Ella Rudney, a senior psychology major and Husker soccer midfielder, will be the first to tell you that being a student-athlete isn’t easy. She’ll also be the first to tell you that being a Husker has changed her life forever.
For her, the growth she finds on the other side of struggle is always worth it.
“I won’t sugarcoat it: Being a student-athlete is really, really hard,” she said. “Obviously, there’s the physical side, but the mental side is just as big. There’s always a new challenge that’s just as hard as the last. What’s been amazing, though, is realizing that I can handle it all — I know I can get through hard things, and that’ll stay with me the rest of my life.”
As her senior season gets underway, Rudney feels ready to embrace those challenges head-on one last time. For Rudney, it’s not just about the grind or thinking about the next match. This year, she’s focused on staying in the moment.
“I’m just looking forward to soaking up the last bits of all this — my teammates, being in college, everything. Of course, I’m excited to play, but it also feels like the last time I can compete and just pretend I’m still a kid playing soccer.”
Rudney kicked her first soccer ball earlier than she can remember, so it’s not hard for her to tap into that childlike love for the sport. She also sees that love in the young fans who come to every home game to cheer on her and her teammates.
“We have these really little girls from a youth soccer team that come to our games, and it’s honestly the coolest thing ever. Even if you’re having a bad day or a bad game, these girls still give us so much support no matter what we do. It really just puts things into perspective about what actually matters in sports.”
And while she sees the true value of soccer reflected in the eyes of the youngest Husker fans, Rudney herself is a model of sportsmanship and character around the Big Ten and beyond. She is a 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award recipient for academic excellence and community service, as well as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and two-time Academic All-Big Ten student.
She credits the support she’s found in Husker Athletics and around the university with helping her find success amid struggles.
“The coaching staff, the strength and conditioning staff, my teammates — I’ve learned from literally everyone around me. Having conversations with each other and sharing what you’ve been through really helps me to know that every struggle is going to have a positive impact on my future. In that way, I’ve grown so much since I first came to Nebraska.”
