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Felicia Schroeder (Soccer Player)
Born on December 3, 1986, Felicia Waldock (née Schroeder) is a former American soccer athlete renowned for her tenure with Åland United. Despite being deaf, she achieved remarkable success, clinching gold medals at both the 2009 and 2013 Deaflympics.
Career
Schroeder initially participated in soccer at the University of South Carolina for a span of two years before transferring to Purdue University. During her time at Purdue in 2007, the team achieved victory in the Big Ten Conference tournament.
In 2009, Schroeder proudly represented the United States as a vital member of the US Deaf National Team, earning a spot to compete in the 2009 Deaflympics held in Taipei. However, the path to participation wasn’t without challenges. She discovered that due to the lack of sponsorship from the U.S. Olympic Committee for these games, each player had to raise $5,000 independently to cover their expenses for the Taiwan trip. Determined and resilient, Schroeder managed to secure the necessary funding and went on to claim a coveted gold medal.
In 2011, Schroeder embarked on a new chapter in her soccer journey by joining “Åland United of Naisten Liiga, the premier division of soccer in Finland.” Her soccer ventures extended to a Swedish team in 2012. During the same year, she added to her accomplishments by securing a gold medal at the Deaf World Cup, representing the US national women’s team. She also achieved the inaugural accolade for Player of the Year with a Disability.
Continuing her streak of success, Schroeder earned another esteemed gold medal at the 2013 Deaflympics.
Coaching & Teaching
During 2012, Schroeder embraced the position of assistant coach for the women’s soccer team at Texas A&M International University. In this role, she played a pivotal role in elevating the team’s national ranking. Her coaching journey further extended to the University of Cincinnati, Benton Central High School, and the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy.
By 2019, Waldock had transitioned into the role of an educator, teaching American Sign Language at Colerain High School. Concurrently, she undertook the responsibility of coaching the school’s girls’ soccer team.
Career Statistics
| Youth career | ||
| Ohio Elite Soccer Academy | Cardinals | |
| –2005 | Oak Hills Highlanders | |
| Senior Career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | South Carolina Gamecocks | 37 | (8) |
| 2007–2008 | Purdue Boilermakers | 47 | (13) |
| Senior Career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011 | Åland United | 27 | (23) |
| 2012 | Kvarnsvedens IK | 11 | (7) |
| International Career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2013 | U.S. Deaf National Team | 14 | (19) |
Personal Life
Born on December 3, 1986, in Cincinnati, Felicia Schroeder came into the world to parents Tom and Andrea Schroeder, with a sister also in the family. From birth, Schroeder faced the challenge of being born deaf. Her educational journey was marked by adversity, attending nine different schools by the time she reached the third grade due to the lack of suitable accommodations.
During her schooling years, Schroeder actively engaged in soccer, participating with the Ohio Elite Soccer Academy and the Cardinals. Within these two clubs, she achieved remarkable success, clinching four state championships (1999, 2000, 2001, 2005) and even securing a national championship. Notably, her legacy endures in her high school records for the highest number of goals and assists, a distinction that remains intact as of July 2023.
Completing her studies at Oak Hills High School in 2005, she proceeded to the University of South Carolina. However, her journey at this institution was characterized by unique challenges, as she was the lone deaf student on campus. The lack of sign-language interpretation services prompted the hiring of an interpreter from Georgia, who accompanied Schroeder to her classes. Eventually, seeking more appropriate accommodations, she made the decision to transfer to Purdue University. Here, she pursued studies in psychology, with the aspiration to become a psychologist and support deaf children in realizing their potential despite living in a predominantly hearing world.
In the year 2014, Felicia Schroeder entered into matrimony with Adam Waldock. By 2019, their residence was situated in Green Township, Ohio, and at that time, Felicia was in the midst of an exciting phase as she awaited the arrival of their second child.
