Gators senior midfielder Betsy Middleton's most impressive stats are in the classroom. (Photo: Jim Burgess/UAA Communications)
Middleton Never Fails to Bring A-Game for Gators
Thursday, November 3, 2016 | Soccer, Scott Carter
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The UF midfielder's passion to succeed stretches above and beyond.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Betsy Middleton has a ton of friends and one menacing enemy. Her worst nightmare is a friend to most of us.
A "B."
That's right. The second letter of the alphabet is about as welcome in Middleton's life as bad breath on a first date.
"I've never made less than an A,'' said Middleton, a senior midfielder for the UF soccer team playing in the SEC Tournament this week.
Middleton isn't bragging, just answering a question about her studies as she prepares to graduate next month with a degree in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. Our conversation touches on reinforcement pathology, impulsivity in food choices, environmental research and, yes, soccer.
To better understand how the 21-year-old Middleton has achieved academic perfection through elementary, middle and high school, a year at the University of Miami and the last three at Florida, it's best to check in with her mom.
But before we do, let's give Middleton an opportunity to explain her uncommon drive.
"I've considered that a lot over the years,'' she said. "It's always been intrinsic. It's always been within. There still has to be a motivation: Why is it I want to do this? Because growing up, there was never a point where my parents had to say, 'Betsy, have you done your homework? Betsy, have you worked on that assignment?' It was always I had it planned out and I was going to do it because I wanted to do it."
When did Jill Middleton, Betsy's mom, first notice her daughter's go-getter ways?
"Immediately,'' Jill said. "Even as a baby, we knew she was very different than her brother."
Betsy Middleton with her parents, Greg and Jill, at the UF soccer team's Senior Day. (Photo: Jim Burgess/UAA Communications)
There's no doubt Will Middleton, 22 months older than Betsy, is the slacker of the family. Will recently earned his master's in theological seminary from Liberty University and is currently preparing to plant a church somewhere near the Elon-Burlington, N.C., area where Betsy and he grew up.
Still, Will Middleton nearly caused Betsy to go into shock once.
"He made one B,'' she said. "In AP history in high school. It matters to him – he wants the best grade he can get – but he's more laid back than I am."
As for those signs Jill Middleton recalls that told her Betsy had a unique personality, they revealed themselves in many ways from the time Betsy was a toddler.
If Betsy was left at the church nursery or with someone she didn't want to be with as much as her mom, she wailed until Jill came to get her. Random shopping trips needed to be run by Betsy first. She might have homework plans. Forget about packing a bag for Betsy for soccer practice. She preferred to pack it herself to make sure everything she needed – and extras – were included.
Jill had to attend an unusual parent-teacher conference when Betsy was in the first grade.
"The teachers really wanted the class to write whether you knew how to spell or not,'' Jill said. "Betsy would only write words she knew how to spell. She wanted it to be perfect."
No one is perfect, and as Betsy got older and went off to college on a soccer scholarship to Miami, she began to accept that troublesome fact of life.
She played a season for the Hurricanes and due to a coaching change, Middleton transferred to Florida after extensive research on class size, course work and other factors that sometimes make private schools more appealing over large public universities for academic high-achievers.
She found the perfect academic-athletic mix for her tastes. You may have even seen her outside a local grocery store recently as part of her research on the usage of environmentally friendly shopping bags compared to plastic bags.
That was the idea since late middle school when she began to map her college plans.
"I was trying to use soccer as an opportunity to continue to do what I loved but also to get me a scholarship to the best school I could possibly go to,'' she said. "I'm definitely getting a quality education here. I haven't regretted it at all."
While Middleton's role often depends on the flow of the game – she can drop back as a defender or push the ball as a forward – her commitment is as steady as the sun rise.
"I am really glad Betsy transferred to us because she just brings a ton to our team,'' Burleigh said. "She is one of the most conscientious players we've ever had in terms of doing what we ask and giving an honest effort every single day in practice and in games. She's also a tremendous example to our players of what excellence looks like all-around.
"To top it off, she's an unbelievable teammate. She's caring. She's unselfish. She is somebody that everybody wants to be around because of her positive outlook."
Middleton, who has six career goals at Florida, came off the bench in Florida's 8-7 win in penalty kicks Wednesday night against Missouri. The 15th-ranked Gators face No. 2 South Carolina on Friday night in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
Her approach on the field is as serious as in the classroom.
"My motivation since I've been in college has always been just to be the best teammate you can be,'' she said. "I want to make my teammates look as good as possible. I very rarely know what to expect going into each game. My role is always to be that supporting player."
With her soccer career winding down, Middleton is only near halftime of her academic career. She plans to continue her studies and work toward a doctorate degree at a school closer to home. Her long-term goal is to become an industrial-organizational psychologist.
The soccer player in her is credited with an assist on the career goal.
"I've always been within a team. I know how effective it is when teammates are working well together, and how ineffective a team can be when people are not working well together,'' Middleton said. "They [I-O psychologists] make sure each individual is healthy, satisfied in their position and being effective."
Based on Middleton's perspective, you can see why Burleigh gives her an A-plus for attitude.
