Butler Completes Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler men’s soccer coach Paul Snape wrapped up his 2012 recruiting class with the signing of five incoming freshmen and two transfers.  The seven new players will join 17 returning Bulldogs on the 2012 squad this fall.

Butler’s incoming class of players includes first-year players Caleb Postlewait of Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central High School, Jeffrey Adkins of Shelby Township, Mich./Utica High School, Mitchell Ostrowski of Houston, Texas/Clear Lake High School, Mason Webber of Zionsville/University High School, and Ignacio Baeza of Santiago, Chile/South Kent High School, Connecticut.  Transfers Max Odgaard from the University of Dayton and Nico Oliverio from Bowling Green University joined the Bulldogs during the spring semester.

“I am delighted to announce our 2012 recruiting class. The class is talented, diverse, and full of some wonderful characters who will bring hard work, skill, and joy to the Butler Men’s Soccer Program,” said Snape, who will be entering his second season at the helm of the Bulldogs.  “What we have done with this class is address the areas we needed to strengthen. The 2012 season is going to be very challenging, which means that we must be at our very best to be able to compete at a high level.  I often tell people ‘You can win a game without it, but usually it is talent that makes the difference.’ Talent combined with teamwork, harmony in the camp, and a good game plan can achieve a lot of success.”

Butler’s 2012 Recruits
Caleb Postlewait (Grand Rapids, MI / Forest Hills Central High School)
Postlewait was a four-year member of the Region II ODP Regional Team. As a four-year varsity starter, he was twice selected to All-State team (2010 and 2011).  He led his Grand Rapid Crew Juniors team to the Region II Championship in 2008, 2010 and 2011.  In 2011, his Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Team won the National Championship.

Why Caleb chose Butler … “I chose Butler because I really like the way the team plays including both the style of controlled, non-forced play, and the overall system implemented. The program overall was very attractive from the style of soccer played, to the campus life, to the academic excellence that the University stands for.”

Coach Snape on Caleb … “Caleb is a player with tremendous versatility. He has the athleticism, technique and intelligence to play a multitude of positions. It is that intelligence and technique, along with his unquestionable leadership, that made Caleb a recruit that we knew would fit perfectly with both our style of play and our team.”

Jeffrey Adkins (Shelby Twp., MI / Utica High School)
Adkins was a three-year member of the ODP Region II Regional Team. During his high school career as a four-year varsity starter, he was twice selected to the All-State Team (2010 and 2011). He has been a three-year member of the Vardar SC Freiburg club in the Development Academy. He helped his team to a playoff berth in 2010 and 2011, and was named Captain of his team in 2011.

Why Jeff Chose Butler … “Butler University has a great reputation for its’ education and soccer program. I am very fortunate and excited to be a Bulldog.”

Coach Snape on Jeff … “Jeff is a dynamic attacking player who can beat you in a variety of ways. He is dangerous on the dribble, clever in his combination play and takes his chances well in front of goal. Most of all he is extremely unselfish and is the kind of talented attacking player that others love to play with.”

Mitchell Ostrowski (Houston, TX / Clear Lake High School)
Ostrowski was a three-year member of the South Texas ODP team. As a two-year varsity starter at Clear Lake, he was selected to the All-District First Team in 2011. That same year, he served as Captain of his varsity high school team.  Ostrowski has spent the past three seasons playing for Texas Rush in the Development Academy. In 2011 he was named team Captain.

Why Mitch chose Butler … “I chose Butler because of its’ academics and its’ athletics. I believe Butler and Coach Snape’s soccer program will provide me with the best opportunity to grow as a player and a person. Since I felt an immediate connection between myself, the players and the coaching staff, I knew Butler was the place for me.”

Coach Snape on Mitch … “Mitch is a definition of doing things the Butler Way. The number of different teams that have named him captain speaks for itself.  He is a disciplined, tough defender with the technique and composure to make good decisions on the ball from the back.”

Mason Webber (Zionsville, IN / University High School)
Webber was a four-year soccer letterwinner as well as a three-year letterwinner in basketball at University High School. In 2011, he was selected to both the All-State team and the Indianapolis Star Super Team. The talented back has played the last three seasons for the Indiana United Fire in the Development Academy.  He was the starting center back and helped the 2010 team to a playoff berth.  In 2011, he was named team captain.

