Salem’s Schwartzenberger rare talent whose motor is always running

Ask anyone who has watched Cali Schwartzenberger play soccer — teammates, coaches, opponents and family — and they’ll wholeheartedly agree: The Salem senior brings it every time she steps on the pitch.

Even, as it turns out, when she’s weighted down by a heavy heart.

An outside back for the Rocks often spends matches sprinting from end-line to end-line (she runs an estimated two to three miles every match), forging her offensive and defensive skills for 80 exhausting minutes.

She won’t ever forget her welcome-to-big-time-high-school-soccer moment as a freshman.

Promoted from the JV squad mid-way through her ninth-grade season, Schwartzenberger was called upon to play critical minutes in Salem’s 2022 district  victory against Canton after the Rocks’ starting outside back was injured.

Playing for grandpa

Earlier that same day, Schwartzenberger had attended a memorial service for her grandfather/super fan Joe Schwartzenberger, with whom she shared a special relationship.

“It was a hard morning because my grandpa and I were really close,” Schwartzenberger said. “I wasn’t sure how much I was going to play that day because it was such a big game and I was a freshman.

“When (Salem Head Coach) Kyle (Karns) put me in after my teammate was injured, I knew I had to be strong mentally … I had to pull it all together pretty quickly. We won and I played pretty well, so obviously that is a day I’ll never forget. I know it’s one my dad will never forget either.”

Three seasons later, Schwartzenberger has established herself as a Salem captain and leader on both ends of the field.

When the Rocks yielded an unprecedented 13 goals in three early-season games this spring, it was Schwartzenberger and her fellow captains who helped right the ship with words of encouragement for the younger players.

“Kyle told us it was the first time since he’s been coach that Salem had conceded 13 goals in three games,” Cali shared. “Especially after the long run we made last season, we wanted to get back on track and play to the level we’re capable of playing.”

Heeding their captains’ message, the Rocks reeled off a 4-1-1 record over their next six games.

Two-way threat

Although she is tasked with big-time defensive responsibilities, Schwartzenberger is among Salem’s leading scorers with five goals.

“Cali had a lot of the technical abilities and the ability to see the game a little bit quicker early on at Salem,” Karns said. “She did a great job of learning and adjusting to varsity soccer her first couple of years and has worked her way into becoming a team leader.

“Outside back in our system is one of the most difficult positions to play because they’re expected to do so much on both sides of the field, but Cali has done an amazing job due to her high soccer IQ, her intensity and skill level.”

And to think this amazing soccer career almost didn’t get off the launching pad.

“I still remember my first soccer practice when I was 4,” she recounted, smiling. “I was complaining to my dad (Chad) about how hot it was and he kind of hinted that if it was too hot, we could leave.

Soccer ‘such a big part of my life’

“I ended up sticking it out and I’m glad I did because soccer has been such a big part of my life. I learned a great life lesson that day.”

Schwartzenberger recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play collegiate soccer for Saginaw Valley State University, which captured the 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

“The location was a big factor,” she said, when asked why she chose to further her career and education at SVSU. “I wanted to be close to home so my family could continue to watch me play.

“Plus, Saginaw Valley has a great exercise science program, which is what I’m planning on pursuing. It’s a field that can go so many ways. I knew I wanted to pursue something in the health field or a degree that would allow me to continue to work with athletes.”

She plays year-round … and LOVES it

Schwartzenberger’s breaks from soccer throughout a typical calendar year are few and far between — but that’s just how she likes it.

“Last year, Salem made such a long run in the tournament (the Rocks advanced to the MHSAA Division 1 semifinals), I only took about a week off before I joined my club team, the Michigan Hawks,” she reflected. “And then my Hawks team made it to the playoffs in Seattle, so it was a busy summer.

“I love it, though. Playing so much is great for my conditioning and soccer is such a huge part of my life.”

Couldn’t wait to be a Rock

During a recent interview, Schwartzenberger shared how, as an eighth-grader, she couldn’t wait to play for such a widely-respected soccer program like Salem’s.

“I’d go to all of their games when I was still in middle school, and I went to a lot of the boys games the fall of my freshman year,” she said. “I was so excited to play for Salem.

“When tryouts rolled around, I remember being a little nervous because I wanted to make varsity so bad my freshman year. When I started on JV that season, my dad said, ‘Hey, you just have to go out there and prove to Kyle that you deserve to play on varsity.”

Over the next few weeks, she did just that.

And she hasn’t stopped since.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.