Dr. Julie Duerler made a name for herself with the women’s soccer program as one of the most decorated female athletes to sport a Bishop uniform.  A four-time All-Conference selection and three-time NSCAA All-American from 1990 to 1993, she led her squads to 42 wins, one Dixie Conference Championship, and three NCAA Tournament appearances during her career.  The Grove City, Ohio native was twice named North Carolina Wesleyan’s Female Athlete of the Year.

A three-year captain, Duerler was named the Bishops’ Most Valuable Player during a sophomore season that saw her become the first All-American in the program’s history.  She followed up the ’91 season with a career-high eight assists as a junior en route to Dixie Conference Player of the Year accolades, as well as first team All-South and first team All-American honors.  She again achieved first team All-South and first team All-American status as a senior in 1993.

Duerler was equally as impressive off the field.  She was named Wesleyan’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1992, 1993, and 1994, while earning honors as a three-time Adidas Scholar-Athlete from 1991 to 1993.  Duerler graduated in 1994 with a double-major in Biology and Chemistry and subsequently won a grant to study veterinary medicine at Ohio State University.

Julie Duerler epitomized what is expected of a Battling Bishop student-athlete both athletically and academically.  The Bishops applauded her achievements by retiring her #3 jersey at the conclusion of her career, the first such honor bestowed upon a member of the women’s soccer program.