MADISON, Wis. – Freshman Dean Boltz' record-setting 2024 with Wisconsin men's soccer continued on Friday when the Big Ten Freshman of the Year was picked No. 3 overall by Chicago Fire FC in MLS SuperDraft 2025. That makes Boltz the highest-drafted Badger in MLS SuperDraft history.

Boltz, the 15th all-time Badger drafted by the MLS, recently attended the 2024 MLS College Showcase in San Diego, California, then became one of five players who inked a Generation adidas contract prior to today's draft.

A United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second-Team pick and All-Big Ten Second Team selection, Boltz set the standard for Wisconsin freshman, becoming the first Badger to record 10 goals as a freshman and the first to reach 24 points for a season.

He finished as the No. 2 goal scorer in the Big Ten and No. 3 point-getter among all players.

Boltz' 10 goals marked the most for a Badger since Tom Barlow and Mike Catalano each tallied 10 times during UW's 2017 campaign. His 24 points were the most since that same season when Barlow had 25 and Chris Mueller led the team with 38 points.

Last season's MLS NEXT MVP at U19 playing for Sockers FC Chicago, his pick at No. 3 bests the Badgers' previous high mark set by Mueller, who was picked at No. 6 by Orlando City SC in 2018.

The Palatine, Illinois, marks the second Badger in two seasons to go in the MLS SuperDraft, following goalkeeper Nate Crockford, at third-round pick at No, 65 in last year's draft by D.C. United.

BADGERS IN THE MLS SUPERDRAFT
 

NAME	YEAR	ROUND	PICK	TEAM
Dean Boltz^	2025	1st	3rd	Chicago Fire FC
Chris Mueller	2024	3rd	65th	D.C. United
Mitch Guitar	2021	3rd	60th	Chicago Fire FC
Chris Mueller	2018	1st	6th	Orlando City SC
Mark Segbers	2018	1st	9th	New England Revolution
Tom Barlow	2018	2nd	39th	New York Red Bulls
Mike Catalano	2018	3rd	54th	Philadelphia Union
Drew Conner	2015			Chicago Fire FC (Homegrown Player)
AJ Cochran^	2014	1st	16th	Houston Dynamo
Aaron Hohlbein	2007	1st	3rd*	Kansas City Wizards (Supplemental Draft)
Nick Van Sicklen	2005	2nd	19th	D.C. United
Dominic DaPra	2002	4th	43rd	Kansas City Wizards
Narciso Fernandes	2001	5th	59th	Kansas City Wizards
Mike Gentile	2000	6th	66th	Tampa Bay Mutiny
Travis Roy	1998	2nd	14th*	MetroStars (Supplemental Draft)
Mike Gentile	1996	1st	9th#	Colorado Rapids (MLS College Draft)
Scott Lamphear	1996	2nd	11th#	New York/New Jersey MetroStars (MLS College Draft)

^ - Generation adidas program
* - MLS Supplemental Draft
# - MLS College Draft