Janis Hinterleitner, Cal Pac Defensive POY, is the Model NAIA Athlete

By Brandon Petersen

Janis Hinterleitner played his 70^th match as a Warrior Thursday at UC Merced.

Hinterleitner is a two-time Cal Pac regular season champion and has a third ring from the tournament championship a year ago.

Westcliff is currently rated No. 16 nationally, though that stands to take a hit after La Sierra's semifinal upset of the Warriors at the Cal Pac tournament.

Regardless, that's just one spot off the Warriors' all-time highest ranking during Hinterleitner's tenure, which included Cal Pac tournament appearances in four straight seasons starting in 2021.

Wednesday at the Cal Pac men's soccer banquet, commissioner Don Ott handed Hinterleitner a medal signifying his addition to the conference's All First Team.

Hinterleitner was also named the Cal Pac Defensive Player of the Year.

Last, but certainly not least, the league's best defender was named to the Cal Pac All Academic team. Hinterleitner was an NAIA Scholar Athlete in 2022, and 2024, and last year claimed the league's Champion of Character award.

This season marked the third time Hinterleitner was named to the All-Conference team –twice as a first teamer – and to this day, Hinterleitner is the only Warrior ever to win a Conference Player of the Week award both defensively, and offensively.

His resume is impressive.

His list accolades, exhaustive.

With a reputation like that, you'd think he was a highly coveted recruit coming out of high school. But reality was much different.

Janis Hinterleitner came to Irvine as a Warrior Academy athlete.

Hailing from Eckernförde, Germany, a small, scenic fishing town on the coast of the Baltic Sea, where Germany's Naval submarines are stationed, Hinterleitner was recruited as a junior varsity player by Westcliff's original coach, Joey O'Keefe, now the head coach at Biola.

But while O'Keefe and his staff were happy to bring Hinterleitner in, they didn't really understand what they had in the young player.

Under Head Coach Randy Dodge, who was named the Cal Pac Coach of the Year Wednesday, the former JV recruit developed into the most decorated player in Westcliff history.

"When I got here, I didn't really know what to expect," Hinterleitner said. "I came from a pretty high level back home. Being on the JV team at first, for me, I was sure I didn't belong there. I just wanted to show those coaches as soon as possible that I was better than that.

"From that first season, I feel like it's been constant improvement. From season to season, game to game. As soon as I started to understand the college system a little bit more, that's when I started to perform at my best level. I was able to take more responsibility for my team, you know, like being captain the last three years. It helped me grow on the field, but also off the field.

"Working with the boys on a day in, day out basis is what got me here."

Those boys are his Westcliff teammates. Hinterleitner has been a captain for three straight seasons, and is, alongside Jordan Di Lonardo, the unquestioned leader of the Warriors.

Like Di Lonardo, and most of his teammates, Hinterleitner grew up in the European game, the culture of which is far different than that of American soccer.

"First of all, you have to understand that the whole system built around soccer in Europe is really different, everything is on the club level," Hinterleitner said. "So, there is nothing that combines university and soccer. I feel like, back home, you play the game more for fun, even though the game is way more structured, way more tactical, way more based on how (a player should) behave correctly (on the pitch) – there's just more insight into the game, you learn to understand the game way more if you play in Europe.

"Here, it's a lot about physicality. There is a lot of intensity as well."

That was certainly the case Thursday, as the Warriors did battle against a Golden Eagles squad looking to make a name for themselves.

Although the officiating was suspect, especially during two different instances that led directly to La Sierra goals in a 3-1 loss, ultimately, the Warriors had to tip their cap.

Dodge brought in 17 players this season, and many new faces have been major contributors.

Hinterleitner says that led to added chemistry, not less, which is surprising when comparing this year's team to last year's.

"It's a big difference," Hinterleitner said. "Last year, we had a lot of individual players who were on such a high level, that maybe the team chemistry wasn't on the same level that it is this year. The guys who have come in this year have all played their part in us being where we are right now. 

