Izzie Smulik

Class:
Freshman
Height:
5-6
Hometown:
Lynchburg, Va.
Position:
F
Prev School:
E.C. Glass High School
Birthday:
3/18/08

Prep

Competed at E.C. Glass and has played with Skyline Elite for six seasons
Broke the program's all-time scoring record with 112 career goals
Set the program's single-season scoring record with 55 goals
Set the single-game scoring record with six goals
Earned All-State First Team honors during her junior season
Received the E.C. Glass Athletic Boosters Award for Excellence
Named to the ODP State Team and ODP Regional Team and was included in the E.C. Glass Hall of Fame Brick Ceremony
Selected to compete internationally with the Capelli Sport Plus North America in 2025

Student-Athlete Q&A

How did you end up coming to Liberty? Obviously, you have some local ties. What made Liberty the right fit?
I actually had a connection with Coach Lang before Liberty. He coached me at the academy level and gave me the opportunity a couple of times to play up with the older girls, including my sister's team. My uncle also played with and against Coach Lang when they were kids, which is super cool and makes that connection go back even further.

Coach Lang was able to come out and see me play as I got older, and my dad also went to Liberty and played football his freshman year. I always wanted that big-school feeling, and honestly, I didn't think I would stay this close to home. But then I came to an ID camp and just fell in love with the school, the program, and all the girls on the team. It just felt like the right fit for me.

What position did your dad play?
My dad's name is Johnny Smulik, and he played at Liberty in 1995. He played quarterback in high school and then played cornerback at Liberty.

You mentioned your dad. Any other family members who have played college or professional sports?
My sister, Allie, is also a college athlete. She runs cross country and track at the University of Lynchburg.

When did you start playing soccer? What are some of your earliest memories, and why did you fall in love with it?
I started playing when I was three years old. Some of my earliest memories are playing for a local club, kicking the ball around, and just being out there with my sister.

One of the things I love most about soccer is how it brings people together. If you have a soccer ball, you can put it down almost anywhere and people will come out and play. There's a community around the game, and that's something I've always loved about it.

Tell me a little bit about your family. What do your parents do?
My dad is the Vice President of Technology for the American Association of Christian Counselors, and my mom is an elementary school teacher at Sandusky Elementary. They've both been role models for me since day one. They've always supported me, pushed me to work hard, and encouraged me to be the best version of myself.

What do you enjoy doing outside of soccer?
I really like painting and drawing, and I also love spending time on the river. I do a lot of oil painting, and I like taking things that you wouldn't normally think go together and making them fun.

For example, I painted my own version of Starry Night and added a cat or dog into it. I like putting my own personality into what I'm painting and not taking it too seriously.

You're doing canvases, standing easel, all that stuff. How long does it take you to paint one picture?
Probably about a week. I'm pretty particular about what I'm doing, so I'll keep working on little details until I feel like it's right.

Is there anything you've been through that you think is unique for someone your age—a challenge or hardship that's helped shape you?
I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and growing up, school could be really difficult for me. But my parents did a great job of teaching me that those things don't define what I can't do—they're part of what makes me who I am.

I've learned to embrace that. Even on the soccer field, my ADHD can be a strength. I have a lot of energy, I'm constantly moving and processing what's happening around me, but when it's time to compete, I can be extremely locked in.

It's taken time to understand how my brain works and how I learn best, but I think going through that has made me more resilient and helped me become who I am today.

What's helped you the most with that? If our team wanted to do a story about it, would you be open to that?
Absolutely. I think the biggest thing that's helped me has been the support system around me. I've been fortunate to have people I know I can talk to when school gets difficult or when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

I've also learned different ways to manage it. Sometimes that means taking a breath, going for a walk, or finding a way to get some of that extra energy out so I can reset and refocus.

Over time, I've learned more about myself and what works for me. If sharing my experience could help another student-athlete or younger kid with ADHD or dyslexia realize they can still accomplish big things, I'd definitely be open to telling that story.