MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's soccer team is excited to announce nine incoming freshmen to the program. After losing eight seniors at the conclusion of the 2018 season, the Badgers are bringing in a strong, diverse class of athletes from some of the top clubs in the country. With two athletes already on campus and competing, UW is eager to have the remaining athletes join the program.
The 2019 Badger signees are: Maddie Cruz, Gabby Green, Emma Jaskaniec, Jenna Kiraly, Macy Monticello, Claire Odmark, Maddie Schlecht, Haley Seabolt and Izzy Verdugo.
Madeline (Maddie) Cruz, Madison, Wisconsin, Edgewood High School
Cruz is a storied defender who grew up only a few miles away from the McClimon Soccer Complex. Cruz played at Edgewood High School where she was a two-time Wisconsin State Cup Finalist and a champion in her junior season. During that championship season, Cruz was awarded All-Conference first team, All-Area Girls Soccer first team and All-State Team honorable mention. Cruz also competed for the Madison 56'ers.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"I have always dreamed about being a Badger. I grew up in Madison with both my parents being alumni of UW. The University of Wisconsin provides the perfect environment for me to grow both academically and athletically. Paula, Tim and Marisa truly care about the success of their players, both on and off the field, and that was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to play for Wisconsin."
Coach Wilkins on Maddie…
"Maddie is a local kid, similar to
Grace Douglas, and we're really excited about her ability in the back as a defender. We believe she'll be a good one-on-one defender for us and add some depth to our defending group."
Gabrielle (Gabby) Green, Austin, Texas, Lake Travis High School
Gabby Green is a defender from Austin, Texas who played with Lonestar Soccer Club. Green joins her brother Cade at Wisconsin, who is a football player for the Badgers. As a member of the Lonestar Soccer Club, Green has competed in the US Soccer Development Academy the past two years. In 2017-2018, Green led Lonestar to a third-place finish in the Frontier Central Division, where they secured a playoff spot and a top-20 finish with a final ranking of 17th out of 69 teams. Currently, Lonestar sits in fifth place in the U-18/19 Frontier division.
Green also competed in track in high school and was awarded Academic All-District.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"There is not a better place to challenge myself academically and athletically. Madison feels like home. I can't wait to be a Badger."
Coach Wilkins on Gabby…
"Gabby has a brother who plays football here, so we have a nice connection. She has good athleticism and is a versatile defender who has moved around and played a number of different positions in the back. She has good speed, is a good athlete and technically a good player and passer."
Emma Jaskaniec, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Menomonee Falls High School
A talented forward, and already on campus competing, Jaskaniec joins Wisconsin as a former member of FC Wisconsin Eclipse where she competed in the ECNL. In 2018, Emma earned the prestigious honor of ECNL U17 Midwest Conference Player of the Year, out of all athletes on 12 different teams in the league, and found her name on the All-American team. Jaskaniec was also a part of the ECNL National Training Camps in 2017 and 2018.
In 2018 Jaskaniec earned the invitation to compete against Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City FC at the Integrated Training Camp, in conjunction with the International Champion's Cup. Jaskaniec was one of 40 players invited to the training sessions.
In the classroom Jaskaniec was on the Honor Roll for four-straight years as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
I chose to attend Wisconsin…
"Wisconsin gives me an incredible mix of an outstanding soccer program and phenomenal academics."
Coach Wilkins on Emma…
"Emma is on campus already and is probably one of the best players coming out of Wisconsin. We've watched Emma for a very long time and she is a good, technical forward who can create scoring opportunities for herself and others. She's very good off the dribble and will add an exciting, attacking dynamic for us."
Jenna Kiraly, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Oshkosh West High School
Another Wisconsinite, forward Jenna Kiraly joins UW from Oshkosh, where she excelled at track for Oshkosh West and competed in soccer for Oshkosh United and SC Waukesha. Kiraly was a 2017 U.S. Soccer state champion for Oshkosh United and a 2018 state champion for SC Waukesha.
Kiraly graduated a semester early to join Wisconsin soccer this spring. In the classroom, Kiraly was on the High Honor Roll and a member of National Honor Society. She plans to major in biochemistry.
I chose to attend Wisconsin…
"Growing up I have always been a huge Badgers fan, therefore, having the ability to play on the team is a dream come true. I also love the environment of the campus, along with the prestigious academics. There is so much pride in being a Badger and I am happy to be a part of such an amazing university."
Coach Wilkins on Jenna…
"Jenna is also on campus right now; she is a natural goal scorer with very good speed. She has a really good nose around the goal and her transition into the team has been fantastic and seamless. She adds a dynamic attacking dimension and we feel this spring will help her development immensely."
Macy Monticello, Arlington, Virginia, Yorktown High School
An excellent defender from the east coast, Monticello competed in soccer and basketball for Yorktown High School. During her junior year of soccer, Monticello was awarded first-team All-district. Macy played as a center back for one of the top club teams in the country, McLean Soccer Club, who competes in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the ECNL. Throughout the years, McLean has solidified a name for itself by producing players who go on to compete for some of the top college programs in the country.
To date, Macy's current team, McLean's U-18/19 team has won 17 out of their 20 games. They have reclaimed their title as Mid-Atlantic Conference Champions and earned themselves a spot in the Champions League where they will have the opportunity to compete for another national championship in San Diego this summer. This will be the third year in a row, Monticello and McLean have won the league and competed for a National Championship. In 2017-18, Monticello helped McLean to advance out of the group stage by securing two shutout wins and only conceding a single goal against the field. Monticello brings an unmatched pedigree of success at the youth level to Wisconsin.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"The amazing school spirit, the beautiful campus and the high academic standards."
