When an athlete is forced to overcome setbacks and disappointments in life, the trial is what often defines the athlete’s career.

Freshman Erin Witte of the ISU women’s soccer team chose to take her moment, and let it shape her into the individual she has become today.

Two years into her soccer career, at age 13, Witte was forced to deal with an issue that most eighth-graders should not have to deal with — the death of her father.

“It was hard at first, because I would always go home, hoping to tell him how my game went,” Witte said. “Now I just know that he is always there, and he is always watching.”

The assurance that her father is always watching her play is a hopeful thought to Witte. He had attended all of her games since she first set foot on the soccer field while in middle school.

“My dad was always there for me, pushing me to go harder,” Witte said. “He always had faith in me.”

The inspiration that her father instilled in her transfers onto the field, where Witte displays a physically grueling game. Last Friday, she scored her first two collegiate goals in Iowa State’s 2-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“Every goal is pretty much for him,” Witte said. “I say a prayer before every game, and hope that he is there with me.”

Her heartbreak in life is motivation to continue as an athlete.

“It is a reason to work harder, on and off the field,” Witte said.

That work ethic has turned her into a very physical player, constantly pushing and grinding to get an extra step on the field. Her rough edge allows her to come up with the ball in difficult games. Physical matches are what Witte thrives for because that’s how she plays.

“The more physical the game, the harder it makes me work,” Witte said. “Hopefully there will be hard games to come because I’m ready for them.”

Teammate and roommate Jo Haig said that the team admires Witte’s drive to work harder each game. As the minutes wear on, and most athletes tire, Witte continues to drive harder to the net.

The style of play that Witte projects makes it extremely difficult for the opposition to contain.

“She’s really physical. She can knock anybody she wants to around,” Haig said. “Not very many people can keep up with her.”

The rough style of play does not just open up opportunities for her. The more chances that Witte takes on the field, the more chances her teammates have to open up the scoring as well.

“When you have somebody like that, who knocks people around a little bit, it gives us a better opportunity to attack,” Haig said

Witte’s skills are wide-ranged, attacking from almost any angle, at any time.

“She’s a threat in the air and she’s a threat with the ball at her feet,” head coach Rebecca Hornbacher said. “The great thing about Witte is that she often makes everybody else around her better.”

The unselfish style of play that Witte puts forth is really what separates her from the rest. Since teams do not let her go unnoticed, she knows exactly what to do.

“When players mark her, she does a good job of sharing the ball,” Hornbacher said. “She has added a lot to our offensive threat.”

In just her freshman year, Witte has already shown the coaching staff that it made the right decision in recruiting her.

The upcoming years look very promising for the Cyclones, as well as Witte, Hornbacher said.

“She is persistent in getting better and improving herself every time she’s in practice,” Hornbacher said. “It is going to be really great to see her development over the season.”

The will that led her to Ames is one that survived all of the bumps and curves on the road.

The athlete that she is today, and will evolve into later in life, is one that has not only been inspired, but is also inspiring to others.

Witte’s inspiration — the fan that is never seen but always felt — will never be forgotten.