UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer coach Cale Wassermann announced today (Apr. 30) that eight highly touted players will join the Cardinals this upcoming fall as the back-to-back GLIAC Champions and reigning NCAA Division II National Runners-up look to continue building their program into one of the best in the country.
Aaron Gerwig, Aleksandar Isaevski, Donald Payne, Luai Fakhoury, Mitchell Palmer, Philip Strachan, Sadik Balarabe and Jordan Kalk will enroll at Saginaw Valley and join the team for the 2013 season.
Watch: Coach Wassermann Discusses the 2013 Recruiting Class
Photos: Recruiting Class Photo Gallery
"We are very excited about our 2013 class, we have a very diverse group of guys coming in from different places and environments that play all over the field. This group of 2013 additions all have high standards when it comes to academic performance and have all shown on the soccer field that they know how to compete and win at a high level. We have a large group of returners and with this mix of versatile additions, our team will be able to push each other everyday at training and compete at a high level on the weekends."
Aaron Gerwig
Fr., GK, 6-6, Freiburg, Germany
Prior to SVSU: Played club soccer as a Goalkeeper for VFR Hausen and SC Frieburg in Freiburg, Germany… Won the U-19 DFB Pokal Cup with SC Freiburg… Majoring in Economics…Son of Silvia and Adam Gerwig…Born 5/15/1993.
Aleksandar Isaevski
Fr., D, 5-11, Skopje, Macedonia/Westland, Mich./John Glenn HS
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at John Glenn High School for Brian Tomlinson and played club soccer for Waza West 95 Black for Dan Diac…selected All-Region, All-District and All-Conference at John Glenn HS, leading the team in scoring all four seasons…Won three State Cup Titles with his club team Waza…in 2012 won a National Championship and a Regional Championship with Michigan 95 ODP…Major is currently undecided…Son of Saska and Kuzman Isaevski…Born 5/19/1995.
Donald Payne
Fr., F, 5-10, Farmington, Mich./Farmington HS
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Farmington High School for Head Coach Luke Juncaj and played club soccer for Waza West 95 Black for Head Coach Dan Diac… was a four year varsity starter earning All-State Honorable Mention honors as a senior…member of the Varsity All-Academic Team…won three Club State Championships with Waza… in 2012 won a National Championship and a Regional Championship with Michigan 95 ODP… Majoring in Psychology…Son of Cara and Donald Payne…Born 5/17/1995
Watch Highlights
Luai Fakhoury
Fr., MF, 5-7, Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington Hills Harrison HS
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Farmington Hills Harrison High School for Coach Tim Russell and played club soccer for the Michigan Jaguars and Coaches Barry Scott and Mike Scobie…earned four varsity letters in soccer at Farmington Hills and was selected All-State, Team MVP and Captain… won the 2012 US Youth Soccer National Championship and 2012 U16 Region II Championship…Majoring in Nursing…Son of Lamis and Sam Fakhoury…Born 9/16/1995
Mitchell Palmer
Fr., D, 6-2, Spring Arbor, Mich./Parma Western HS
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Parma Western High School for Head Coach Ron Rudland and played club soccer for Rush Central out of Jackson for Head Coach Jason Smith…selected All-State Honorable Mention, All-Region, All-District, All-County and All-Conference in 2012…Also lettered in track and basketball…Member of the National Honors Society…Majoring in Engineering...Son of Martha and Mike Palmer…Born 5/28/1995.
Philip Strachan
Jr., D/F, 6-1, Livonia, Mich./Clarenceville HS/Schoolcraft College
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Clarenceville High School for Trevor Johnson and played club soccer for the Novi Jaguars and Coach Steve Seargeant…Earned First-Team All-Conference three years in a row in high school...Played at Schoolcraft College from 2010-2012 where he helped the nationally ranked Ocelots to a 20-0 undefeated regular season and a Regional Championship…Majoring in Physical Therapy…Son of Lisa and Todd Strachan…Born 8/30/1992.
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Sadik Balarabe
Jr., F, 5-11, London, England/Crown Woods Secondary School/Jackson Community College
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Crown Woods Secondary School in London, England…Played the two seasons for Jackson Community College in Michigan…Top goal scorer for JCC in both 2011 and 2012, voted as the #2 player in the conference in 2012, voted #3 player in the region in 2012 while receiving All-MCCAA honors …Major is currently undecided…Son of Julianah and Wahab Balarabe…Born 6/26/1992.
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Jordan Kalk
Fr., MF, 5-9, Richmond Hill, Ont./Bill Crothers Secondary School
Prior to SVSU: Prepped at Bill Crothers Secondary School in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, leading his team in goals all four years and a York Region Championship in grade 12....Represented Canada in numerous events including the JCC Maccabi games in Detroit in 2008, The Maccabi Games in Israel in 2009, The Pan-Am Games in Brazil in 2011, and will again return to Israel in July to represent Canada as a part of the Maccabi Men's National Team in the Maccabi Games...Majoring in Management...Son of Lisa and Brad Kalk...Born 1/31/1994.