CLINTON, S.C. ? Presbyterian College men's soccer head coach Bret Boulware announced the addition of 10 student-athletes for the 2008 season to the PC men's soccer program on Sunday.
"This is one of the strongest classes on paper that we have recruited since I began my time here,” remarked Boulware. “My assistant Ed Joyce has worked very hard in helping to secure a class that we think will be competitive with everyone we play. Our challenge now is to get our guys to play together. With this many new faces, we have a hard task at hand during preseason to get our current players to mold with these new recruits. It is a challenge that our coaching staff is eager to undertake."
Andrew Chavarria will join the Blue Hose men's soccer program out of Lexington High School in Lexington, S.C. He is the son of Donna and Gonzalo Chavarria and he played for head coach Will Gettys at Lexington.
During his time at Lexington, Chavarria was named All-Region in 2007. He was chosen Lexington's Most Improved Player after the 2006 season. He was also named All-Region and All-State in 2008.
A midfielder, Chavarria was chosen to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star game after his senior season.
He played his club soccer for Mark Berson's Lexington United '89 squad. His club team was the 2007 SCYSA State Champion in 2007 and was a state finalist in 2008.
Chavarria, who has four times been a member of the South Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) team for his age group is the second member of his family to play college soccer. His father, Gonzalo, played for Fairleigh-Dickinson.
Boulware describes Chavarria as a “central player with good vision who can also distribute the ball extremely well.”
Michael Czulinski played his high school soccer at Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. He played for Dave Clark at Spring Valley.
During his time at Spring Valley the Vikings claimed the state championship in 2007 and finished the 2008 season as the 4A state runner-ups. Czulinski was named to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star team after his senior season.
Czulinski played his club soccer for Mark Berson's Lexington United '89 squad. He was the captain of Lexington United during the 2005 season.
Czulinski has been a member of South Carolina's ODP team for his age group since 2003. He attended the USYSA Region III Camp in 2003, 2004 and 2006.
“Michael is a big, strong athlete who is extremely versatile,” noted Boulware. “He can come in and compete for numerous positions on the field for us from the outset.”
Donald Gibson transfers to PC from Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. Born in Augsburg, Germany, Gibson is a native of Ellicott City, Md. He is the son of Fern and Donald Gibson, Sr.
Gibson played his high school soccer for Mike St. Martin at Mount Saint Joseph High School. During his time at Mount Saint Joseph he was named All-State in Maryland in 2007.
A defender, Gibson was on Maryland's ODP team for his age group from 2002-2007. He played Super-Y soccer from 2000-02 and in 2008.
“Donald is an athletic marking back, who will help shore up the back for us,” said Boulware.
Paul Jackson joins the Blue Hose men's soccer program as a transfer from Young Harris College. A defender/midfielder, Jackson played his high school soccer for Central High School in Carrollton, Ga. He played for Drew Ebensburger at Central and he is the son of Theresa and Broderick Head.
The Gatorade High School Player of the Year in Georgia during the 2006 season, Jackson has spent the last two years at Young Harris. During his time at Young Harris, Jackson, a defender, was named Honorable Mention All-Region in both 2006 and 2007.
“Paul is a strong defender who comes to PC with great credentials, which include being named the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year,” said Boulware. “I look for him to make an impact with us right away.”
Lewis Makin joins the Blue Hose out of Mill Creek High School in Buford, Ga. Makin was born in Peterborough, England and he is the son of Sharon and Stephen Makin.
Makin was the team captain his senior season at Mill Creek. He graduated from Mill Creek on the Honor Roll and he is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
“Lewis is a central player,” noted Boulware. “He reads the game extremely well and he has good size and presence in the middle of the park.”
A native Colombian, Juan Ocampo comes to PC from Coral Glades High School in Coral Springs, Fla. A left winger who Boulware describes as a crafty player, Ocampo is the son of Patricia Fernandez and German Ocampo. He played for Hernan “Chico” Borja at Coral Glades High School.
Ocampo was named the Coral Glades Most Valuable Player in both 2007 and 2008. He played varsity soccer for four years and he finished his high school career with 34 goals and 82 assists.
Tanner Osborne comes to PC as a goalkeeper out of Lexington High School where he played for Will Gettys. He is the son of Sandy and Ben Osborne.
Osborne was the Region Player of the Year in 2008. He was also chosen to the 2008 South Carolina 4A All-State team. The All-Area Player of the Year in 2008, he was named to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star game after his senior season.
Osborne played his high school soccer for Mark Berson's Lexington United '89 squad.
“Tanner is a goalkeeper with great size,” said Boulware. “He is a great athlete and we are lucky to have him join us at PC.”
Thomas Palma comes to PC out of Greenville High School in Greenville, S.C. He rejoins PC assistant Ed Joyce at PC. During his junior season, Joyce led Palma and the rest of the Red Raiders to the 2007 South Carolina 3A State Championship. The team ended the year ranked No. 1 in the country.
Palma is the son of Claire Dillon-Palma and Terry Palma.
A defender, Palma was named the Most Valuable Defensive Player at the Wando Tournament in 2007. A two-sport athlete at Greenville, Palma was given the Coaches' Award for the Greenville swim team in 2007. He was named to the Clash of the Carolinas All-Star game after his senior season in 2008.
“Thomas is a big, strong defender,” said Boulware. “He works hard and he is very strong in the air.”
Yinka Salaam joins the Blue Hose men's soccer program as someone who can play both the forward and wing positions. He is transferring to PC from Kingston University in England.
Boulware puts it simply when describing Salaam, “look for Yinka to score goals.”
An attacking midfielder who can also play up top, Kashif Siddiqi transfers to PC from Eckerd College in Florida. A native of London, England, Siddiqi is of Pakistan descent and he is currently playing for the Pakistan National Team in the Asian Cup.
He is the son of Shamim Akhter and Mumtaz Siddigi.
“Kash is a true threat to score a goal at any moment,” said Boulware. “He brings excitement. We expect him to be a total player who will also be able to tally some points for us during his time at PC.”
The Blue Hose open their second season in NCAA Division I soccer at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29 at Martin Stadium in Clinton, S.C. against Wofford.
