Sarah Rounds - Globetrotter Ignites Cobber Offense
Feature by Larry Scott
Visits to the picturesque soccer venues of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference plus postseason play on both coasts might provide a swell travelogue for some student athletes.
Those barely whet the appetite of Sarah Rounds '13, Plymouth, Minn. While most of us are all into worldly possessions, it's worldly obsessions that stir the emotions of this senior forward.
"I've always wanted to travel," Rounds says. "I've always been curious about the rest of the world. I want to learn about different cultures and to be able to go there."
Her goal is to visit a major chunk of the world, and she's off to a good start.
Her adventures began in 2010 when she and two friends traveled in Europe for a month. From there, she flew to Thailand and Cambodia where she and members of the Concordia women's soccer team spent another month.
Then, in January 2012, she flew to Alicante, Spain, where she studied for a semester.
"Different cultures fascinate me," Rounds says. "I have a Spanish minor, and being in a new environment makes me enjoy life more."
She traces much of her interest in globetrotting to support from her family and her experiences at Concordia. During a freshman English class taught by Dr. Jonathan Steinwand, she was asked why she liked to read. Her answer: "to get to travel without actually leaving the room."
Rounds, who is majoring in biology, is uncertain what the future will bring, but she can imagine living abroad.
"I'd love to do something like Doctors Without Borders and keep traveling," she says.
Rounds has been surprised by her success with the Cobbers. "I always played center/mid in high school and I scored a little, but I never expected to put up the numbers like now."
The 5-door-7-inxh All-American continues to fill up the nets for the Cobbers. She has been credited with a team high 16 points, including seven goals in seven games, and ranks fifth on the Concordia career chart with 114 career points.
The numbers are nice, but Rounds also wants to see her team win the MIAC and make it past the Sweet Sixteen in postseason play.
The Cobbers hiked their overall record to 4-2-1 and their MIAC mark to 2-1-0 with a 1-0 shutout of St. Thomas on Wednesday and invade St. Mary's on Saturday. As always, the 2012 Cobbers have set high goals.
Rounds is convinced the Cobber experience has taught her well, and she certainly appreciates the emphasis on global education.
"Coming to Concordia worked out for sure, and going abroad to Spain made me realize that I really do love being here and I do love being a Cobber," she says.