Badgering: Payton Wesley
October 30, 2019 | Women's Soccer, Varsity Magazine
Senior midfielder shares excitement at Big Ten title and future plans
"Being born and raised in Wisconsin, I grew up cheering on all Badgers sports. To be able to represent Wisconsin these past four years has been a dream come true, and there is no better feeling than bringing a championship back home to Madison. I am so proud of this team and all the resilience we've shown to adversity, but also how we've handled and managed our success."
The Badgers have been very successful playing in Madison. What has been the key to your home success?
"It has been such an advantage playing at home this season just because of the energy the fans have brought every game. I think there is a growing excitement surrounding women's Soccer in the United States following the World Cup this summer and it has been very evident out at McClimon. We take pride in protecting our home turf and we will look to continue that as our season continues."
Top- 🔟 #Badgers has a nice ring to it. #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Soccer (@BadgerWSoccer) October 29, 2018
Your freshman season, you played with Badger legend Rose Lavelle. How was it watching one of your former teammates shine on at the World Cup?
"Rose is unreal. The world got a chance to see what a talented soccer player she is, but what not everyone gets to see is what an awesome person she is. Rose is one of the funniest, most genuine, and hard-working teammates I've ever had. I got to spend some time with her the past week and it's so cool to see that even with all her recent success she hasn't changed a bit. She constantly supports our entire program and is so proud to be a Badger. Seeing all of her hard work pay is incredible and no one deserves the recognition more than she does."
Why did you decide to come to Wisconsin?
"As I said before, I was born and raised a Badger fan. When it came down to deciding where I wanted to go, I couldn't help but compare everything back to Madison. Nothing comes close to the feeling you get when you put on the Wisconsin jersey and represent the state you're from. The support for Wisconsin Athletics is unlike any other school, and the fans and community truly make it special to be a Badger."
Who's your favorite teammate and why?
"It's honestly impossible for me to pick a "favorite" teammate because I have had so many supportive teammates throughout my four years here. I think the fact that I can't choose one is really a testament to the culture of our program. These girls are all my best friends and there is always someone there to pick you up if you're having a bad day. I'm so grateful that something so temporary has given me people in my life that I'll have forever."
What's your favorite class at UW and why?
"My favorite class at UW would probably be a class I took last semester called Psychology of Perception. The class focused on how our brain creates our conscious experience of the world around us based off of our sensations. My professor was a huge reason I enjoyed taking the class. She pulled in a lot of outside resources such as simulations, videos and in-class activities that helped me deepen my understanding of the course content."
What are your goals for the rest of the season?
"Right now our focus is on winning a Big Ten Tournament Championship. I think one thing this conference season has taught us is the only way to do that is to take it one game at a time. That starts with our quarterfinal game on Sunday here in Madison. I am excited to see what this team can accomplish because I don't think we have reached our full potential yet."
What are your plans after you graduate?
"I plan to graduate in May 2020 with a degree in Neurobiology. Although I am still considering a few different career paths, I am ultimately hoping to pursue a career in Medical Device Sales."
