Wheaton, Ill. - Head Men's Soccer Coach Mike Giuliano has recently announced the arrival of four new student-athletes who have chosen to continue their education and have submitted their deposit to attend Wheaton College, with the intent to play for the Thunder men's soccer team beginning in the fall of 2011.

Adam Blackman
Adam was a member of the Illinois State ODP squad in 2009, was an All-State player in 2010 as well as the Conference Player of the Year at Urbana High School in Urbana, Illinois. Giuliano remarked, “Adam scored a hat trick in a key state cup the first time I ever watched him play, and he has continued to score every time any of my staff is at one of his games. Adam is a passionate Christian young man who will make us better on and off the pitch.”

Brendan Finnerty
A native of Holt, Michigan, Brendan is the reigning Defensive MVP at perennial power Holt High School. During his junior year, Brendan helped to lead Holt to a 26-1-1 record, and a spot in the state final. He's been a First Team All-Conference, All-Area, All-District, and Academic All-Conference performer for a number of years. Giuliano noted, “Brendan is technical and athletic and ready to play the physical brand of soccer that you see in college. We were in quite a recruiting battle for him with some of our fiercest rivals, so we are thrilled that he chose Wheaton.”

John Gildersleeve
John is a midfielder hailing from Chatham, New Jersey with great field vision and ball skills. He was a member of the Chatham High School conference championship squad, as well as a member of the Super Y ODP squad. “John spent his entire junior year in Germany where he studied German and soccer,” Giuliano mentioned. “And it paid off – he has great technical skill which mirrors the German ball control type of style.”

Jona Park
Jona was a three-time All-Conference and All-Postseason Tournament performer at his high school in Seoul, South Korea. He has great speed and a real nose for the goal. “Jona came to one of our one-day soccer camps a few years ago,” Giuliano said. “I assumed that he was in the states on vacation, but when he told me that he came to the states primarily just to go to the one-day camp, I knew that this young man was serious about Wheaton. He and his family are sacrificing much to make this happen, and we are fortunate to have him.”

“This is a small but powerful recruiting class for us,” Giuliano said. “After the big class of 2010, we needed to fill just a few holes, and I think we did that with these young men. We want young men who will put as much passion into their faith and into the classroom as they do into their soccer, and we have the right group of young men to make that happen.”