Impact of a Scholarship: Johannes Bergmann
Luke Bennett, umterps.com Contributor
6/10/2021
Johannes Bergmann came to College Park having never visited the United States – let alone having a mastery of the English language – and with dramatically altered dreams of playing professional soccer. When Bergmann departed the University of Maryland in 2019, he had become a national champion, First Team All-Big Ten player, multiple-time scholarship award recipient, and a graduate with a B.A. in Economics. Most importantly, he left a Terp for life.
Now, after being named one of four former athletes awarded the M Club’s Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship, Bergmann has a chance to continue adding to his legacy of success in his time affiliated with Maryland.
“I loved every second at Maryland,” Bergmann said. “From the first second, I could just feel I made the right choice coming to Maryland.”
To this day, I never took it for granted, and am thankful I received a scholarship from the University of Maryland. My ability to be a part of the program helped me develop values not only on the soccer field, but academically, and as a human.Johannes Bergmann
Before he ever ended up in College Park, Bergmann – a native of Erfurt, Germany – was forced to confront a haunting reality.
In 2012, during his ascent through the German pro and national soccer ranks – one that saw Bergmann play for the U18 and U20 German National team as well as in the Regionalliga Nordost League – he came face-to-face with a nearly career-ending injury. After fracturing his tibia head, tearing both his MCL and PCL, damaging his meniscus, and living with screws in his knees for a considerable amount of time, Bergmann came to a chilling realization: His career could end at any time and more emphasis should be placed on his education.
So, in 2017 when Bergmann fully committed to the idea of attending a university in the United States by combining his elite soccer skills with his newfound appreciation and dedication to excelling academically, Maryland naturally jumped out first.
After successful campaigns under head coach Sasho Cirovski – including National Championships in 2005 and 2008, and a runner-up finish in 2013 – Maryland’s men’s soccer program sold itself. It didn’t take long for Bergmann to realize there was much more than the on-field success Maryland had to offer.
“From the beginning I felt a brotherhood at Maryland that I didn’t feel anywhere else,” Bergmann said. “I had a very positive impression of Sasho and the whole University. I was very impressed by the campus and all the facilities.”
I loved every second at Maryland. From the first second, I could just feel I made the right choice coming to Maryland.Johannes Bergmann
Bergmann was so convinced Maryland was the school for him he condensed the college application process – into only a few months. Only three months after he applied in March 2017, Bergmann moved to College Park.
When he got there, he made his mark almost instantly.
From day one, Bergmann became a crucial cog in Maryland’s defensive front, starting in 61 of his 63 career matches. He led the team in minutes played (2,159) in 2018. He was a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, one-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, and an All-Big Ten First Team player in his final season. Coach Cirovski named Bergmann team captain for the 2019 season.
However, when you talk to Bergmann, he makes it clear none of his success would’ve been possible without help along the way.
“To this day, I never took it for granted, and am thankful I received a scholarship from the University of Maryland,” Bergmann said. “My ability to be a part of the program helped me develop values not only on the soccer field, but academically, and as a human.”
What helped Bergmann succeed all along was his understanding of how truly impactful a scholarship can be. Bergmann cites the “expectations and responsibilities” that come with receiving a scholarship were the fuel for his drive and discipline while at Maryland. He says a scholarship isn’t just “someone giving you money,” but the inspiration to give it your all in practice, during games, and in the classroom.
Perhaps it was this mindset that helped him unlock his team’s potential during their 2018 National Champion season and develop into one of collegiate soccer’s premier defensemen.
In the first four matches of the season, the 2018 team did not win a match – they didn’t even score a goal. Conversely, in the last five matches of the season (the entire NCAA Tournament), the team did not concede a single goal.
“Leaving Maryland a National Champion is indescribable. It was truly amazing,” Bergmann said.
Despite this, leaving Maryland left him at a similar crossroads he faced when deciding to come to Maryland in the first place: soccer or school.
After receiving a 2020 Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, going undrafted in the Major League Soccer (MLS) draft, and briefly playing with the Birmingham Legion in the United Soccer League, Bergmann decided to fully transition into a life after soccer and follow his passion for finance and economics.
Bergmann’s career could’ve gone so many different ways. He could’ve never experienced a potentially career-ending injury that completely readjusted his outlook on life. He could’ve eschewed American education in an attempt to climb the ladder of German pro leagues. He could’ve gone to a different university. Or he could’ve been drafted in the MLS and launched into a career in professional soccer post-graduation.
But for Johannes Bergmann, there was no better way for it to have played out. And his time at Maryland is undoubtedly the reason.
“I couldn’t imagine a better time,” Bergmann said. “Starting with coming to Maryland, becoming a national champion, and graduating with a degree in economics. I couldn’t imagine a better college experience. I don’t think I could’ve found that anywhere else.”
Today, Bergmann uses the M Club Rodman Scholarship to pursue a Master's degree in finance at the Goethe Business School in Frankfurt, Germany. This summer, he will be working for the Zurich Insurance Group, one of the largest insurance companies in Germany, to gain professional experience during his studies.
