Skip to content

Two sport South Delta standout will be getting her kicks in Oregon

Julia Fechter will be turning her attention to only soccer next fall at Pacific University
julia-fetcher-2
South Delta Secondary Grade 12 student Julia Fechter is taking her soccer career to Pacific University in Oregon next fall.

It will take a move to Oregon next fall for Julia Fechter to at last focus on just one sport.

The Grade 12 South Delta Secondary student will be continuing her soccer career at Pacific University in Forest Grove after accepting a scholarship offer from the NCAA Division III school. It was back in September when Fechter impressed Boxers’ head coach Chelsea Davis during a recruiting camp.

“It was just really good chemistry and the program is going through a bit of a re-build, so it’s a good situation,” said Fechter who plans on studying kinesiology. “It’s always been a dream of mine to continue my schooling and play soccer at the same time.”

The midfielder is currently playing at the Metro U18 level with the Delta Coastal Selects and also helped the South Delta Sun Devils capture their second provincial title in school history last June.

Fechter chased down her soccer dream while also thriving on the ice as an elite ringette player. She will conclude her career by playing for Team B.C. at the U19 Canadian Championships in Regina come April and was also an alternate for the recent Canada Winter Games.

“It all started when I was little and taking skating lessons,” said Fechter. “I was just doing some free skating and I think I was around 10 when my friend brought me into the sport. It just sounded really cool at the time and there was this program called ‘Springette’ which a lot of girls end up doing because it’s after the season and you can borrow gear to try it out.”

Years of hectic schedules followed with the competitive seasons for both sports happening simultaneously. At one point Fechter put competitive soccer on hold before continuing her juggling act.

“It’s been a challenge. It’s a big commitment to both teams because it’s at the same time,” said Fechter. “There have been many days where I am going from one game right to another.”

She hopes to conclude her youth soccer career with a deep run in the upcoming Coastal Cup playdowns and help the Sun Devils take another run at provincial glory. Fetcher is among a number of key returning players. She got introduced to Stephen Burns and Brent Sweeney’s highly successful program back in Grade 8.

“We are trying to get back to the provincials (for a record) 20th year, so it’s big deal. We just want to keep the strong environment of SDSS soccer going,” she added. “We lost a couple of seasons to COVID, but I remember my Grade 8 year and (senior standout) Brea Gallagher being my idol. (Laughing) I even got her to sign my yearbook.”