ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland women's soccer Head Coach JuanPa Favero announced Thursday the addition of seven student-athletes during the fall signing period. Brooklyn Blake, Sydney Grodsinsky, Jerriah Kelly, Alaina Nasello, Maggie Rimer, Jessica Shears, and Macey Wierenga will join the Golden Grizzlies next season.
 
"We are extremely excited about another phenomenal recruiting class.  Our strategy to continue to re-establish the program to a championship level continues to be focused on two aspects: First, invest in the continued growth and development of our current student-athletes, and second, continue to recruit and add the best-fit recruits to Oakland," Favero said. "We have a high bar for any prospective Golden Grizzly including high level technical ability, great athleticism and soccer intelligence, as well as the right mentality. In addition, we also want great students and good citizens who will help us continue to represent Oakland well on and off the field.  This is now our second recruiting class as a staff, and like our first one, these incoming student-athletes all exhibit these characteristics.  Each of them also brings a unique set of strengths and abilities that will help us make another jump upward."
 
Brooklyn Blake
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Notre Dame High School
5'4 | Midfielder
 
Highlights

• Competed in soccer, golf, field hockey, rugby and volleyball in high school
• Excelled academically earning honors with distinction 2014-18
• Won a number of championships with Blizzard Club Soccer
• Played two seasons in the Western Canada Soccer All-Star game
• U14-U17 Canadian National ID Camp Alternate (2017)

 
Why Blake Chose Oakland
1. Opportunity to play NCAA soccer
2. Amazing coaching staff
3. Strong academic program
 
Favero on Blake
"Brooklyn is a very technical and composed midfielder. Her vision and intelligence on and off the ball makes her exactly the kind of midfielder we need for our style of play. Her Calgary Blizzard club and coach Diogo Raposo have done a great job getting her ready for the rigors of Division I soccer."
 
Sydney Grodsinsky
Hemlock, Mich.
Hemlock High School
5'4 | Defender
 
Highlights

• Member of the 2016 Hemlock Conference Championship Team
• All-State Honorable Mention, First Team All-Region, First Team All-District and First Team All-Conference in 2016
• Four year honor roll student
• Member of National Honor Society and student council
• Class Vice President
• Scored five goals in one game

 
Why Grodsinsky Chose Oakland
1. Exceptional academics
2. Soccer program
3. Location
 
Favero on Grodsinsky
"Sydney is a gritty defender who can play both centrally or wide for us. Her speed and intensity as well as her ability to connect passes will bring even more depth to our young but excellent back line. She played for Vardar and coach Demir Muftari so she comes with a great level of experience and knowledge."
 
Jerriah Kelly
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Holy Names Catholic High School
5'4 | Forward
 
Highlights

• Earned letters in soccer, basketball and track
• Leading scorer in WOYSL in 2017
• Earned first and second team, All-City soccer honors
• Was ranked in the top five in the country in the 300 mh

 
Why Kelly Chose Oakland
1. Friendly coaching staff
2. Loved the campus and how close it is to home
3. The great academics
 
Favero on Kelly
"Jerriah is a creative and very dangerous forward who will give us a higher level of threat in the final third. She is very technical and composed under pressure and a good finisher as well. She has played for the Eastside Kickers in Windsor."
 
Alaina Nasello
Alton, Ill.
Alton High School
5'2 | Midfielder
 
Highlights

• Named second team All-Conferencen in 2016
• Played to a Midwest Conference Championship for SLSG MO
• Two time Academic Achievement Award winner
• Scored 14 goals during freshman campaign on the varsity squad
• Member of the physics club, student council and ping pong club

 
Why Nasello Chose Oakland

1. Academics
2. Athletics
3. The Beautiful Campus

Favero on Nasello
"Alaina is a wide forward who has a nose for goal. She is a gritty and hard working player who is also very technical. She played for St. Louis Scott Gallagher which has always produced quality players."
 
Maggie Rimer
Crystal Lake, Ill.
Crystal Lake South High School
5'4 | Defender
 
Highlights

• Member of the honor roll for three years while serving as class officer for one
• All-Conference selection in track
• 2016 Illinois State Cup Champions with the Eclipse Club

 
Why Rimer Chose Oakland
1. The academic programs/ campus
2. Women's soccer program and staff
3. The location
 
Favero on Rimer
"Maggie is a versatile player from one of the best clubs in the country in Eclipse Select. She can play anywhere in the backline as well as in the midfield, and her work rate and leadership on and off the field will be a great fit with the rest of the team."
 
Jessica Shears
Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
Bill Crothers Secondary School
5'6 | Forward
 
Highlights

• Member of the honor roll every season
• Competed in rugby and track
• Won a number of championships with the Aurora Stingers club team

 
Why Shears Chose Oakland
1. It has always been my dream to play soccer in the United States
2. The moment I visited Oakland, I knew I wanted to be a part of the soccer program and the university
3. The coaches have a great attitude and are focused on winning championships
 
Favero on Shears
"Jessica is a player who can quite simply play anywhere on the field. Her creativity, technical ability, and athleticism make her that kind of player, but we anticipate she will give us a different kind of attacking look so we are excited to see where she ends up settling on the field for us. She plays for Aurora Youth during the club season."
 
Macey Wierenga
Caledonia, Mich.
Caledonia High School
5'4 | Midfielder
 
Highlights

• Played two seasons for Caledonia High School, lettering both years
• Earned team MVP honors for high school team, while winning All-Conference, All-District and All-Area
• All-Academic and honor roll selection for three seasons
• Team Captain of the World Futsal Championships (2015)

 
Why Wierenga Chose Oakland
1. Great Academics and Athletics
2. Beautiful Campus & Friendly Environment
3. Good for a health or medical education
 
Favero on Wierenga:
"Macey is another player from Vardar and Coach Demir. She is an attacking midfielder who is very dynamic on and off the ball. Her technical ability and mindset to get in goal scoring positions as well as to set up her teammates is exactly what we are looking for in that role and we are excited to welcome her to Oakland."