It was minute 81 at McClimon Soccer Complex, the game was tied 0-0 between No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 8. Wisconsin Badgers.
Ohio State was awarded a penalty but Wisconsin goalkeeper Judewelin Michel stepped up and made a crucial save to keep the Badgers in the match. Michel had been awarded Big Ten goalkeeper of the week prior to that match and has proved to be a game changing offseason addition for Wisconsin.
Michel didn't luckily dive on the right side. It’s the efforts of his long journey among the elites of North American Football that are coming to fruition. Wisconsin gave him a shot and they’re not regretting it.
Judewellin Michel is from Montreal, Canada. He moved there when he was one-years-old after being born in Haiti. Michel started playing soccer at a young age and credited the city of Montreal’s “pick-up” culture and their focus on technical ability.
Growing up in Montreal, Michel is a big fan of Major League Soccer team C.F Montreal and has had the chance to watch legends of the game like Didier Drogba play for the blue and black. Michel integrated C.F Montreal’s academy and played for their under-23 team.
“That was a great experience for me. I learned a lot there.” Michel told The Daily Cardinal. “I am still a big C.F Montreal fan, I grew up watching Didier Drogba, Ignacio Piatti who are big legends of the club.”
Michel then made a few stops to United Soccer League 2 teams Vermont Green and Flint City where he got a taste of professional soccer. He then decided to take the collegiate route and signed with the University of Indiana Hoosiers in 2025.
Michel only made five appearances for the Big Ten powerhouse, but credits his coaching staff in Bloomington for helping him learn more as a goalkeeper.
“Everywhere I've been I've learned from incredible people and received great advice from pro-players, coaching staffs and played with some of the best players in the NCAA,” Michel said.
Michel described himself as a sponge who soaks up all the information from the people he’s had the chance to work with.
After an underwhelming 2025 season, the Wisconsin badgers decided to make a change in net and gave Michel his chance. This choice was a turning point, both for Wisconsin as a program and Michel’s career.
“I knew I was going to a really good team with great players.” Michel said. “We have really high expectations for ourselves and we’re right where we wanted to be,” Michel said.
Wisconsin’s season got off to a hot start, going 5-0 in non-conference and currently sitting at No. 13 in the national rankings.
Michel describes himself as a player with a strong personality who is vocal with his teammates. Standing at 6’ 4, Michel acknowledges that his size is a strength but if it wasn’t for his agility he wouldn't be able to be great on his line and on the ground.
The highlight of Michel’s season came a few weeks ago when the Badgers played No. 3 Ohio State at home. Michel played one of his best games saving five shots, including a penalty.
Michel told the Cardinal a lot of work went into that save, the long anticipation waiting for the VAR check helped him by building up the Ohio State penalty taker’s nerves. It also gave him the time to prepare with his goalkeeper coach Tyler Smith whom Michel accredits a lot of his success.
“I give a lot of credit to my goalkeeper coach, he does a lot of scouting on opposing players so I had a pretty good idea of where the shooter was going to go,” Michel said. “People would be surprised how many video sessions we do each day. I always go to him whenever I have questions or feel things we can work on.”
The hard work doesn’t only take place on gamedays. Michel practices five to six times a week, combining collective training sessions, individual work and film sessions —which are a crucial part of his routine.
Michel models his game after the likes of MLS goalkeeper Evan Bush as well as Europeans like Thibault Courtois and Mike Maignan, who he looks up to off the field and roots for during the World Cup.
“Growing up in Montreal, I've always looked up to Evan Bush,” Michel said.“Mike Maignan is my favorite goalkeeper overseas, we share a lot of values that are similar even if we’re not the same profiles as goalkeepers.”
Michel said having fellow international players on the team has helped his transition to Madison. He also found a sense of community with his teammates through his faith, a big part of Michel’s life.
Growing up in Montreal, Michel is almost as much of a hockey fan as he is soccer, rooting for his hometown NHL team, the Montreal Canadiens. He said he’s heard great things about Wisconsin hockey, too, and looks forward to attending his fellow student-athletes games.
Despite enjoying Madison, Michel still prefers Poutine over cheesecurds, but reluctantly agrees they are similar.
“I can’t ignore my roots so I’m going to have to say poutine,” Michel said. “I’m trying to stay politically correct here so I don’t get too much backlash when I go home.”
