Barker, a Temperance native, was featured in last week's edition of Sports Illustrated for her incredible achievements on the soccer field this fall.
Barker, a sophomore forward, was featured in SI's "Faces in the Crowd" section in the magazine's Jan. 9 issue.
"I was definitely shocked," Barker said. "I didn't expect it to happen at all. I'm really excited to have a copy of that the rest of my life. It's something I will have forever."
The Bedford High School graduate was selected for the weekly feature for scoring 13 game-winning goals for Adrian, a Division III program.
Barker scored more game winners than any other player in all divisions of college soccer -- men's and women's.
"At first I didn't see the big deal about it," Barker said. "But then my coach told me it was the most goals for men and women at all levels. That kind of shocked me."
Barker also led the Bulldogs to their first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season championship in the program's 23 years.
She scored 25 goals, and her 57 points led the conference and also set single-season school records. Barker holds the school record for career points with 101.
Yet Barker deflected the individual attention and instead praised her teammates.
"We all had a big season, and we all stepped up and did so well," Barker said. "That allowed me to do my best. We had the best connections as a team."
Barker was named the MIAA conference MVP. She also was named an NCAA Third Team All-American after helping Adrian post a 17-5-0 record. She was the first in the history of the women's soccer program to be named to an All-America team.
"I'm proud of everything I've accomplished. But it is all about the team," Barker said. "The whole program is great, and there is always room to improve."
Barker said she wasn't sure who submitted her name and accomplishments to the elite magazine. She said on Jan. 3 she went to check her email and was taken aback when she saw the correspondence from Sports Illustrated.
"I got an email on it, and I was pretty excited. It's such a neat thing," Barker said. "I told my mom and my friends and my boyfriend. I was really surprised to be in Sports Illustrated. I was not expecting anything like that."
Barker said her mother, Wendy, ran out to the store and picked up several copies.
"She's been telling everyone," Barker said.
Barker was a four-year starter at Bedford. She holds the school records there for goals scored in a season as well as career goals.
Barker said she began playing soccer about age 5 and started playing the sport year-round at age 10.
Barker said she really got into the sport when she moved with her family to Europe when she was 11. She lived in Germany for two and a half years until she was 13.
"When I first moved there, I didn't want to play there because I didn't think I was good enough. But my parents encouraged me to play," she said.
The young girl eventually started to compete with a boys team in Germany. Barker said playing at the high level in Europe really helped improve her game.
"It was a good thing to be able to play with mix genders so much over there," Barker said.
When she moved back to Temperance, she began playing with a club team in Novi, Mich., called the Jaguars. She started as a freshman at Bedford.
She received offers from several Division I college programs, including Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Georgia State.
But Barker said she chose Adrian College because it was the best fit for her academically.
"I really appreciate soccer and enjoy it to the fullest extent," Barker said. "I'm 100 percent happy with my choice to go to Adrian."
Barker said she is ready to embrace the increased recognition and opportunities that the story in SI might bring.
"I'll be up and ready to run with it," Barker said.
Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade