy to see K-State win the Dillons Sunflower Showdown.
"They weren't too happy about it (at first) but they're definitely learning to love it," Sutter said of playing for K-State, laughing. "I've finally gotten my dad to wear purple. The first year he would not wear it. He always wore a purple button down but it was never K-State. They're all for it now."
The second battle between K-State (4-6-2, 0-3-0) and Kansas (8-2-2, 2-1-0) takes place at the K-State Soccer Complex on Friday at 7 p.m. While Sutter understandably still has an affinity for Kansas — she has her Kansas gear at home in Overland Park, which she plans to rotate in with her K-State clothing when she finishes her playing career — she said she will put all of it aside on Friday.
"When it comes to playing against them, obviously I'm a Cat. I'm definitely going to wear it strong and proud," she said. "It just makes me want to come out stronger and try to beat them."
In some ways, Haley Sutter feels like fate brought her to K-State. It certainly wasn't how the K-State soccer senior was raised.
Her father, Bill, played football at Kansas in the 1980s. Her uncle also played baseball for the Jayhawks. So, naturally, Sutter grew up rooting for Kansas. Even as a lifelong Kansas fan, however, she said she remembers dream-filled conversations with her high school teammates about the possibility of K-State adding a women's soccer team.
"We were talking about that probably my junior or senior year, like, 'If K-State got a team, we'd definitely want to play on it.' We wanted to stay close to home," said Sutter, who found out K-State was adding soccer during her freshman year at Memphis, in the fall of 2014. "I was already considering transferring at that time, so I think once I heard about that, I was, like, 'It's meant to be.'"
Still, she had to somewhat convince her parents, the people who had bought her a closet full of red-and-blue gear growing up.
"They weren't too thrilled about me leaving, in general; the transfer process is kind of hard. Once I said, 'What about K-State? I heard they're getting a new program,' they were a little iffy about it," Sutter said, "but they just wanted me to do what I wanted to do and what would make me happy, so they supported me."
A team captain and K-State's current active leader for consecutive starts with 35, Sutter said she's felt nothing but support since she arrived at K-State in 2015. Sutter said she's also enjoyed seeing the program grow from the ground floor, as she and Krista Haddock are the only two Wildcats left from the program's first year of existence.
"I just love the overall dynamic at K-State. Their motto of, 'It's a family,' you can definitely tell people care about you and they want you to do well and they want you to feel included. I think it was very easy to transition here. People are very welcoming and they've stayed that way, so that's something that's been really helpful," she said. "I've just had a good experience. I think starting a new program is tough but it's cool to be part of. You have your ups and downs, but I feel like every moment is worth it."
One of those high moments came against Kansas last season, K-State's first in the Big 12. The Wildcats topped the Jayhawks, 1-0, in their first ever soccer matchup. It was likely the only time Sutter and her parents were all happy to see K-State win the Dillons Sunflower Showdown.
"They weren't too happy about it (at first) but they're definitely learning to love it," Sutter said of playing for K-State, laughing. "I've finally gotten my dad to wear purple. The first year he would not wear it. He always wore a purple button down but it was never K-State. They're all for it now."
The second battle between K-State (4-6-2, 0-3-0) and Kansas (8-2-2, 2-1-0) takes place at the K-State Soccer Complex on Friday at 7 p.m. While Sutter understandably still has an affinity for Kansas — she has her Kansas gear at home in Overland Park, which she plans to rotate in with her K-State clothing when she finishes her playing career — she said she will put all of it aside on Friday.
"When it comes to playing against them, obviously I'm a Cat. I'm definitely going to wear it strong and proud," she said. "It just makes me want to come out stronger and try to beat them."
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