Congrats to Kailyn Ertler on winning our February 2024 UCHealth Player of the Month award!
Kailyn plays midfield for our Rapids 07G NPL team and is recognized by her teammates and coaches for being hard-working, intelligent, and kindhearted. Her talents grow every day as she develops as a leader on the field, in the classroom, and in her community.
Kailyn has showcased her resilience and determination on the field after being diagnosed with POTS two years ago and a concussion prior to her school season, keeping her from playing for 7 months. Beyond her athletic prowess, Kailyn is actively involved in various school and extracurricular activities. She is very active in mission trips and community service events. She also travels abroad to serve communities, going to Panama in 2022 to teach kids aged 7 through 18 how to play basketball at various schools. Last summer, Kailyn traveled to Alaska to organize a soccer and basketball camp for kids in the area. In school, Kailyn takes all AP or Honors classes and maintains a 4.0 GPA.
This March, Kailyn will be presented with a plaque and a gift card to acknowledge her achievements. We spoke with Kailyn to learn a bit more about her. Check out the full interview below!
What influence has soccer had in your life?
Soccer has been an outlet from my academically busy life to enjoy spending time with my friends and playing a sport that I love! I have been playing soccer since I was four, so this sport has always been a big part of my life.
Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?
I believe that I am nominated for this award because I strive to be better in everything I do. I am able to manage my time well so that I can dedicate time to both athletics and academics and maintain a healthy balance between the two.
What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?
I enjoy the players and the coaching staff! I have made some of my best friends playing for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club and have learned so much from the coaches I have had.
What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my resilience after missing my school soccer season and part of my club soccer season due to a concussion and consequently being diagnosed with POTS roughly two years ago. After about 7 months of not being able to play, I came back to the field ready to work and continue improving as a player.
What academic achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being able to manage a heavy workload as well as my ability to try new things and challenge myself. This year in particular, I wrote a research paper focused on the extent to which gene editing will be used as a tool to treat cancer in the future, and I am also leading a biotechnology club where we have partnered with Colorado Christian University to try and discover novel yeast species.
How do you think your teammates would describe you?
I think my teammates would describe be as hard-working, optimistic, open-minded, and encouraging.
What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?
I love to serve the community in any way that I can, not only within Colorado but also nationally and internationally. I went to Panama in the summer of 2022 to teach kids ages 7 through 18 at various schools how to play basketball, and this past summer I went to Alaska and did community service at a school and organized a soccer and basketball camp for children in the area.
What’s your favorite soccer player and team?
My favorite soccer team is Real Madrid because of their long history and their ability to consistently remain at the top.
What do you hope to pursue in the near future?
I hope to continue to make a difference in people’s lives and to study some sort of engineering in college, although I am uncertain as to which specific field I want to pursue.
Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!
My mom inspires me because she is the smartest person I know, and she is so passionate about what she does. She never fails to encourage me to do my best and she reminds me that the effort and not the outcome is what is most valuable in life.
What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?
I love to play the piano and I also play basketball and golf! I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family as well.
Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.
As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.
