Garret Guthrie

Guthrie has medical aspirations

By: David Cordill

Posted: 10/22/07

Chemistry major and UMKC men's soccer team midfielder Garret Guthrie aspires for a career in medicine and is focusing his education in the direction of that goal. The 21-year-old Wichita, Kan. native is planning to tackle the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in 2008.

"Actually, I'd like to be a doctor," Guthrie said. "I'd like to take the MCAT sometime next year, and apply [for med school] my senior year."

Guthrie, who spends his off-season playing soccer for the Kansas City Brass of the United Soccer Leagues' Professional Development League and working out with the Kansas City Wizards, has not ruled out the possibility of delaying his ultimate objective if a chance at the big leagues came his way.

"If I got an offer to play professionally, I probably wouldn't be able to turn it down," he said. "It's always a dream of every athlete to play pro soccer, I think."

A 2004 graduate of Maize High School, Guthrie spent four years on the Kansas Olympic Development Team. He was also a member of United States Youth Soccer Association's Olympic Development Regional Team.

"That was a really fun experience," Guthrie said. "We got to go to San Diego and train at the Olympic facility out there. I actually saw the U.S. Women's softball team eating lunch the same time we were. I got to meet a lot of cool guys from around the region and compete at a high level so it was a good experience."

His zeal for his sport is evident in his style of play on the soccer field, where, as a Kangaroo, he respectfully welcomes all challenges and challengers.

"The soccer out here is always competitive," Guthrie said. "I can count on knowing that every single year we're going to have a tough schedule. We play against some of the best teams in the country every year. That's pretty much why I chose UMKC; we always play against great teams and it's a good team to be a part of."

Honored twice this season as the Summit League's Offensive Player of the Week, Guthrie has shown merit on the pitch. With his studies, his efforts are just as impressive. In 2006, Guthrie was named to the Mid-Con Fall Academic all-Conference team and the Mid-Continent Conference Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence.

He maintains the pressures of being a student athlete at UMKC are lessened by faculty who work with his situation. Still, he said, it can be a taxing experience at times.

"The most challenging thing," Guthrie said, "would probably be having to keep up with your classes after being physically exhausted from working out, practice, and games. [You] still have to have the energy to go and study and waking up for early morning classes after a long road trip."

When he finds time to relax, Guthrie prefers to keep it simple.

"I spend a lot of time with my girlfriend, hang out with the guys on the team, and I study a lot," he said.

dcordill@unews.com