Written by Kevin Miller:
Femi Hollinger-Janzen (’12) scored the lone goal in Indiana University’s College Cup semifinal victory over Creighton on Friday, Dec. 7, and then had one of his dreams come true as the Hoosiers won the NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer title on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Georgetown (which also has a Mennonite-school graduate, Keegan Rosenberry of Lancaster Mennonite). For more on Femi’s outstanding game, see NCAA story on Improbable Game Winner.
Femi had an impact on Big Ten Soccer in just his first year with Indiana University—and media and scouting organizations that overlooked him as a high school player, despite earning Indiana state player of the year award and scoring the winning goal in the HS All-American game, have begun taking note of his potential. By the beginning of October Top Drawer Soccer had moved Femi up to no. 18 among the top freshman men’s soccer players in the country and he was named to the Big Ten’s all-freshman team.
Femi, who led Bethany to within one game of playing for a state championship in 2011, quickly adapted to playing with some of the top players in the country and was one of three IU players named to the 2012 Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic all-tournament team, despite playing in a reserve role. One week later, the freshman received his first start for then no. 7 ranked IU. He finished the regular season with 2 goals and one assist and has scored two goals in the NCAA tournament
In an Oct. 26 interview with Robert Ziegler on Top Drawer soccer, Femi credits his coach at Bethany, Hank Willems, along with Goshen College men’s coach Tavi Mounsithiraj for helping him develop as a player. Watch IU Freshman’s Story Extends Beyond the Field.
Earlier, Femi was interviewed on Indiana University’s freshman focus about his role on the men’s soccer team and his transition from Indiana HS Player of the Year to the college level. Watch on Youtube.
Though soccer is Femi’s passion—and he dreams of a future professional career—faith in God is important to him also, and he recognizes the role that faith has played in his life’s journey.
Femi was born in Benin, West Africa, with a deformed leg, and adopted by Rod and Lynda Hollinger-Janzen, who were mission workers in Benin at the time. Doctors told them that Femi might be able to walk, if he were placed in a complete body cast. The cast was never put on. However, Beninese Christians prayed for Femi’s healing. Even though his leg remained deformed for several years, Femi took his first steps at ten months and was soon running. Over the years, his leg straightened out.
During the past two years, Femi, along with some other youth from his church (Waterford Mennonite) and their fathers, met 6:30-7:00 each Tuesday morning for prayers, using the Anabaptist prayer book, Take Our Moments and Our Days.Femi also took a baptism exploration class as he considered making a public profession of faith. Despite having already begun a rigorous schedule of classes and practice this summer, Femi returned to Goshen in August to be baptized at Waterford.
Femi says, “When I look back on things, I see that God had a definite plan for me. I would not be where I am today without his guidance and the support of my family, church, school, and teammates.”
Written by Caleb Morris:
I had the pleasure of getting to go to school with Femi since the seventh grade, play high school soccer and basketball with him for three years and be able to hang out and go to high school with him. I would not say I was best friends with him, but through shared experience I had the chance to get to know him a little bit.
Everyone knows Femi. Not just Bethany people, but everyone from the area knows him. If I mention his name around friends from other schools, they instantly know who I am talking about. The best thing is his reputation has been acquired not only because of his athletic ability, but his genuine want to get to know people. His humility greatly exceeds that of the stereotypical Division I athlete.
When asked how the Bethany community’s support impacts him, Femi responded “The support of the Bethany community has been amazing! The way that everyone came out to support us at Notre Dame and their great comments on facebook is just great!”
As a part of National Championship winning Division I team, Femi gets to meet President Barack Obama which he says “will be very exciting.”
Femi has created quite a legacy in the Bethany community and is starting to build one at Indiana University and beyond.