"We have different qualities, for sure, but I feel the team chemistry is what gives us the belief that we can go far this year. We are probably even more hard-working than last year. Last year, because of the quality, you had a feeling that we were going to score at any time.

"This year, we struggled a bit at the beginning to score, but our defense has always been solid. I think we are Top 20 in the nation for clean sheets. (Westcliff is No. 3 in the country in goals allowed, allowing three in its last 14 matches before La Sierra). So, yeah, our game is based on defense, and trying to convert on the front end, and we've done a great job so far."

Sitting in the lobby of the Holiday Inn in Merced, Hinterleitner answers questions with the poise of a veteran, as his teammates come and go, occasionally trying to make him laugh in his native German.

He smiles wide, but never takes the bait.

Instead, he offers perspective on what it's like to play for a predominantly international squad headquartered in Southern California. 

"Since we're all Europeans, we're kind of the same in a sense," Hinterleitner said. "I don't think we've ever had more than three or four Americans in the four years that I've been here. I had to adapt for sure, especially playing against (Americans) – I don't think any team we have played in four years has had as many Europeans as we do.

"I also feel like what we've implemented here is kind of the European style. And I think that's a big reason why we've been successful over the past few years. Obviously, we've had to adapt to the American style, but we've retained our European qualities as well."

The captain was asked to reflect on his latest individual achievement, being named the Cal Pac's Defensive Player of the Year.

"I feel like this year has been a little different," he said. "With losing Finn (Pock), I kind of had to dive into a new role. I'm glad that I did. For me, it was a huge learning experience, just to greet the game from a new perspective.

"At the end of the day, to be honest, I don't care too much about (awards). I just want to perform, and whatever comes extra, that's just a bonus. If we lose tomorrow, you can't buy anything from the recognition, you know? So, it's just confirmation from others, but not for myself, really."

Hinterleitner has done it all as an international student-athlete in the NAIA.

He climbed the mountaintop, both personally, and as a teammate, and his words Wednesday resonated because they were spoken by a young man transformed.

Four years ago, Hinterleitner took a chance on himself.

He left everything he knew behind, and it came at a cost. He ended up losing precious years with loved ones.

Asked who he plays for today, unsurprisingly, his family comes first, his teammates second, and himself third.

"I play for everyone who has supported me," Hinterleitner said. "My parents, big time, obviously. My little siblings, I just want them to have someone to look up to. I also play for all the guys here. We are all on the same journey. I just want it to be as successful as possible. For everyone to gain as much as experience as possible as well.

"And lastly, just, of course, for myself. I didn't put in all this hard work to say, 'Hey, we got this far, and that was enough.' No. I want to always go higher and reach more. Especially with winning last year, and going to nationals, it's at least the goal to get to the same level we reached (last year)."

Looking back on it all, Hinterleitner is happy.

Soon, his personal journey at Westcliff will be over.

He'll leave with multiple rings on his fingers, and with his ultimate goal – a business degree – in grasp.

He'll be Westcliff's most decorated men's soccer player, with the record set for most games played as a Warrior.

Janis Hinterleitner is the model NAIA athlete.

Through his own hard work, and that of coaches and teachers who guided his path, he transformed into a respected leader, and the man he envisioned back in Eckernförde.

"The very first year, it was really difficult," Hinterleitner said. "But I just felt like, when I was home, I needed something different. I'm from a small town, and I didn't want to do what all my friends were doing at that time, just moving to the next biggest city and start studying. I wanted to do something completely different. I wanted a new environment. I wanted to grow.

"Obviously, it's hard. You miss your family. You miss your friends. I have two little siblings at home. They go to school now, and just missing this time, when they are growing up – that's hard. I don't regret it though. I've been here almost four years, and I feel like in no other place would I have grown as much as I did here. So, it's been tough, but that's also what helps shape your character. It's also been good.

"It's been good."