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NCAA Freshman Eligibility Standards

June 3, 2009

An overflow audience attended Diablo FC`s annual College Night June 2 in Concord. Coaches from NCAA Division 1 and NAIA colleges were on hand along with a club alumnus now playing collegiately to answer questions. The standing room only audience of parents and players asked about how to get noticed by college coaches, the college admission process and what it`s like to play college soccer.

Diablo FC Under 9-Under 11 coaching director Adam Cooper, who is head men`s coach at St. Mary`s College, moderated the evening`s program. Cooper was joined on the panel by fellow college coaches Pieter Lehrer (Cal men), Tanya Roberts (Holy Names women), Kai Edwards (St. Mary`s women) and Maite Zabala (University of San Francisco women).

Jordan Grider (St. Mary`s College) answered questions from the perspective of a club alumnus now playing college soccer and juggling training and school. Grider earned honorable mention all conference honors last year as a sophomore at St. Mary`s College. Also on the Gaels from our club are Jordan’s twin brother Justin Grider, goalie Jason Badger and Jason Coehlo.

The Holy Names women’s team has seven club alumni playing for the Hawks---Melissa Grimmond, Maria Gonzalez, Breanna Lisle, Kestrel Colomb, Hayley Hill, Dani Miller and Annie Canalin. On the USF men’s team is Jaime Rodriguez, a club alumnus who transferred from Chico State where he was part of the NCAA Division 2 national finalist Wildcats that also featured Chris Wondolowski and over 10 more club alumni.

Cal has a number of club alumni on both the men’s and women’s teams. Diablo FC 90 standout Samantha Walker will be joining the Bears women’s team in the fall. Emily Shibata and Valerie Barnes were on the team this past season. Scot Van Buskirk and Patrick Fry are on the men’s team.

Free College Preparation Packet

NCAA Freshman Eligibility Standards