Coach Wilkins on Macy…
"Macy is a hard-nosed, good tackling defender who has exceptional speed. She has the added dimension of being exceptionally good in the air. She is also extremely fit and the ability to attack up and down the flank. She will bring an athletic component that we need but also a strong, competitive mentality."
Claire Odmark, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, White Bear Lake Area High School
A forward from Minnesota, Odmark competed at White Bear Lake Area High School where she enjoyed great individual success. As a freshman, Odmark was the varsity leading scorer, as a sophomore she was MNSHL Class AA first team All-State and All-Conference. As a junior, Odmark was back on the MNHSL Class AA first team, awarded Star Tribune's Girls' Soccer All-Metro first team, All-conference and the team was conference champions. Odmark competed for Bear Lake SC and was the club's top scorer.
Odmark also competed in basketball through her junior year and track throughout high school. In the classroom she was on the Honor Roll and given the President's Award. She intends to major in nutritional sciences.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"When I visited, I immediately knew it was the right place for me…the university has so much to offer academically, with a great nutrition program and much more to set me up for success…My favorite part about Wisconsin is the soccer program. It is clear that the team has fantastic coaches who care about their players' success on and off the field and a close knit team that I know will be easy to fit into."
Coach Wilkins on Claire…
"Claire comes from a smaller club in Minnesota. She has good size and is taller and strong, which will be good for creating chances in the box. She's a natural goal scorer, which will help our dimension up front and has scored a ton of goals for her high school."
Madeline (Maddie) Schlecht, Naperville, Illinois, Naperville North High School
Coming from the Chicago suburbs, Schlecht is a defender who competed for Eclipse Soccer Club, which is not only one of the top clubs in the Midwest, but in the country. Schlecht has experience competing in both the ECNL and US Soccer Development Academy, the nation's top two leagues. In 2017-2018, Schlecht led the Eclipse U-16/17 DA team to a third-place finish in the Mid-America Conference and earned a spot in the national playoffs. They finished the season with a record of 16-7-7 and a final ranking of 20th of 69 teams. During the 2016-2017 season, Schlecht led the Eclipse to a second-place finish in the Midwest Conference and helped to secured a spot in the Champions League. Schlect and company went on to advance out of their group and into the quarterfinal where they eventually defeated. The experience Schlecht brings from the ECNL and the Development Academy will be instrumental in her growth and production at Wisconsin.
In high school Schlecht competed in volleyball and track & field and was on National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Distinguished Honor Roll for seven semesters and an Illinois State Scholar.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"The amazing coaching staff and athletic facilities. The strong academics and the campus atmosphere are everything I want in a university. Wisconsin has always been my dream school and the fact I have an opportunity to play soccer there? Even better."
Coach Wilkins on Maddie…
"Maddie is another versatile defender who can play any position in the back. Having played some of the best competition in the country during her club career, Maddie will come to Madison prepared to succeed."
Haley Seabolt, Bel Air, Maryland, Bel Air High School
Haley Seabolt, a Maryland native, joins Wisconsin from Penn Fusion Soccer Club where she has been a consistent starter and a huge contributor in the team's success for the past two years. Seabolt has earned 35 starts over 46 games in her two years playing in the US Soccer Development Academy. In 2017-2018, Penn Fusionm with Seabolt's help, compiled a record of 23 wins, four losses and four ties. They scored 90 goals for and had 30 against, while ranking No. 6 overall in the Development Academy out of 69 teams. Currently in the U-18/19 season, Penn Fusion sits in second place of the East Conference and have secured a playoff spot for the 2019 National Championships in California.
At Bel Air High School, Seabolt was awarded All-County and All-District honors freshman year and All-County, All-District and All-State her sophomore season.
In the classroom Seabolt was an Honor Roll member, member of National Honor Society and German National Honor Society. She plans to major in Kinesiology.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because…
"I love Wisconsin's amazing campus, atmosphere and 'at home' feel."
Coach Wilkins on Haley…
"Haley's vision and her ability to close down players is very good. She will bring a great work rate for us in the midfield. She has versatility to play a lot of positions so we're very excited about that; she is also a very technical player."
Isabelle (Izzy) Verdugo, Plymouth, Michigan, Canton High School
A defender, Izzy comes to Wisconsin from Michigan where she played for one of the top development clubs in the country, Michigan Hawks. Verdugo has experience competing in both the ECNL and Development Academy. In the 2016-2017 ECNL season, Verdugo led the Michigan Hawks to a Midwest Conference Championship and onto a U-17 National Championship title. Verdugo has experience competing with and against some of the best players in the country. Verdugo was called into U-18 US Youth National Team Camp in November of 2017 as one of 24 players to earn a call up.
I chose to attend Wisconsin because...
"Wisconsin brings many new challenges to my life. I've been lucky to get the opportunity to play college soccer and I want to reach my potential with all aspects of my life. UW is the perfect school for me to achieve that. The university will not only challenge me in academics but the team will challenge me athletically. Paula and Tim's spirit for the school and team made me fall in love with it even more. The campus is like none other and it was easy for me to picture myself living here among so many great people."
Coach Wilkins on Izzy…
"Izzy is from the Michigan Hawks, one of the best club teams in the country, and has the athletic ability to get up and down the flank. She has gone to camps with the Youth National Team so she'll bring that experience to the team and we also feel she'll bring attacking mind-set to the outside defender position."
