Northwestern - Four Star Class Ranking - Tim Lenahan adds an eight member class that has a good combination of athletic ability, size and speed.  Few programs can lay claim to the reversal of fortune that Northwestern has experienced over the past eight years.  The Wildcats have clearly turned the corner from a program where wins were few and far between to one that has advanced to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tourney play two out of the past three seasons.  The new recruiting class, which features midfielder Kyle Schickel from Louisville, Kentucky and defender Tim Zimmer from Naperville, Illinois, will join a solid nucleus of retuning players that includes forward Matt Eliason (12g, 1a), midfielder Piero Bellizzi, defender Mark Blades, and goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal who recorded thirteen shutouts in 2008.

 

Jarrett Baughman - Bloomington, Indiana - Defender - Bloomington North High School - Netted twenty goals his senior season - NSCAA All-Region High School selection. - Played club for Bloomington Cutters.

 

Nick Gendron - Ramsey, New Jersey - Forward - Ramsey High School - Netted seventy-four career goals - Named 2007 New Jersey Player of the Year - Member Red Bull Academy - Region I ODP team member.

 

Chris Ritter - Winnetka, Illinois - Midfielder - New Trier High School - Played club for Trevian Soccer Club for eight years - Played on Chicago Fire’s Academy Team - Illinois ODP team member. 

 

Kyle Schickel - Louisville, Kentucky - Midfielder - Saint Xavier High School - 2007 Kentucky Offensive Player of the Year - Played for Javanon Soccer Club - Member Kentucky and Region II ODP team.

 

Christopher “Tommy” Thombridge - Springfield, Missouri - Goalkeeper - Kickapoo High School - First Team All-State in 2008 - Southwest Missouri Goalkeeper of the Year - Played for Springfield SC.

 

Michael Wallbridge - Ft. Wayne, Indiana - Midfielder - Canterbury High School - 2008 First Team All-State selection - Played club for Fort Wayne Fever Academy – Two-year member Region II ODP team. 

 

Tim Zimmer - Naperville, Illinois - Defender - Naperville Central High School - NSCAA High School All-American - IHSSCA All-State selection - Multi-year Illinois and Region II ODP team member.

 

Alex Male - Leawood, Kansas - Forward - Rockhurst High School - First Team All-State and All-Metro selection as a junior - Missed most of senior season due to injury - Played with KCFC Alliance. 

California - Four Star Class Ranking - Once again Kevin Grimes stays within the borders of the State of California to ink an eight member recruiting class that includes senior  midfielder Jeff Cosgriff who transfers in from Santa Clara.  The bottom line is that there is no need for Grimes to go outside of California when there is so much in-state talent.  This class is packed with players who have an excellent background of competitive club play and who have been battle tested via California and Region IV ODP play.  The Golden Bears will enter the 2009 campaign without All-American goalkeeper Stefan Frei who elected to leave town early to try his hand at the professional game, and defenders Pat Marion and Tyler Barry.  However, with the likes of forward Andrew Wiedeman (12g, 5a), midfielders Hector Jimenez (2g, 7a) and Servando Carrasco (3g, 7a) and senior defenders Jacob Wilson (3g, 2a) and Evan Sassano (0g. 2a) scheduled to return it is reasonable to conclude that the Golden Bears will again be a very talented side in 2009.

 

Jeff Cosgriff - San Bruno, California - Midfielder - St. Ignatius High School - Transfers in from Santa Clara to California for his senior season - Played in sixty-four matches in three seasons at Santa Clara.

 

Riley Kovatch - Santa Rosa, California - Midfielder - Maria Carrillo High School - Played for Marin FC - Member Santa Rosa United Soccer Club - First Team All-League selection.

 

Steve Birnbaum -  Irvine, California - Midfielder - Has played with U.S. U-18 and U-20 National teams - Played club with the Irvine Strikers and Pateadores - Member of the Cal South ODP team in 2007.

 

Anthony Salciccia - San Jose, California - Midfielder - Prospect Highs School - Member of U.S. U-18 National Team - 2007 NSCAA Youth All-American - Member Deanza Force Academy - ESP participant. 

 

Chris Ortega - Chula Vista, California - Midfielder - Eastlake High School - Plays for Arsenal FC - ESP participant in 2007 - Has experience playing with U.S. U-18 National Team - Cal South ODP team member.

 

Nick Shackelford - Irvine, California - Goalkeeper - Villa Park High School - Played club for the Irvine Strikers and Pateadores.  Started for the U-18 Pateadores club team in the U.S. Soccer Academy League.   

 

Kyle Marsh - Santa Rosa, California - Forward - Santa Rosa High School - Member of Marin FC and Santa Rosa United Soccer Club - Member of the Region IV ODP team. 

 

John Fitzpatrick - Encitas, California - Forward - Member Cal-South and Region IV ODP teams - Member of San Diego Surf Soccer Club for eight years - Won Golden Boot Award at the 2007 ODP championships.