Women's Soccer

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Calli Heinzerling, UW-Stout

Each week during the 2025-26 academic year, the WIAC will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver's.

Name:  Calli Heinzerling
Institution:  UW-Stout
Hometown and High School:  Hudson, Iowa (Hudson High School)
Year in school:  Senior
Sport:  Women’s Soccer
Major:  Interior Design
Minor:  Architecture

Why did you choose UW-Stout?
I chose UW-Stout because it offered a great program for Interior Design, and I also received the amazing opportunity to play collegiate soccer.
 
What other clubs/organizations on campus are you involved in?
I am involved in SIDO (Student Interior Design Organization) events when I can attend in the off time of sports and school, and I also play some intermural sports!

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?
What I like the most about competing in the WIAC is the high-level and intense competition. Every game is exciting and pushes my team and I to the limit. What I like the most about being a NCAA DIII student-athlete is the great balance between school and sports. I have been highly supported in my non-athletic endeavors and pushed to be my best through soccer, shaping me into the student-athlete I am today.
 
What is your favorite…
Menu item from Culver’s?  Cheese Curds!
Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Caramel Fudge Cookie Dough
Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  The Memorial Student Center (MSC)
TV Show?  Stranger Things
Holiday?  Christmas
Food?  Mashed Potatoes
Animal?  Tiger
Smartphone App?  Hay Day
Musical Group or Artist?  Noah Kahan
Professional Sports Athlete or Team?  Dallas Stars Hockey
Vacation Spot?  Cancun, Mexico
 
What is your greatest sports moment? 
My greatest sports moment has been coming off the bench in a tough game to pick up my team and push us to finish strong.
 
What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?
My favorite thing to do off the field with my teammates is having fun team bonding, whether it is having a fire or a movie night.
 
Who is someone that you look up to?
Someone I look up to is my mom because she is an amazing, smart leader that has taught me to be the passionate, hardworking person I am today.
 
Do you have any words of advice for younger/upcoming student-athletes?
Take in every single moment, good or bad, and learn to grow and build from it so that when you look back, you can see how far you have come.
 
One word that describes you?
Reliable
 
What is your dream job? 
Becoming a lead Interior Designer at an architectural firm.
 
Three things on your "bucket list"?
---Visit all the National Parks
---Zipline through a rainforest
---Skydiving
 
A non-athletic talent that you have is?
I am good at ceramics!

What’s your dream sporting event to attend?
Attending one of the upcoming FIFA world-cup games in 2026

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?
I always wear long socks underneath my game socks, braid my hair, and drink an energy drink at least 4 hours before game time.
 
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