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Kornieck
Photo by: Larry Novey

While Pro Career Is On Hold, Buffs Star Kornieck Puts Finishing Touches On Degree

April 29, 2020 | Soccer, Neill Woelk

Just a few months ago, Taylor Kornieck's future career path appeared to be nicely laid out.

The Colorado Buffaloes soccer great had become the third overall pick in the NWSL Draft by the Orlando Pride and her professional career looked to be a very promising one. That road should have had Kornieck practicing with her new teammates over the last couple of months, then playing her first matches as a pro in April, the beginning of a five-month season.

But the coronavirus roadblock that has stopped virtually all sporting events in the country has put Kornieck's career on hold. Thus, instead of practicing and playing daily with the Pride, she is staying in an Orlando apartment, where she gets a daily workout schedule, studies film, and receives daily tactical updates from coaches.

"We're doing our best to keep busy," Kornieck said in a recent interview. "I was really excited to just get going, and we would be in season right now. Orlando is doing a good job of keeping us sane and keeping our schedule busy all day. But instead of being at the facility, we're at the apartment doing the same thing. It could be worse, honestly."

But while she prepares for her pro career, Kornieck is also putting the finishing touches on her degree, one that has seen her major in communications with a minor in sociology. She has one online class remaining and is on schedule to graduate this spring.

Her diploma will be the end of one leg of a "life journey" that has prepared her in every way possible for the next step.

"Every aspect of Colorado — tutoring, academics, Laura (Anderson) in nutrition, Travis (Larson), our strength coach — everybody who was there helped me become the athlete and person I am today," Kornieck said. "I can't tell you how much they meant. They were so helpful and I'm so grateful that I committed there, went there, and played all four years there."

Kornieck leaves as arguably the best player in CU history.

The Henderson, Nev., native started all 82 games in her career for CU coach Danny Sanchez and helped lead the Buffs to three NCAA Tournament appearances. She finished her career as CU's all-time leader in points with 102 and she tied the school record for career assists with 24. She was twice named an All-American, second and third team respectively, and she capped her career with 30 points and 12 goals in her senior season.

In January, she then became the highest drafted soccer player in CU history and the highest Buffs draft pick in any sport since basketball player Chauncey Billups was selected third by the Boston Celtics in the 1997 NBA Draft.

She said her time as a student-athlete will prepare her not only for what she hopes will be a long pro career, but also for whatever career she pursues after her playing days are over.

"Being a student-athlete is one of the hardest jobs there is," Kornieck said. "I was 17 (years old) going into CU and I remember how tough that transition was. Being able to maintain grades, go to practice, conditioning, tutoring — you have to develop good time-management skills. CU made it so much better and so much easier. The entire academic department  was incredible at what they do. They were a huge help in getting my degree."

Kornieck chuckles when she remembers how some of her friends would say she had it "easy" as a student-athlete.

"People don't really understand what it all entails," Kornieck said. "It's a full-time job and the average person doesn't get the whole picture. You're going to tutors, going to mentors, going to classes, going to practice, going to strength and conditioning — and at the same time, thinking about how to get better on the field. You're working both sides of your brain at the same time all day long. It's a process that starts before sunrise and continues until you go to bed."

But, Kornieck said, she wouldn't have had it any other way. 

"I can't say 'thank you' enough to all the coaches and the staff — academics, nutrition, strength, everybody," she said. "They did everything possible to make me the player I am today. My teammates and the coaching staff were big parts of who I am today and where I am."

Sooner or later, Kornieck believes, the sports world will slowly begin to return to normal and she and her teammates will actually be able to practice, then play matches. Until then, she will do as much as she can on her own, as well as get in some work with teammates who are staying in the game apartment complex.

"A big part of the game is bonding with your teammates and coaches," she said. "Obviously, that's hard to do right now. But a good thing about here is that everybody on the team is staying in the same apartment complex. We're making the best of the situation, trying to stay sharp and getting ready for the time when we can actually start playing again."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu