(UPDATED: June 22)
Wheaton, Ill. - Head Men's Soccer Coach
Mike Giuliano has recently announced two newcomers to round out the arrival of 10 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 2012.
Noah Anthony
Noah started his first game as a freshman at NCAA Division I tournament team Coastal Carolina University against top-ranked University of North Carolina. He went on to play in eight games before a bout with mono sidelined him. Prior to Coastal Carolina, he starred at St. Charles North High School, where he scored 19 goals with 20 assists his senior year to take Conference Player of the Year honors in addition to All-State accolades. “Noah is a quality impact player who can play all three lines,” Giuliano said. “His decision to transfer was a tough one, but he's coming to Wheaton for all the right reasons.”
Stephen Fernandes
Stephen started 18 games last year as a freshman defender for Luther College, who advanced all the way to the Elite 8 of the NCAA National Tournament. Previous to Luther, Stephen attended Wheaton Academy, where he was an All-Conference, All-Area, and All-State performer. “We are excited to add Stephen to the team," Giuliano said. "He played defender on a squad that went deep into the NCAA Tournament, so he knows how to win and how to handle pressure. Our current players who know him are thrilled to add a young man of his caliber to the squad.”
(PREVIOUS RECRUIT RELEASE FROM MAY 1)
Elliot Borge
A native of Western Springs, Illinois, Elliot comes to Wheaton after a year in which he was named NSCAA All-American and the runner-up for the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Illinois. He is a member of the Chicago Fire U-18 Academy squad that won the national championship in 2010. At Lyons Township High School, he is the all-time points leader, and the leading goal scorer during his senior year. In his sophomore year, his high school won the State Championship. “Considered one of the top two players in the state, we are pleased that Elliot will be in orange-and-blue in the fall,” Giuliano remarked. “He chose Wheaton College and Thunder soccer for all the right reasons, and he will make us better immediately both on and off the pitch.”
Jon Clark
Jon joins his brother Josh on the Thunder squad for 2012. A member of both the Sockers Academy and the Chicago Fire Academy squads the last two years, Jon looks to make an immediate impact on offense for Wheaton. At Palatine High School, he led the team in both assists and goals last year, when he was honored with team MVP, All-Conference, All-Area, and All-Sectional honors. “Jon's superior athletic ability will help us compete against the top teams,” Giuliano said. “He reads the game well and stays very composed with the ball. Even more importantly, he is a great young man who loves God with all his heart. The Clark family just keeps making Wheaton soccer better and better.”
Stephen Golz
Stephen will join his brother Jordan on the 2012 team. In his senior year at Oak Park-River Forest High School, he earned All- Conference, All-Area, and All-State honors, as he was among the state's most prolific scorers with 29 goals. He is also a top-level lacrosse player but has chosen to focus his time at Wheaton on his studies and on soccer. “Anyone that has seen Drew and Jordan play at Wheaton in the past knows that you cannot have enough Golz brothers on the team,” Giuliano pointed out. “Stephen comes in with the most accomplished high school career of the three, so we hope he can contribute right away. He is especially deadly on head balls, which every college team is looking to add to their squad.”
Mitch Grove
Mitch hails from Indianapolis, Indiana and is a member of the Westside United Club team, where he is a center midfielder. As a high school senior, he was awarded the 2011 IHSAA Top Team Player Award, as he led them to a 19-3-0 record. Giuliano said of Grove, “Mitch is a very composed, very bright center midfielder. He sees the field very well and is technical in delivering the ball, which are critical components for any center midfielder.”
Marshall Hollingsworth
Marshall has been a member of a number of Chicago Fire squads, including the USSF Academy U-16 squad. As a junior, he led Libertyville high school to the state Final Four, and as a senior, he led his team to a Pepsi Showdown Championship (one of the largest high school tournaments in the nation) and was named the tournament MVP. He was an All-State selection twice and an All-Midwest player during his senior year. “Marshall's engine is other worldly,” Giuliano said. “His work rate is off the charts, and he combines that with an extremely high level of athleticism and technical precision. Frankly, it's rare to get that combination of qualities in just one player.”
Dylan Mendez-Lynch
Dylan is from Argentina, where he played high school and club ball during his freshman through junior years. As a senior, he moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where he led Evangelical Christian School to their first-ever state championship game. He was named All-Area, leading the squad in scoring. “Dylan has had more challenges in his young life than most of us have had in a lifetime,” Giuliano said. What I love the most is that he's allowed tough times to make him stronger and to make him more secure in his faith. And that certainly translates onto the pitch in how he plays.”
Keller Thomas
Keller was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the conference as he led his seventh-ranked Allen High School team to a second-place finish in the state of Texas, serving as a team captain. “Keller has terrific skills for a defender,” Giuliano said. “He is great with the ball and is an extremely accurate passer. If he can handle the athleticism challenges of the college game, he could be a real asset to us in the back.”
Julien Van der does (Gutenberg, France)
“We don't know much about Julien since we obviously haven't seen him play in person,” Giuliano pointed out. He continued, “What we do know is that an alumnus from one of the powerful Wheaton teams in the 80's told us he's a big, strong central defender that can play at a very high level. We are looking forward to getting to know him as well as watching him play.”
Giuliano concluded, “One of our new vision statement's most sacred goals is that 'we want this program, these coaches, and these young men to have an unspeakable influence on each other as we grow into the men that God wants us to be.' While I firmly believe that this 2012 class will help us win more games, which is a big part of Wheaton soccer, I definitely know that they have the character to help all of us sharpen each other into men who can make a difference in this world. These are good young men and I can't wait to spend four years with them.”
