Karlin Wurlitzer: A leader on and off the field

Karlin Wurlitzer is one of three seniors on the Idaho State University soccer team and has been a key piece to the Bengal defense for years. As she finishes the 2021 season this week, Wurlitzer takes a look back on how she got to where she's at. Wurlitzer was born and raised in Mililani, Hawaii and is the daughter of Dane and Lisa Wurlitzer. She  credits her love of soccer to her mother and father, both of whom played at the collegiate level. Lisa Wurlitzer played for the University of Denver and Dane Wurlitzer played intramural soccer at the University of Hawaii so it’s no surprise as to why she  would choose to follow in the same path. Wurlitzer started playing soccer when she was five years old and was coached by her mother and father until she entered high school. 

During high school, Wurlitzer won accolades left and right including three consecutive Oahu Interscholastic Association Division 1 championships, OIA First-Team selection, All-State First-Team Defender, and First-Team All-Tournament Selection. Not only did Wurlitzer accomplish all of that on the field, she also excelled in the classroom earning a 4.0 GPA, being named a National Merit Scholar and a 2018 Presidential Scholar Candidate. 

“I think I always knew I wanted to play (soccer) as long as possible,” said Wurlitzer. “We got a new coach right at the beginning of high school who was helping us through the college recruiting process and getting us to email coaches and I guess at that point, I was like, ‘well if I want to keep playing I better start looking.’”

Wurlitzer experienced challenges with recruitment as her high school career was coming to an end.

“Being from Hawaii, the only way we could get scouted or seen was to go to the mainlands and play tournaments.” Wurlizter said.

Tournaments like the Las Vegas Showcase, Regionals, Surf Cup, Silver Lakes are all opportunities for players in Hawaii, like Wurlitzer, to come and play for a chance to get recruited and play in college. 

“We would go to these tournaments and just spray emails to everybody,” Wurlitzer said. “I got interest from a couple of schools, ISU being one of them.”

The schools that expressed interest in Wurlitzer were the University of Hawaii, Rice University, and Idaho State University. After much thought, research, and even a trip to visit the campus, Wurlitzer chose ISU. Recommendations made by a then current ISU soccer player, Cailla Fabro, whose mother was friends with Wurlitzers’ mother, made an impact on Wurlitzers decision to attend ISU. Also, current graduate assistant coach for the Bengals, Laule’a Akana-Phillips who grew up in the same town as Wurlitzer, was here when Wurlitzer was being recruited. 

“It felt very welcoming and I felt like I had friends here.” Wurlizer said. 

When Wurlitzer first arrived on campus, she admits that it was a little bit of an adjustment, but having familiar people around her helped. 

“It was definitely hard, but I had a lot of support.” Wurlitzer said. 

Wurlitzer credits most of that support to her club teammate, Chandler Bass, and also, then goalkeeper, Laule’a Akana-Phillips. 

Although it was an adjustment to a new environment, Wurlitzer excelled on the soccer field from the moment she arrived. Wurlitzer started in all 16 games her freshman season. Wurlitzer’s game improved even more her sophomore season. Again, Wurlitzer started in all 19 of the Bengals games. She also scored two-game winning penalty kicks, had three assists, and seven goals. 

After a lot of hard work and dedication, the team decided to name Wurlitzer a captain at the beginning of last season. Wurlitzer admitted that it has definitely been a learning experience. 

“There was a lot to learn about leading,” Wurlitzer said. “I think it’s been gratifying to be able to use my experience, that we upperclassmen have been through, to kind of help them (underclassmen).”

Wurlitzer has had many wonderful memories at ISU; one of which came on senior night against University of Idaho in the “Battle of the Domes” her sophomore year. After ninety minutes the game was all even and went into overtime. In overtime, a penalty kick was called in favor of Idaho State. Wurlitzer stepped up to shoot the penalty shot and buried it in the back of the net. 

“I think I’ll remember that for a really long time,” Wurlitzer said. “We had nine seniors and a really special group (and) with the way the season went, it was super gratifying to get that last win.”

Through these four years, Wurlitzer expressed gratitude to have had wonderful teammates and coaches that she is able to call family.

“They are what make soccer fun,” Wurlitzer said. “All the hardships you go through, you go through them together and it just makes them fun.”

Wurlitzer also expressed gratitude for Head Coach, Debs Brereton.

“I think we’ve come a really really long way and I’m super grateful that we got Debs who is willing to learn and accommodate us so well,” Wurlitzer said. “I’m super appreciative of that because that is one of her strong suits. “

Even with coaches, teammates and the ISU family by her side, Wurlitzer never forgets the family that helped her get to where she is today. 

“They’ve been really supportive and proud of me,” Wurlitzer said. “They watch my games when they can and it’s cool to get supportive messages at the end of the games. It’s cool to have that support here.” 

Sports teaches us many different things. Oftentimes, it can teach us some of life’s greatest lessons that we can use going forward. Wurlitzer expressed that soccer has taught her a lot about life. 

“I think soccer is a good indication of how you act in adversity,” Wurlitzer said. “It’s like, what can you do to push through and what do you look like when it is do or die? I think I’ve learned a lot about myself through it (soccer).”

Wurlitzer also mentioned other lessons that she has learned, such as teamwork, a good work ethic, and time management.

Wurlitzer is excited to be coming back next season as a fifth-year senior to help the Bengals in any way possible. The Bengals will have another young team next season with most of the players returning.

“We’ve gained so much experience this season that I think it is going to be really fun,” Wurlitzer said. “I think we really need to emphasize over the offseason that we have to really push ourselves in the areas we don’t feel comfortable.”

Wurlitzer is going to be one of only a couple seniors on the team next year. Wurlitzer plans on using that experience to help the team grow and develop.

“There’s not a single person on the team that I don’t have full faith in.” Wurlitzer said. 

For Wurlitzer, soccer has and always will be a huge part of her life. Bengal fans should be excited to have Wurlitzer back next season because whenever she steps in between the white lines, you can expect 100% effort will be given by the defender.