Aug. 13, 2002
Mardell Wrensch has always been at the forefront of improving women's athletics. Whether it was being a standout amateur and professional athlete, a youth volleyball coach in Germany or now as the Vice President and General Manager of the women's Ultimate Soccer League, Wrensch knows the importance of women's sports.
While at Loyola Marymount, Wrensch established herself as one of the all-time greats in women's volleyball. She was a West Coast Conference first-team selection for three consecutive seasons, WCC Scholar-Athlete all four years, voted the team MVP twice and named the Student-Athlete of the Year as a junior.
Wrensch holds the school's all-time career and single season record for attack percentage, and single season record for block solos. She also ranks among LMU's top 10 in 11 other categories. Wrensch earned her bachelor's degree in communications in 1996.
"Not only did I receive a wonderful education in the classroom at LMU, but the discipline, mental toughness and life experiences I gained from playing NCAA Division I volleyball are irreplaceable" Wrensch said. "Coach Steve Stratos instilled that the price of greatness was responsibility and I took that to heart."
In recognition of her stellar collegiate accomplishments, Wrensch was honored in 1999 when LMU retired her jersey, No. 2.
Immediately following her college career, Wrensch spent a year playing in the Bundesliga professional German volleyball league. When she wasn't practicing or playing, she coached a German youth team and worked in marketing at the Sinsheim Auto and Technik Museum, a tourist landmark in Germany.
"I took four years of German in high school which made the transition much easier. I was the only American on my team and at work, so I quickly learned that only German was to be spoken," Wrensch commented. "Coaching the youth team was great, because the kids were so eager to learn about volleyball and they were so honest. They would always smile and laugh when listening to my unpolished German with an American accent. It's very humbling having a 12-year old correct your grammar." Wrensch said. She loved the international experience, but after a yearlong season she was ready to come back to southern California.
Wrensch retuned to the US and took an entry level position with Random/Order, a television production company. Building on her experiences in Germany, she was quickly promoted to the Director of International Sales. Wrensch brought in the company's first international project, served as the companies delegate to the 46th and 47th International Cannes Festival, and managed a sales force stretching from New York to Los Angeles.
"I was able to create a niche for myself and use my international experience to further the company," Wrensch said. "I learned a great deal about the television industry, but also realized that I missed being involved with sports."
In February of 2001, Wrensch had the opportunity to become a critical part of the creation of the Ultimate Soccer League founded by Tracy Gale. Heading up the League's fan development efforts, Wrensch introduced the Ultimate Soccer League to thousands of potential fans and sponsors. In her current role as VP and General Manager, Wrensch now manages the day-to-day League operations associated with running an amateur sports league. She is responsible for major sponsorships and broadcasting, business operations, and player and coaching staff issues. Wrensch is also a liaison for the players, coaches and referees to the board of Ultimate Soccer League.
Founder Gale first saw an overwhelming interest in women's soccer following the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The United States National Team won the championship in front of a sold out crowd at the Rose Bowl.
"I think it was amazing for people around the world to see thousands of little girls with their faces painted cheering on their female heroes," Wrensch said. "Tracy saw that excitement and wanted to build upon that."
The Ultimate Soccer League is not played in the same manner as traditional soccer. The game is played on a field that is 80 yards long and 50 yards wide. Elimination of the offsides rule allows the eight players on each team to position themselves anywhere on the field, leading to faster transitions from defense to offense and forty shots on goal per game. The offensively minded game requires individual speed, stamina and expert ball control.
Kick-ins instead of throw-ins also add to the fast pace of the game, plus kick-ins provide additional scoring opportunities. Further speeding up the flow and action of the game is the elimination of indirect kicks. All penalties called by the referees are followed by direct kicks. Kick-ins, direct kicks, and almost every touch of the ball can result in a shot on goal.
There are two ways to score. The result of a net goal is three points (rather than one) and after each goal, a 30 yard extra point attempt is made with a stationary ball. The ball has to pass through uprights attached to the crossbar of the goal, similar to football. The distance involved and game time pressure make for a relatively low 50 percent success rate for the extra point, often the difference in victory and defeat. The difference results in about eight net goals per contest and eight dramatic extra point attempts that can determine the winner.
The League, which is comprised of four teams showcasing some of the best college and club soccer players in the nation, just completed its second season. This season former Lion volleyball All-American, and former volleyball co-captain with Wrensch, Kim Blankinship was an all-star performer.
The season, which is played throughout southern California, was capped by an All-Star game on July 27. The extravaganza was played in front of a capacity crowd at Thorson Stadium in Westlake Village, Calif. The League will be looking to expand next season.
"Having our All-Star Game televised nationwide on Fox Sports World and internationally on the WTSN Women's Sports Television in Canada, we've caught the attention of a lot of people," Wrensch said. "We expect to have a television network broadcast our entire season next year and we will continue to provide our athletes with competitive play, television exposure and young fans who look up to them as role models. The excitement our new game is generating speaks volumes for furthering the popularity of women's sports."
