Northwestern University Athletics
Getting to Know: Niki Sebo
8/5/2015 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
As the Wildcats turn their attention to the 2015 soccer season, NUSports.com caught up with senior co-captain Niki Sebo to learn a little more about the midfielder. Sebo shares her hobbies off the field, her career goals and more in this edition of "Getting to Know."
NUSports.com: What are some of your hobbies off the field?
Niki Sebo: I know how to knit, so whenever I have free time I will knit scarves or some other random thing. Last Christmas, I knit a bunch of dishcloths for my boyfriend's family. The big joke is that I make everything, because the year before that I made table runners.
NU: Outside of soccer, what are your career goals?
NS: I would love to be a speech pathologist in the school systems. I will be attending Northwestern for grad school this year. It is a two-year program and that is the big goal - I want to work with children. I have been working in a lab for over a year doing a bunch of research. It is really fun, but I know I want to work with kids.
NU: Who has been the most influential person in your life?
NS: I have had a lot of influential coaches. When I was younger, I would score too much so [my coaches] would put me in defense. But I would do the same thing – just run up the field and score. My coaches really taught me how to be a team player. My parents have also played a big role in my life. They are both really strong people and have taught me to deal with some hard times.
NU: Who is your favorite athlete?
NS: I have always been a big fan of Michael Jordan. He was number 23 and I was born on the 23rd, so I had this connection with him – we were 23 buddies. And he was just a stud on the court.
NU: If you could leave a season ticket for one celebrity to come watch you play, who would it be and why?
NS: Definitely Brandi Chastain. I grew up watching her. I have her World Cup jersey from 1999 hanging up at home.
NU: If you were a Disney princess, who would you be and why?
NS: Not the Little Mermaid, because I am a horrible swimmer. I like Belle, but I am going to go with Pocahontas because I really like the outdoors.
NU: You were just named co-captain, how does that change your approach to the season?
NS: Even before I was named co-captain, I wanted to take this season really seriously. I have been training hard and it is kind of the last hoorah of my soccer career. As I was named co-captain I took on a little bit more responsibility. Instead of worrying about if I am going to be ready for the season, I have been looking out for my teammates to make sure we are all on the same page as we get ready for the year.
NU: What are you most looking forward to this season?
NS: I really want to advance to the Big Ten Championships and win it. That is the ultimate goal. We were so close last season, but lost to Iowa in the semifinals. It was just a heartbreaker because we had not been to the tournament since 1998. We set ourselves up great after beating Penn State, but could not get the Iowa game. I am ready for redemption.
NUSports.com: What are some of your hobbies off the field?
Niki Sebo: I know how to knit, so whenever I have free time I will knit scarves or some other random thing. Last Christmas, I knit a bunch of dishcloths for my boyfriend's family. The big joke is that I make everything, because the year before that I made table runners.
NU: Outside of soccer, what are your career goals?
NS: I would love to be a speech pathologist in the school systems. I will be attending Northwestern for grad school this year. It is a two-year program and that is the big goal - I want to work with children. I have been working in a lab for over a year doing a bunch of research. It is really fun, but I know I want to work with kids.
NU: Who has been the most influential person in your life?
NS: I have had a lot of influential coaches. When I was younger, I would score too much so [my coaches] would put me in defense. But I would do the same thing – just run up the field and score. My coaches really taught me how to be a team player. My parents have also played a big role in my life. They are both really strong people and have taught me to deal with some hard times.
NU: Who is your favorite athlete?
NS: I have always been a big fan of Michael Jordan. He was number 23 and I was born on the 23rd, so I had this connection with him – we were 23 buddies. And he was just a stud on the court.
NU: If you could leave a season ticket for one celebrity to come watch you play, who would it be and why?
NS: Definitely Brandi Chastain. I grew up watching her. I have her World Cup jersey from 1999 hanging up at home.
NU: If you were a Disney princess, who would you be and why?
NS: Not the Little Mermaid, because I am a horrible swimmer. I like Belle, but I am going to go with Pocahontas because I really like the outdoors.
NU: You were just named co-captain, how does that change your approach to the season?
NS: Even before I was named co-captain, I wanted to take this season really seriously. I have been training hard and it is kind of the last hoorah of my soccer career. As I was named co-captain I took on a little bit more responsibility. Instead of worrying about if I am going to be ready for the season, I have been looking out for my teammates to make sure we are all on the same page as we get ready for the year.
NU: What are you most looking forward to this season?
NS: I really want to advance to the Big Ten Championships and win it. That is the ultimate goal. We were so close last season, but lost to Iowa in the semifinals. It was just a heartbreaker because we had not been to the tournament since 1998. We set ourselves up great after beating Penn State, but could not get the Iowa game. I am ready for redemption.
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