Why Mason chose Butler … “On my visit to Butler I was so impressed with the people I met – administration, coaches and most of all the players. That personal connection was extremely important to me. I felt Butler offered me the best combination of both challenging and stimulating me in the classroom and on the field.”

Coach Snape on Mason … “Mason is one of the most competitive players I have ever recruited. He is an extremely athletic, tough defender who can play anywhere on the back line. Mason’s competitiveness and toughness is infectious and will have an immediate positive impact on our entire team, both in practice and come game day.”

Ignacio Baeza (Santiago, Chile, South Kent HS Connecticut)
Baeza played his final year of high school at South Kent Prep School. He started every game and led his team to an undefeated season and the 2011 New England High School Championship. He was selected by ESPN as one of the best 2011 high school players in the state of Connecticut.  Before coming to the United States, Baeza garnered many prestigious awards as a starter at Seminario Pontificio Menor High School, Santiago Chile.  He also played club soccer for one of the most dominant youth clubs in Chile, Union Espanola.

Why Ignacio chose Butler… ”Butler is a great academic school, and its level of commitment to helping the student prepare for the real work is really impressive. Everybody who I met at Butler went out of their way to make me feel welcome. The soccer team is very talented and they play the style of soccer that I like. The players work incredibly hard and they are very ambitious, which will only help me grow as a player and as a person."

Coach Snape on Ignacio… ”Ignacio is a very talented player who possesses great skill, vision and energy. He is a player who can play anywhere across the midfield, although his best position is probably central. He isn’t the biggest, but he is a terrier when the opponents have the ball, and he is as brave as they come. He also does a great job of intercepting the ball and then starting a fast break attack. He has great balance, strength and agility, which is essential for a high level soccer player. Ignacio’s competitive nature and international experience will bring additional value to our program.
 
Max Odgaard – (Indianapolis, IN/University of Dayton 2011 – Cathedral High School)
Odgaard was College Soccer News Top 150 Recruit.  He helped Cathedral High School to the 2010 IHSAA Class 4A State Championship match.  Odgaard earned all-state, all-city and all-district honors during a senior season in which he scored 64 points (30 goals, four assists).  He spent three seasons in the Indiana Olympic Development Program, while earning a National Championship in 2008 with Indiana United.  Odgaard played in 15 matches at Dayton as a freshman last fall.  

Why Max chose Butler……“There were very few universities that I felt could help me accomplish what I want on and off the field. The unique combination of an excellent academic university as well as a top division I soccer program is what made me decide Butler was the right place for me.”

Coach Snape on Max… ”Max has the potential to become a good division I attacker. He has a big frame, is well balanced, and is very fit. He has soft feet for a big man and has a good turn of pace when needed. He is a clean striker of the ball, and with a little more composure in the box he has the capability of becoming a regular goal scorer.  Max’s unselfish attitude and strong work ethic is a perfect fit for the Butler Men’s Soccer Program.”

Nico Oliverio (Noblesville, IN/ Bowling Green University 2011 – Noblesville High School)
Oliverio was a four-year starter and three-year captain at Noblesville High School.  He earned second team all-state accolades as a senior.  He also was an ESPN RISE Fall State All-Star in 2010, was a two-year all-district selection and twice was named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads First Team.  Oliverio, who was a prominent member of the Indiana United Academy Team from 2008-11, played in six matches at Bowling Green last year.

Why Nico chose Butler… “I knew Butler was the right fit for me because of its academic reputation and the fact I love the direction of where the soccer program is heading. I wanted to be a part of the team and the University.”

Coach Snape on Nico… “Nico brings heart, toughness and versatility to the program. He can play anywhere across the back and the midfield. He is strong in the tackle, and his will to win is equally matched by his belief that he will win. He has also been known to occasionally score some long range screamers. Nico is the ultimate team player, he puts his teammate’s welfare before his own, and he never shirks his responsibilities.”

Butler will begin the 2012 season with a pair of exhibition matches against the Butler Alumni Team (August 16) and Oakland University (August 19).  The Bulldogs first regular season competition will be against William & Mary on August 24 at the VCU Tournament in Richmond, Va.