Grant Hunter, Staff Photographer–

In a gym inside the Mitchell Center at Denison University, Isabella Guzman ‘26, a Global Health major and Spanish minor, kicked a soccer ball up to herself. She passed it against the wall, back and forth, juggled on her foot— the ball bounced effortlessly as its song of consistency and repetition rang out for the entire mid-afternoon workout and athletics crowd to hear. 

Nobody was watching her play or train. She was not on the varsity soccer team yet; she was alone, simply honing her craft. She planned to walk on, make the team, and wear the words “Big Red” across her chest. She aspired to play in front of a small school crowd atmosphere, the type of environment where everyone knows your name. 

In that gym, she was a student without the athlete ending. It had been a year since she had decided to come to Denison with no offer to play soccer—her mind is strong-willed and her muscles conditioned from countless hours of lifting, running, and playing club soccer. She continued her same routine even though she is not an athlete, as she says. 

At the time nearing her high school graduation, there was no signing day, no balloons or letters of intent. She gained four years of varsity soccer experience in the greater Chicago area and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a down payment and commitment to come to Granville. There was no guarantee the Denison women’s soccer team would allow her to earn a spot on the roster, but Guzman took a jump.

On April 2, 2023, Sarah Brink became the head coach of Denison’s women’s soccer program. The new appointment of a coach meant there was a new opportunity for the team to be shaken up, redeveloped, and re-identified. Guzman anticipated this, and had already drafted an email.

“I was in her inbox immediately,” Guzman said. 

Within 24 hours she had a response that led to a call, which led to an invitation to the team’s ID camp in June. She attended the camp, owned the turf, heat, and nerves. Dribbling and shooting her heart out, wrestling away the target on her back being “the new one.” Isabella made an almost immediate impression on Coach Brink. 

Brink pulled her aside from the drill and sparked a conversation that would change Guzman’s college career. She was invited to attend August preseason with the team for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. After training for three days with the team, Guzman was offered a permanent position on the team. This only made Guzman want to work harder, bringing the excitement of her first home game with Denison to the forefront as the play date approached.

“I remember my first ever game in my sophomore year, home; that was the most special thing to me ever. Freshman year, I remember looking at everyone playing, and I said that’s going to be me one day, and it ended up happening,” Guzman said. 

Guzman’s first game was the home opener against New Jersey City University on Sept. 9, 2023. After the anthem was sung, and the pregame stretches concluded, she realized she got what she was waiting and working for. 

“Walking on is a very humbling experience; it’s nonlinear, and you have a lot of unknowns,” Guzman said. 

There she was, shining in her element, representing the red and white, her sleeves rolled up, cleats laced as tight as they could possibly be, the classic pregame jitter feeling radiating through her stomach, the feeling she missed her entire first year of college. Here she was, representing the Guzman family, no longer in the stands but on the turf for everyone to see. 

Guzman recorded a total of 468 minutes played during the 2023 season, where she was able to gain confidence and experience. She recorded her first career start this season against William Smith College, and has played a total of 614 minutes with one goal and one assist. The Big Red (9-4-3, 4-1-1) recently defeated Hiram in an conference match 6-0 on Oct. 26 for their senior day, and will take the field next in their last regular season match on Nov. 2 against Ohio Wesleyan University.