Spartans Announce First D-I Recruiting Class
7/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 25, 2007
Spartanburg, S.C. - As USC Upstate prepares to enter NCAA Division I competition beginning this fall, the men's soccer team will do so with 15 newcomers who have signed to carry Upstate into the new era in Spartan athletics.
Upstate head coach Greg Hooks announces the signing of 15 players. All 15 will enter as freshmen. Signing to play for Upstate are Steven Bantock, Jack Burridge, Matt Clark, Patrick de St. Aubin, Joe Edwards, Landon Fruge', Alex Garcev, Chris Kohlmeir, Gunnar Kristinsson, Ryan Kropp, Ryan Martin, Jason McCabe, Chad McCoy, Chris McCoy, and Jack Stern.
"We brought in a lot of players becasue we lost a lot of players, key player," said Hooks. "We're really excited about the class and hope and believe they will lay a solid foundation as we move into Division I. They all have had siginificant sucecess at the levels at which they played prior to signing with us and we expect that to continue.
"I can't emphasize more the contribution Gary Lynch (assistant coach) made in this process. His contacts overseas and all of his hard work have been key in our recruting efforts this year."
Bantock (D/M, East Sussex, England) helped lead the Sussex County U18 team to back-to-back league championships in 2006 and 2007. After a successful junior career, he was one of three players to represent both England and Wales at the Schoolboy level. He recently represented the England International U18 squad that played throughout Europe and China. He played for the Hove Boys from 1999-2000, a team comprised of players from district junior schools. He also played for the Brighton Boys from 2000-04, a team comprised of players selected from district secondary schools. He was a member of the Worthing Youth U18 team from 2005-07 and helped lead the squad to the league championship in 2006 and a second place finish in 2005. The team advanced to the finals of the Ryman League and the Southern Youth League Cup Finals in 2006. In addition to soccer, he was a standout in cross country and rugby.
Burridge (F, South Shields, England) has spent the last three seasons playing for St. Joseph's Comprehensive School where he led the team to a league championship and a County Cup title. He also played for the Durham County Schoolboys U18 club that finished second in the regional tournament and qualified for the National Cup. He was also a member of the England International U18 Schoolboy team that played in China, Villarreal, and the Centenary Cup. He was the top scorer on the Durham County Schoolboys U16 team and was the top scorer and player of the tournament for the South Tyneside U16 squad at the Whitley Bay International Cup. A member of the Boldon School team from 2000-05, he helped lead the squad to three league championships, four cup titles, and one County Cup championship.
Clark (D/M, Shefford, England) represented Bedfordshire County and played in the National Cup final. He also played for the Select England U18 Schoolboy team that faced China in the summer of 2006. He was one of the final 32 players considered for the English schools U18 National Team.
de St. Aubin (GK, Irmo, S.C.) was a three-year starter for the St. Vincent-St. Mary's High School team in Akron, Ohio, prior to moving to Irmo for his senior season. He played part of his senior year at Irmo. He tallied a 0.80 goals against average during his three seasons at St. Vincent-St. Mary's with over 20 shutouts to his credit. He was named Defensive Player of the Year and Tri-County Goalkeeper of the Year as a junior. A First Team All-Sun selection as a junior, he was also a standout in the classroom, earning academic honors all three years.
Edwards (M, Aylsham, England) has also signed to participate on the cross country and track & field team at Upstate. As a soccer player, he spent six seasons playing for the Aylsham Wanderers. He was also a two-year member of the Norfolk County Football Club and played for and Easton College.
Fruge' (D/M, Cypress, Tex.) was a two-year starter at Klein High School. He helped lead the team to the state championship and a No. 3 national ranking in 2005 and was the leading scorer on the team last year with 17 goals and 16 assists. An All-District selection as a senior, he played forward, midfield, and back throughout his high school career. He also had an accomplished club career playing for the TSC Texans. He helped lead the team to a 17-2-0 record last fall and a semifinal appearance in the regional tournament.
Garcev (F, London, England) earned one of only three Highly Commended Player awards from the England Independent Schools Football Association in 2006-07. While playing in the ISFA, he was a member of the squad which toured Poland and played against Scotland. He is also a member of the Surrey County team. As a member of the Dulwich Park club team, he helped lead the squad to second place finishes in the league and the London Cup. He was also a member of the Fulham and Millwall's Schoolboy team.
Kohlmeir (D, Huntersville, N.C.) lettered four times for North Mecklenburg High School. He was the Team Captain on the North Meck squad that was ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 9 nationally his senior season. An All-Conference selection, he helped lead North Meck to two undefeated seasons and back-to-back state championship game appearances in 2005 and 2006. A member of the North Carolina Olympic Development Program, he also played club soccer for the Greensboro Soccer Club.
Kristinsson (M/F, Reykjavik, Iceland) played for Iceland's U19 and U21 National team. A member of several club teams in Iceland, he attended Reykjavik High School and Breioholti College.
Kropp (F, Rock Hill, S.C.) lettered three times at Northwestern High School. He helped lead Northwestern to the 2006 4A state championship, three Region III-4A region championships, and two Upper State titles. As a senior, he scored 13 goals and added 36 assists en route to being named to the All-State team and the Region Player of the Year. A two-year team Most Valuable Offensive Player of the Year selection, he earned All-Tournament honors at the Palmetto Cup as a senior and was the state assists leader with 37 in 2005. He finished his career with 43 goals and 84 assists. He helped lead Northwestern to a No. 2 state ranking and a second place finish in the state tournament, a No. 4 state ranking his junior year, and a No. 1 ranking as a senior. He was recently selected to play in the North-South Carolina All-Star Game for South Carolina.
Martin (M, Irmo, S.C.) was a four-year starter on the varsity squad at Dutch Fork High School. An All-State selection as a senior, he was selected to play for the South Carolina squad in the 1st Annual Clash of the Carolinas. He was selected to the All-Tournament teams at the Lake Murray Challenge and the Palmetto Classic. In addition to soccer, he excelled in cross country at Dutch Fork and was ranked No. 32 in the state in 2006.
McCabe (GK, Irmo, S.C.) has been a standout on the Dutch Fork High School team since his sophomore season. He helped lead the team to a second place finish in the state tournament as a sophomore and was an All-State and All-Region selection as a senior. He is also an accomplished club player as a member of the Columbia United Futbol Club. Prior to the club uniting several soccer clubs in the area, he was a member of the Columbia Soccer Club where he was named Player of the Year in 2005. He helped lead his club teams to third place finishes in each of the last five seasons. He has helped lead the club team to a 41-11-1 record over the last two seasons with 18 shutouts and 191 saves.
Chad McCoy (F, Tomball, Tex.) was a three-time First Team All-District selection at Tomball High School. He was a member of the state Olympic Development Program team for three years and an ODP Pool player for four years. He has also been a member of the Texans Soccer Club. He is also a standout in the classroom as a member of the National Spanish Honor Society and has earned several academic honors from Tomball.
Chris McCoy (D, Tomball, Tex.) was a First Team All-District selection at Tomball High School. He has also served as the Team Captain and a member of the South Texas State Team in the Olympic Development Program for five years. He has also been a member of the Texans Soccer Club. A standout in the classroom, he is a member of the National Honor Society and has received several academic honors from Tomball.
Stern (GK, Lewes, England) was a three-time Player of the Year and five-time Team Captain for his high school team, Heathfield Community College. He was a member of the Sussex Schools U18 squads in regional competitions and also competed for the Sussex FA U16 and U18 teams. In addition, he participated in the youth programs for the Leyton Orient, Northampton Town, and Wimbledon club teams.
