Marita Leimbach, MRU's first-ever female exchange student-athlete, traveled a huge distance from Heilbronn, Germany to play as a midfielder for the women's soccer program. The 5 '3 powerhouse previously played for TGV Dürrenzimmern sports club back home and placed second as a team. Additionally, her career includes playing for the Hawkeye Community College RedTails for the 2021-22 season. Now, she is kicking off her first season at MRU as a finance major with a focus on international business. 

Her adventure to Calgary was nothing short of impactful and began with connections back in Germany. "My home university has a partnership with different universities around the world, and Mount Royal was one of them." 

Marita had always dreamt of coming to Canada. "The moment I knew that MRU would be on the list was clear for me. Calgary is such a great city, and I've always wanted to come to Canada. So even though there were other cities in Canada that I could have gone to, it was Calgary," said Leimbach. 

Her journey to Mount Royal University started when she first visited campus "…on the 29th of July for the first time, and everything was new. I was so excited to get going, even to be on trial for the MRU Cougars was so great. Tino picked me up from the airport and it was exciting," said Leimbach. 

Marita's time at MRU has been filled with excitement, hard work, and cultural adjustments that some student-athletes might not fully appreciate. "As a European, everyone always mentions the distance between the different locations and your reliance on cars. There's a big difference when speaking English the whole time. It's definitely a weird adjustment with German exchange students here as well. So we switch to German, and then need to make sure I'm back to English," said Leimbach.  

She continues to work hard on and off the field balancing both athletic commitments and academics. "Here at MRU, the practice environment is more intense than back home with TGV Dürrenzimmern, because everyone wants to win, and the level of play has definitely increased," said Leimbach. 

One thing remains the same - the women are focused on their goal of making it to the playoffs this season. 

"I really want to improve my playing style. I've been playing a few different positions, and I'm making sure that I can be coachable and apply the feedback I've received. As a team, I think we definitely want to make the playoffs and encourage a great team spirit that's competitive," said Leimbach. 

Before games, Marita has one routine that gets her game ready. Leimbach's pre-game rituals include "putting my schin pads on right before the game, in no particular order. Sometimes they make me feel heavier. With warm up, I like to be fresh, and then tug them on right before," said Marita. 

What really stands out for Marita is the energy of the team and camaraderie. Most notably, her best times are with "The girls, the moments after practice, before practice, and whenever we come together. The team environment has been amazing, and everyone is pushing each other in practice," said Marita.  The MRU Cougars have provided a community for Leimbach, making a world of difference. 

To learn more about MRU's partner institutions, including Marita's home institution in Heilbronn, please check out MRU International Education's website or send an email to international@mtroyal.ca.