Where are they now...The 1999 US Soccer U-17 Residency class...Part 3...

Here we go folks, part III...We'll finish up next week.

Adolfo Gregorio – Enrolled at traditional soccer powerhouse UCLA in 2000. He had a solid career as a Bruin, featuring heavily in their attack his senior year, recording fourteen assists. Having quality strikers Matt Taylor and Chad Barrett in front of him certainly helped.

After graduating in 2004, Gregorio was drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the second round of the 2004 SuperDraft. However, Europe called and he spurned the Rapids for 3rd Division English side Darlington FC since he had a European passport. After one season in England, Gregorio decided to add his name to the list of former U-17 players joining their old coach at Real Salt Lake.

The 2005 season wasn’t too friendly to the ex-Bruin, ex-Darlington Quaker. In six games he managed two shots on goal in under 400 minutes of playing time. Before the 2006 season he was waived. Let this be a lesson, don't mess with the Rapids, it will lead to a short career. J/k.

Bryan Jackson – He played his college soccer at Clemson University, however Jackson is the first of the alumni who has seemingly dropped off the face of the soccer playing world. In he played for the Rapids on a trial during the 2003 pre-season. And in 2002 he was trying out for clubs around Europe. However, the trail has gone cold and it seems Jackson is out of the game.

Kellen Kalso – Attended Michigan State after graduating from the Bradenton program. He had a solid career at a second tier program. He’s another one who didn’t find much love from the professional level of the sport. I can’t find as much as a whisper of Mr. Kalso after leaving MSU. As a Michigan fan I’m somewhat pleased to see a State alumni having a tough time.

Greg Martin – Enrolled at Notre Dame after leaving Florida. Spent all four years playing for the Fighting Irish. This section of the alphabet didn’t have much luck post graduation. I can’t find Martin anywhere in the soccer world either.

Oguchi Onyewu – Onyewu made a statement during the qualifying for World Cup 2006. Basically my interpretation is, “I’m big and I’m going to defend the hell out of you all game so don’t even think about getting free.” You know the picture that sums up that statement where Onyewu showed he’s not afraid of Mexican striker Borgetti.

After Bradenton Oguchi, more commonly known as Gooch, followed other U-17 team members to Clemson University. Gooch stepped right into a starting role at Clemson as a Freshman and never looked back. During that first year he even scored five goals and made five assists from his defensive position. While in college he continued to play for the US Youth teams, featuring in the 2001 U-20 World Cup in Argentina.

In 2002, after his sophomore season, Gooch decided to move his game to Europe. He started in France with FC Metz but was soon loaned out to La Louviere in Belgium. Later he was loaned to Standard Liege in Belgium's top division where he has played since the transfer was made permanent in 2004.

Gooch’s European experience has helped his career and he boomed onto the world stage at WC 2006. Although the US ended up dropping out in the first round, Gooch impressed clubs from the big leagues of Europe and a summer move to Middlesbrough was rumored. It didn’t come together and Gooch has said he’s happy playing in Belgium. It seems inevitable that he will someday soon make the move to a bigger club and he will certainly feature heavily in the US National Team’s future.

To be continued with...

Raul Rivera –

Matt Roberts –

Abe Thompson –

Seth Trembly –

Peter Withers –

Alexander Yi –

Coach John Ellinger –