Men’s Soccer
Athletes of the Week: StFX’s Hayfield, Toronto’s Albert honoured
Throughout the 2017-18 season, U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our new interview series “Getting to know…”
Name: Tyler Forsey
School: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Sport: Soccer and Track and Field
Position: Striker in soccer, sprinter in track
Year of eligibility: Fifth
Program: Human kinetics and recreation
Hometown: St. John’s, N.L.
1. What attracted you to Memorial University?
It's located in my hometown. When I was young I would see athletes around town wearing the red and white, I knew that one day that would be me. Also, being on scholarship while living at home has been a great situation for me personally.
2. What’s your favourite memory, and your greatest athletic achievement as a U SPORTS student-athlete?
I don't like to get hung up on moments, I prefer to look toward the future - that mentality may lead to never being satisfied; but always improving. My ultimate goal would be winning the AUS crown in my fifth and final season, but if I had to choose, I would say scoring the game-winner against Cape Breton at home (in a 1-0 win). They were ranked fourth in the country at that time and were a very strong side, great victory with my teammates.
3. Where are you hoping your path will take you after university?
I hope it will take me on a successful path, either through sport or my degree. Playing soccer at a high level beyond my university years would be ideal, constantly being challenged, improving and evolving as a player, that would be a great journey for me.
4. Who’s had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
My father. He has supported me no matter what ever since I started participating in sports. Never forced me one way or the other, he let me decide my path and I've been lucky enough to have his guidance along the way. He has been so successful on the international stage in his own sport, so there is a great deal of respect between us as athletes as well as family.
5. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, with whom you’d love to have dinner with? Why?
Kobe Bryant. May seem strange as he is so well known for his athletic ability and physical dominance in another sport from mine (basketball/soccer). Having said that it would be his mental strength I would like to discuss with him the most. I believe that mental toughness can be trained like any physical area, but more or less you are just born with it. You cannot teach it. That's what makes him special. How to overcome and rise to the occasion and simply dominate your opponent in the process.
6. What is your pre-game ritual? Do you have any superstitions/idiosyncrasies around preparing yourself for a game?
I don't really have any rituals, aside from getting a good night's rest the night before, combined with a quality meal. I don't carry much superstition. Preparation is my only must, confidence is born from preparation in my mind. The only time doubt sets in, is when one is not prepared, so if I’m prepared I feel like anything is possible.
7. What’s your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a game?
No song in particular, and I also don't like to listen to something that's extremely heavy or head banging. I prefer something calming and soothing. I need to be calm, cool and collected, that's when strikers are at their best. One must carry a cerebral approach.
8. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?
Conor McGregor’s Twitter.
9. If you could try another sport, what would it be and why?
I currently juggle two sports, but if I had to change into something else, I would have to choose Mixed Martial Arts. I find it so entertaining, and in my eyes the most demanding sport of a single athlete. So many different disciplines harmonized into eye-catching entertainment. I also have a great deal of respect for the determination and sacrifice it takes to not only make it, but to succeed at the top of the MMA game.
10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you as an athlete?
I don't believe in embarrassment in sport. Especially at a high level, we have all given so much to be where we are, so when the time comes to put that all on the line, I see that as strength; regardless of what happens there is no embarrassment in my eyes. Sure, some days or games don't always go to plan, but we all know that possibility exists long before we play. Sometimes when you compete you win, and other times you learn, simple as that.