Chargers MLS Next Academy

Clearwater Chargers to Play College Soccer

2012 class honored at Signing Day Celebration

Clearwater Chargers to Play College Soccer

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 

CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Clearwater Soccer club is proud to announce that eight members of the U-17/18 Boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy team and five members of the U-18 Girls Premier team will move on to play college soccer next season. 

In a special ceremony tonight at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, the players were honored for their achievements as they prepare for the next chapter of their academic and athletic lives.

“We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to honor these young men and women who have worked so hard to achieve their goal of competing at the next level,” Chargers Director of Coaching Peter Mannino said. "Our club takes great pride in preparing student/athletes for college, and we are happy to see another strong class moving on.”

More than 500 Clearwater Soccer Club alumni have gone on to play college soccer since the club was founded in 1972, including more than 60 the past three years.

The U-18 Boys U.S. Soccer Development Academy team is coached by Roberto Lopez, Garth Pollonais, Tim Mulqueen and Peter Goulish. The U-18 Girls are coached by Ljubomir Korda and Tom Sommerville. 

U-17/18 USSDA Boys     
     
Player  High School  College
Jeremiah Barnes  Clearwater  Kenyon College
Mark Biddinger  Berkeley Prep  Rollins College
Jacob Frahm  Land O’ Lakes  University of North Florida
Danny George  Countryside  Florida Gulf Coast University
Andrew Hitt  Countryside  University of West Florida
Mike Mitchell  Braden River  University of South Florida
Patrick Shelton * Wharton  High Point University
Rheese Wiltshire  Shorecrest Prep  Elon University

 

 * Originally with Black Watch SC & Fusion FC before coming to the Academy last season. 

 
U-18 Girls    
     

Player 

High School 

College

Laura Cason 

River Ridge 

Thomas University

Meghan Dodge 

East Lake 

Mississippi College 

Lisa Jadick 

River Ridge 

Southeastern University

Kaitlin Parker 

Clw. Central Catholic 

Florida Gulf Coast University

Katherine Pedersen 

Clearwater 

United States Air Force Academy

Additional players that signed since Signing Day: 

U17/18 USSDA Boys 

Atsou Ayah - Blake HS - Tyler Junior College
Devon Baughen - Pine View HS -Swarthmore College
Nathan Dalton - Land O’ Lakes HS - Jacksonville University
Roshoir Elliott - Manatee HS - Jacksonville University
Matthew "Brett" Messieh - St. Stephens HS - Case Western University
Chris Murphy - Berkley Prep - Fairfield University
Austin Ruiz - Auburndale HS - Florida Southern College

U18 g

Delaney Lester – Clearwater Christian College

U17 g

Ruth Seleznick - Rice University
Melinda Lukas - Georgia Southern