Niepel Stays Strong Following Life-Changing Injury

Senior keeper David Niepel turned what most would consider a career-ending injury into one of the best things that has happened to him.

Beginning at the young age of four, Niepel was hooked on soccer, more specifically as a goalie. Throughout his early years, he played for an academy and the national team in Germany; however, his dream of professional soccer was cut short after what most would call a career ending injury-a broken back at the age of 16.

Niepel on the brink of success as the German national team keeper, began feeling what he thought was simply muscular pain in his back. As the strong keeper he was, Niepel played though the injury, "but there was one game where I just couldn't move anymore…"

"I dove to the ball and I couldn't get up after that…It was unfortunate for me because I was doing well for myself. After that, I kind of got disappointed because I knew it's not going happen again, that I won't be at the same level again."

But this would not stop Niepel. Despite the possibly paralyzing injury, he came back to continue playing the sport he loves. With a year of rehabilitation and lighter play, he was a keeper again.

Niepel played for a new academy in Germany following his recovery. One of his coaches asked him if he was interested in playing in the US and he knew how great of an opportunity this was. Niepel looked at schools across the country in New York, Ohio, and California.

However, this would not be an easy feat. The problem for Niepel was that coaches wanted him to be ready to play by August but he would not be ready until January. Coach Adrian Bush was eager to welcome Niepel later in the school year, ultimately making the decision for him.

Since Niepel's start at the University of Tampa in 2010, he has been the starting keeper for the Spartans. Niepel is very optimistic about the season knowing too well about what it is like to be so close to going all the way but falling short at the NCAA South Regional.

"We definitely want to be a championship team, but it starts right now to grow as a team and go from game to game. We always just look at the next game, the next opponent…All the games are important. We definitely have to win conference in order to move on," a determined Niepel says.

Currently, he is in pursuit of a master's degree in finance in hopes to become a financial analyst in the renewable energy industry for a German company in the United States.

"If I get the chance to continue playing soccer, I would do that. But if it doesn't work out and I can't go to the next level, I'll finish my graduate degree."

When looking back, Niepel would not change anything that has happened.

"Now I'm happy here, so I'm kind of glad it happened."

Written by Mary Lee Gibson