As we move into a new year, we wanted to reflect on 2019 and the fantastic things that have happened in our club over the past 12 months.  Our club has only been in existence for 8 years, but in this short time and especially in the last 12 months, the accomplishments of FC Wisconsin players and the growing impact of the club on more players across Wisconsin has been incredible.

2019 Alum Highlights

· 3 club alums earned collegiate All-American honors (Jordyn Bloomer, Dani Rhodes, and Kate Del Fava), an unprecedented moment in Wisconsin club soccer history, and one rarely reached by any club in the country.

· 4 players at Wisconsin helped the Badgers claim their first ever outright Big Ten Regular Season Championship, all earning Big Ten honors for their contributions – Jordyn Bloomer (GK of the Year), Dani Rhodes (Forward of the Year), Payton Wesley (Captain and Sportsmanship Award Winner), and Emma Jaskaniec (All-Freshman Team).

· 3 freshman alums made huge marks in their first year of college soccer, claiming All-Freshman honors in 3 different conferences – Jordy Rothwell (Creighton, Big East), Nicole Norfolk (Valparaiso, Missouri Valley), and Emma Jaskaniec (Wisconsin, Big Ten).

· Kate Del Fava won almost every award possible in her senior season at Illinois State – Missouri Valley Player of the Year, Missouri Valley Scholar Athlete of the Year, Missouri Valley Player of the Week 5 different times, and more.

· Elyse Bennett helped lead Washington State to the Division 1 Final Four, earning Pac 12 Academic Honor Roll honors in the process, and started in the College Cup semi-finals against perennial national power North Carolina.

· Overall, the club had 39 players competing in college soccer this fall, at 29 different colleges across the country and in the top conferences of collegiate soccer.  Just as importantly, they are consistently making impacts on the field.

2019 Youth Player Highlights

· As of today, 14 players from the Class of 2020 have made commitments to college soccer programs for next fall, to schools in the Big 10, Big East, Big 12, MVC, and more – another year of leading the state in placing players in college soccer

· Lilliah Blum was selected to participate in the first ever ECNL National Selection Game in Phoenix, AZ, and was also selected to the ECNL National Training Camp in Portland, OR this summer as 1 of the top 90 players in the country in the ECNL. 

· Blum and Aryssa Mahrt earned ECNL All-Midwest Conference honors this summer for their play in the ECNL in the 2018-19 season.

· 8 players – Maya Alberts, Jadyn Rupnow, Lillie Tabor, Izzy Plesac, Reese Berge, Lilliah Blum, Lucia Englund, and Addie Frantz – were selected to the 2019 ECNL Conference Selection Program event held in Madison for some of the top players in the Midwest Conference.

2019 Program Highlights

· FC Wisconsin was named to the inaugural list of “Players First” licensed clubs by US Club Soccer, a group that includes less than 90 clubs across the country recognized for their commitment to player development and improving the youth soccer experience.

· The introduction of an innovative new Psychological Skills Training Program for all players U15 and older in the club to help players improve the mental skills required to compete and perform on and off the field - the only one of its kind in Wisconsin and rare even on a national level.

· The Regional Competitive Program grew to include teams at 3 age groups, all of whom distinguished themselves in the style and quality of play in their league and tournament competition.

· A continuing commitment to coach development and education, with multiple coaches attending the 2019 ECNL Coaching Symposium and the inaugural Players First Summit to learn from development experts from across the world.

· The Youth Academy grew to include teams from U7-U10 with more exciting young players than ever before, with more and more sophistication in ideas shown by the players at younger and younger ages.

· The Summer Development Series training program was introduced to provide specialized training to small groups in specific skills like finishing, 1v1, receiving and more.

· The Pre-ECNL program grew significantly, with fantastic performances and multiple championships from all teams in their league and tournament competition - showing their ability to win with style and thought.

· Great participation in the club’s innovative “Technical Improvement Program” (TIP) showing the commitment from so many young players to master the ball.

· A commitment to growing female coaches – with more full-time female youth directors than the rest of Wisconsin clubs combined, and the launch of the new Coach Development Program that brings senior youth players to work with the Youth Academy players once a week.

We look forward to making 2020 an even better year as we continue to work to make our club environment even better, to impact more players at all ages, and to help every one of our aspiring players reach their goals every day.  At FC Wisconsin we live the words in our motto every day: Aspire, Develop, and Achieve.