Oct. 26, 2015
By Jennifer Prosser
Brittany Von Rueden is a senior outside back from Mequon, Wisconsin. The three-year monogram winner has been a fixture on the defensive line and is active in set pieces. She is the active team leader in assists, including three this season. Off the field, Von Rueden is pursuing a double major in finance and economics and hopes to go into supply chain management after graduation.
Q: Why did you choose to come to Notre Dame?
A: It had the perfect balance of athletics and academics. When I was looking at schools I was looking for the best academic program with the next best athletics, and Notre Dame fit both. [I am] one-hundred percent happy with my choice.
Q: If you had to play a sport other than soccer, what would it be?
A: Probably basketball. I played all through high school and it’s a fast-paced game, a lot of athleticism. Kind of like soccer, but with a different motive.
Q: If you could change one rule in soccer, what would it be?
A: I would change no offsides, but since I’m a defender that would suck for me to chase down forwards. So maybe you get a half point when you get 10 [corner kicks] or something crazy like that.
Q: Do you have any superstitions?
A: I used to have a lot, but then they started to mess with my mentality before games. I had to put my left shin guard on, then my right, then my left shoe, then my right. And if I didn’t do it in that order I would think, `Oh no, I’m going to play bad!’ So I just went away with the superstitions, and now I don’t have any more.
Q: Why did you choose the number 21?
A: When I was little, my older brother played soccer before me and was No. 7. So I wanted to be No. 7 when I started soccer. But that made my brother mad, so he switched to No. 3. When I went to college, I wanted to be No. 7, but it was already taken by a senior. Then I wanted to be No. 3, but it was taken by a junior. Then I was going to be No. 10 and just add them together, but it was taken by one of my own classmates, so I just multiplied them together to get No. 21.
Q: Who is your funniest teammate?
A: There’s a lot of them. I might have to say Kaitlin Klawunder, she’s pretty goofy.
Q: What’s your favorite off-the-field team memory?
A: Probably going to Camp Sherman [and participating in The Program] at the beginning of this preseason. It was essentially a bootcamp where it was just physical pain for 48 hours, but looking back and sharing that memory is irreplaceable.
Q: Who is your favorite celebrity?
A: Male: Channing Tatum. Because it’s Channing Tatum. Female: Jennifer Aniston.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure?
A: Probably Reese’s. I love Reese’s. But I love the holiday ones where they’re shaped like an egg or a tree — those are way better than the normal Reese’s. There’s more peanut butter, did you know that? That’s why they taste better.
Q: What is your favorite purchase?
A: My dog, when I was in eighth grade. My parents were anti-dogs because I would have to take care of him, and I didn’t have that responsibility level yet. They eventually caved, and we went to go pick out our dog. Gunner, my goldendoodle, he’s my favorite still.
Q: What is one thing you can’t live without?
A: This is going to sound really nerdy, but learning. I love to learn, and the more new information I can gather, the smarter and more well-rounded I feel.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I had to read it in eighth grade and was upset because it was so long, but it ended up being my favorite book. The movie actually did a really good job of portraying it, too.
Q: Who is your favorite professor?
A: I have a lot, but probably Katie Wowack. I had her for process analytics, and she was the one that inspired me to go into supply chain as a job. We’re tight.
Q: If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be?
If I could have their thought process and have their routine and see what they were doing, probably Coach [Theresa Romagnolo] just to see what’s going on. But if I was my own person, some type of celebrity just to see their lifestyle.
Q: Is “The Dress” black and blue or gold and white?
A: Black and blue.
Q: Which Disney Princess are you most like?
A: Meg from Hercules. She has more of an independent vibe, and that’s how I am. I can do it myself type deal. No damsel in distress here.