Men's Soccer Boasts Strong 2004 Recruiting ClassComplete Release in PDF Format
Feb. 11, 2004 MILWAUKEE - The tradition that is University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer appears to be in solid shape for the future as head coach Louis Bennett announced his 2004 recruiting class here Wednesday(Feb. 11). The five-member class, that features four Wisconsin athletes and one from Illinois, will provide depth and explosiveness to the program that has made three consecutive NCAA appearances. A pair of local products, Troy Spielmann of Milwaukee Marquette High School and Zeke Dombrowski from West Allis Hale highlight the class which also features DeForest's Travis Phillips, Grant Fernstrum from Green Bay Preble and Dan Zelasko of Wheaton, Ill., and Warrenville South High School. Speilmann, Dombrowski and Zelasko are true midfielders while Phillips should see time in the back or as a defensive midfielder. Fernstrum will join UWM's long tradition of solid goalkeepers. "I am very pleased that we have been able to collect this group of athletes that are not only extremely good players but they are good people who meet our very specific squad needs," UWM head coach Louis Bennett said. "For me, they could be some of the best players in the country at their position and that's why we recruited them. Then, it was up to them to decide to be a part of the legacy that is Milwaukee soccer." Spielmann, who played for his father Bob at Marquette High, earned First-Team All-State accolades by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association while leading the Hilltoppers to three straight WIAA State Championships. A two-time All-Greater Metro Conference performer, the midfielder earned All-Region honors by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). Spielmann notched 38 points as a senior, thanks in large part to two goals in the state title game. The coaches' son was the Most Valauble Player and captain of the MHS squad that finished the season ranked No. 6 nationally by the NSCAA. Dombrowski becomes the fifth member of his immediate family to don the Gold and Black at UWM, joining graduating brothers Scott, Chad, and Tighe, and current sophomore Neil. Dombrowski scored 44 points as a senior en route to 34 goals and 36 assists in his four-year varsity career. A rangy midfielder, Dombrowski earned All-Greater Metro Conference accolades for three straight years as well as being named a First-Team All-State performer by the WSCA. A two-time Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel all-area pick, Dombrowski started all 84 games in his four year at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis. On the club level, Dombrowski is a member of the Regional ODP team that will play competitively in South America this summer. Travis Phillips, a rugged and versatile defender, comes to Milwaukee from DeForest High School in DeForest, Wis. A four-year starter for head coach Colin Albany, Phillips led DHS in scoring for three consecutive season and graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer. A WSCA Second-Team All-State honoree, Phillips played for the 1st Division of the Regional Premeir League and led his squad in scoring for three years. Phillips ended his 2003 season with Team Most Valuable Player honors for the Norskies. One of the top goal keepers in the state of Wisconsin, Grant Fernstrum comes to Milwaukee from Preble High School in Green Bay. A four-year varsity starter for head coach Chris Becker, the 6-0 netminder was named a two-time First-Team All-Fox River Valley Conference selection as well as earning League Most Valuable Player awards in 2003. The Second-Team WSCA All-State Selection was named the Green Bay Post-Gazette boy's soccer Player of the Year this past season. An accomplished club goalie, Fernstrum plays for the Green Bay Metro while also playing for the Wisconsin State ODP team each of the last three years. The lone Illinois-native of the class, Dan Zelasko played two years of high school soccer at Warrenville South High School in Wheaton. The athletic midfielder did not play high school ball as a sophomore and junior as he spent time training with the Chicago Sockers "Top Talent" squad. However, in just two years of prep play Zelasko became on of the most prolific scorers in WSHS history, thanks in large part to 22 goals and 18 assists in 30 games as a senior. Zelasko was named an Illinois High School Association All-Sectional member while leading the Tigers to a third-place finish in the IHSA Class AA State Tournament. Zelasko was honored as a two-time First-Team All-DuPage Valley Conference performer as well as earning All-State accolades from both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. The five Panther newcomers will join an already talented group that returns 18 letterwinners and eight starters from a 2003 squad that won the Horizon League regular season championship for the fourth straight season while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. 2004 Milwaukee Soccer Recruit Player Profiles Troy Spielmann * MF * 5-9 * 145 * Milwaukee, Wis. * Marquette H.S. * FC Milwaukee * National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region V Team ... Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association First-Team All-State ... Milwaukee Journal Sentinel First-Team All-Area ... Two-time First-Team All-Greater Metro Conference ... three-year varsity starter for three-time WIAA state champion ... scored 28 goals to go with 30 assists in four-year high school career ... led Marquette High to No. 6 national ranking in final NSCAA national poll. Coach Bennett on Spielmann: "Troy is an attacking midfield player with great vision. He is one of those guys who has a sweet left foot and a lot of toughness. He has the ability to both create goals and score goals. He's a player that is ready to take the next step to the collegiate game." Zeke Dombrowski * MF * 5-11 * 155 * Hales Corners, Wis. * West Allis Hale * Parkland * Three-time All-Greater Metro Conference pick ... Two-time Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All-Area ... Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association First-Team All-State ... Member of the ODP Regional and State squads ... started all 84 games in high school career ... scored 15 goals and 14 assists as a senior ... ended career with 34 goald and 36 assists ... joins brothers Scott, Chad, Tighe, and Neil as UWM soccer players. Coach Bennett on Dombrowski: "Zeke is a rangy, athletic midfielder that can basically do it all. What I most like about Zeke is his ability to simplify the game. He is, I believe, one of the most underrated players in the region and the country." Travis Phillips * MF/D * 5-9 * 160 * DeForest, Wis. * DeForest * Yahara United * Four-year starter at DeForest High School ... Two-time All-Badger Conference selection ... All-Time leading scorer at DeForest High ... Second-Team WSCA All-State ... Led DHS in scoring three straight seasons ... Team Most Valuable Player ... Club player in the First Division of the Regional Premeir League. Coach Bennett on Phillips: "Travis is a rugged and tenacious player who is also ambidextrious. He will give us strength and depth on the left side of our attack. He is a true competitior on and off the field." Grant Fernstrum * GK * 6-0 * 165 * Green Bay, Wis. * Preble * Green Bay Metro * Four-year starter in goal for Preble High School in Green Bay ... Green Bay Area Player of the Year by the Green Bay Press Gazette ... Preble High School Team Most Valuable Player ... Two-time First-Team All-Fox River Valley Conference ... Fox River Valley Conference Player of the Year ... Second-Team All-State ... member of Wisconsin ODP team from 2000-03. Coach Bennett on Fernstrum: "Associate Head Coach Stan Anderson identified Grant as possibly the best goalkeeper certainly in Wisconsin but possibly in the regoin. Stan had the opportunity to work with him in camps and really likes his approach, his technical ability, and his appetite to succeed and win." Dan Zelasko * MF * 6-2 * 180 * Wheaton, Ill. * Warrenville South *Chicago Sockers * Played at Wheaton Warrensville South High School as a freshman and senior ... spent sophomore and junior seasons with the Chicago Sockers "Top Talent" squad ... led WSHS to a third-place finish in the Illinois High School Association Class AA State Tournament ... Chicago Sun Times All-State pick ... Chicago Tribune Honorable Mention All-State ... scored 22 goals and 18 assists in 30 games as a senior ... two-time All-DuPage Valley Conference ... IHSA All Sectional.
Coach Bennett on Zelasko: "Dan is a midfield plyer with the abiltity to play in the middle or out wide. He is tall and smooth on the ball and he has had a great soccer pedigree. If he can make the adjustment to the college game quickly, he will excel because of his wide range of talents."
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