For senior defender Emily Rangel, the road to USC Upstate stretched far beyond the rolling hills of Spartanburg. Born in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in the Austin, Texas, area, Rangel’s journey to becoming a mainstay in the Spartans’ lineup was anything but straightforward.

Like many athletes in her class, Rangel’s recruiting process was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Showcases were canceled, live streams became the only window for coaches, and the timeline for freshmen and sophomores to commit was pushed years later, even after graduation for some.

“It was kind of scary,” Rangel recalled. “By my senior year, I felt really behind. Some schools stopped recruiting because their upperclassmen stayed an extra year. I had conversations with both small and bigger schools, but things fell through as soon as the rules changed.”

Her break came at an ECNL showcase in Tennessee, where the newly hired Upstate head coach, Sharif Saber, spotted her.

“He couldn’t believe I was still uncommitted,” Rangel laughed. “We had a great conversation about rebuilding the program, and the chance to be part of his first recruiting class really stood out. I committed on my birthday—without ever visiting campus.”

Since arriving, Rangel has carved out an impressive career. From scoring her first goal and assist as a freshman in 2022 to off-the-field accolades by earning a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors and a Big South Second-Team All-Conference nod in 2024, she’s been both a consistent defender and a timely scorer.

Despite standing at 5’5”, undersized by typical center back standards, Rangel’s competitiveness and grit have made her a difference-maker.

“I’ve always been overlooked because of my size,” she said. “But I use it to my advantage. People don’t expect me to win tackles or headers, but I do. Competing that way has always been part of my game.”

Looking back, Rangel said she wouldn’t change her decision for anything.

“I thought I wanted a big school, a brand, but being here has been so special—the small classes, the relationships, the team,” she said. “We’ve built something new every year. In our freshman year, nobody thought we’d even make the tournament, and we did. Since then, it’s been about elevating excellence and leaving it all on the line for each other.”

That bond has only grown stronger with her senior class. “They’re some of my best friends,” she said. “We’ve been through it all together.”

So what’s next for Rangel?

As a biology major concentrating in pre-physician assistant studies, Rangel plans to take a gap year after graduation to gain hospital experience before applying to PA school. She’s balancing those career goals while savoring her final year on the pitch.

Though she admits to occasional FOMO when seeing her large Texas family gather back home, Rangel said she has built a second family in Spartanburg. “It’s not just a team—it’s a family here,” she said.

Coach Saber has seen Rangel grow not just as a player, but as a person who sets the tone for the program.

“Emily has been a steady presence for our team,” Saber said. “Supportive, loving, and a true teammate—and an incredible cook—throughout her four years at USC Upstate.”

From the uncertainty of COVID-19 recruiting to anchoring the Spartans’ back line, Rangel’s story reflects who she is at her core —a competitor and a Spartan.

“I love it here,” she said simply. “I’ve met amazing people and been part of something really special. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”