David Schaefer: A leader beyond the field

By Noel Ormita, Contributor

David Schaefer, a fifth-year health and physical education student, has been on MRU’s men’s soccer team since 2018. He has been with the team through rough patches but also recent triumphs recorded in his final year.

Roots to boots

Schaefer told The Reflector his interest in soccer started at four years old playing with family and friends back in his hometown of Berlin, Germany.

“It’s something we grow up with,” Schaefer said. “We were playing everywhere, on the street and on the playgrounds.”

He moved to MRU after signing up with an agency back home and ultimately chose Calgary because he loves the balance of nature while prioritizing his academic goals.

“The university sports system in North America is built very well for that and it’s been nice to combine those two things easily,” Schaefer said.

On the team, he plays in the right-forward or right-winger position, but his versatility allows him to play offensive midfielder and other positions as well.

“I can play wherever the coach needs,” he said. “I can see he is building something special.”

Ryan Gyaki, the team’s head coach, has seen the amount of work Schaefer has done throughout the years as the team’s first international recruit. 

“I don’t think people realize what a massive impact David Schaefer has made on the team,” Gyaki said. “He kept working on himself and kept his head down trying to improve.” 

Gyaki described Schaefer as more than a player on the field. He also had the attributes of an assistant coach for the last two years. 

“What people don’t know is how incredibly involved he is with the staff,” Gyaki said. “He does so much with helping me with recruiting, social media, roster and training planning.”

Home to many firsts

A year after Schaefer joined the team, the men’s soccer team made the Canada West playoffs for the first time since joining the U SPORTS Conference. And, this fall they were crowned Canada West champions while playing on their home turf.

The men’s soccer team travelled to Sydney, Nova Scotia for the U SPORTS National Championships on Nov. 12 but came short and could not bring the Sam Davidson Memorial Trophy home.

“Obviously [we’re] disappointed with the result but again a very close game,” head coach, Ryan Gyaki, said during an Instagram interview.

It was the first time the team had made it to nationals but lost by one point in the semi-finals against Cape Breton University and one point in the bronze-medal match against the University of British Columbia (UBC)—a rematch of the Canada West finals.

“UBC [was] probably on top during the first half and in the second half, I thought it was going more our way,” Gyaki said. “Their chance went in and our chance didn’t but overall it was great.”

Hey, soul brothers

Being a student athlete can expose you to potential career opportunities in the realm of athletics but representing the Cougars is something special and an honour.

“There’s not a lot of people who get to wear the jerseys,” Schaefer said. “There’s tons of players that want to play for a university team, especially for MRU.”

Josh Flaksman and Ethan Keen, Third-year business student, Josh Flaksman, met Schaefer back in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and they told The Reflector that his teammate showcased his leadership skills right away.

“He pushed us and motivated us to do our best in training,” Flaksman said. “He always tells me that I’m the best and to go show it on the field.”

Flasksman and Schaefer play the same position on the field, but he said it never felt like a competition because he sees his senior as a coach.

“He takes our corners and free kicks and penalties and that’s a lot of pressure but you know he’s going to get that goal,” Flaksman said.

“[He’s] a huge part of why we were able to win a banner this year,” Keen said. “He scored some big goals that I will remember forever.”

Schaefer tied the record at MRU for single season goals with nine goals after a game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears in October but for him the most memorable moments go beyond scoring goals and winning games.

“Being together, building a brotherhood and building a culture,” Schaefer said. “It’s been an honour to work hard every single day, in the classroom, on the field and in the weight room.”

Curtains drawn

“For people interested in university sports, I think building connections is really important,” Schaefer said. “Be timely and reach out in advance.”

“The legacy I leave is caring about this program every single day with every action I take,” Schaefer said. “It was a great ending to my U SPORTS career.”

This was Schaefer’s last year on the team and he is expecting to graduate this semester. With a long-term goal to pursue a master’s degree, he plans to go back to Germany to reunite with family and play semi-professionally but sees himself coming back to Canada in the future.

“Representing the school at a national level is prestigious,” Schaefer said. “I’m sure this team will get back to that stage really, really soon and go even further.”