Toledo, Ohio - Head women's soccer coach TJ Buchholz announced his seven 2019 signees today. The recruiting class of Stephanie Currie, Emma Boutorwick, Kaitlyn Maciejewski, Marcy Clark, Madison Medalle, Ariana Garcia and Rylee Michaels will begin attending the University of Toledo in the 2019-20 academic year.
 
"We knew this year that we would be losing a lot of really strong players through graduation so we set out to bring in a strong group of recruits," Buchholz said. "The thing that we really like about this class is not only are they really accomplished students in the classroom, they're talented soccer players that all have won at least one youth national championship."
 
Buchholz credits assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Jessica Nei for her "relentless effort" in helping to secure a top recruiting class for UT. "I think coach Jess did a great job at identifying these players early on, and I think we were able to really foster strong relationships with those players."
 
Added Nei, "During the recruiting process with each of these seven, we wanted to show who we are as a program and University, and consistently stressed the importance of finding the right fit. While getting to know each of them and their families, it became very clear that they completely fit the academic, athletic, and character we want in our program. It is a very exciting day to welcome these talented seven and their families to the Toledo soccer family."
 
The skinny:

• All seven are Michigan natives.
• Positions: Three forwards, one midfielder, two defenders, one goalkeeper
• Represent two clubs: Nationals Soccer Club, (4), Midwest United F.C. (3)
• Represent six Michigan high schools: Henry Ford II (1), Dakota (2), Forest Hills Central (1), Forest Hills Eastern (1), Chippewa Valley (1), East Kentwood (1)
• All seven have won state, regional and national championships in their club career.
• Combined 23 championships across the class, with eight being national titles.

Emma Boutorwick

• Club: Nationals Soccer Club
• High school: Henry Ford II
• Hometown: Macomb, Mich.
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Anticipated major: Pharmacy
• Three time U.S. Youth Soccer National Champion
• 2015 and 2016 U.S. Youth Soccer Golden Glove for top goalkeeper at National Tournament
• MHSAA All-County, All-District, All-Region, and All-State honorable mention (2017)
• Four-time Michigan State Cup Champion (2014-17)
• Three-time U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Champion (2015-17)

 
Why Emma chose Toledo: "Choosing to attend the University of Toledo was an easy decision. The coaches were very genuine during my recruiting process, and I feel like they care about me as both a player and a person. Also, the school has my major and the campus is beautiful. Plus, UT is close to home so my friends and family can come watch games."
 
Buchholz on Boutorwick: "Coach Jess found Emma early in her prep career and we liked her right away. Emma is a player who is athletic, manages the game really well, and is excellent with the ball at her feet. We felt that we wanted to bring in a strong goalkeeper, and Emma was a great fit for us. All of her national championship success has prepared her for the challenges of the college level. We look forward to having Emma joining the other strong goalkeepers in our program next fall."
 
Marcy Clark

• Club: Nationals Soccer Club
• High school: Dakota
• Hometown: Macomb, Mich.
• Position: Forward
• Anticipated major: Business
• Macomb Area Conference (MAC) All-Academic Team
• MIHSSCA All-State Third Team, MIHSSCA All-Regional Team, MIHSSCA All-District Team
• State Cup Champions (2016, '17)
• 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Champion
• 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer National Champion

 
Why Marcy chose Toledo: "I was first very impressed with the coaching staff and how well they worked with the team, both in soccer and academics. Once I got to know the school, I knew the soccer environment and academic side of the school was a perfect fit for me."
 
Coach Buchholz on Clark: "Marcy is very versatile. She can be a forward, midfielder or defender. She came to our ID camp her freshman season in high school, had a great camp, and was somebody who we knew we wanted in our program because of her versatility and what she brings to the table. She can do a lot of things. It's hard to focus in on one thing, but I can see her playing multiple positions in our program next year, and that's a good thing."
 
Stephanie Currie

• Club: Midwest United F.C.
• High school: Forest Hills Central
• Hometown: Grand Rapids, Mich.
• Position: Forward
• Anticipated major: Speech Pathology
• Won club soccer national championship in 2016, scoring the game-winner.
• Club soccer national championship runner up in 2017
• Region II Champion (2016, '17)
• Club state champions (2015, '16, '17)
• Selected to the Developmental Academy Winter Showcase (U17) for scoring seven goals in three games.

 
Who Stephanie chose Toledo: "I decided to go to the University of Toledo because I fell in love with the campus and the coaching staff. I could not be more excited to continue my soccer and academic career at UT."
 
Coach Buchholz on Currie: "Stephanie is a true left-footed player who is very dangerous on the offensive wing. She's got deceptive speed and is really good at creating chances behind defenses. She is also a pure finisher who has scored some crucial goals for her high school and club team. We anticipate that she will be playing in a wide attacking position for our team next fall."
 
Ariana Garcia

• Club: Midwest United F.C.
• High school: East Kentwood
• Hometown: Kentwood, Mich.
• Position: Midfield
• Anticipated major: Pre-medicine
• Won club soccer national championship in 2016
• Club soccer national championship runner up in 2017
• Region II Champion (2016, '17)
• USYF National Futsal Champion (2016)

 
Why Ariana chose Toledo: "I chose to attend the University of Toledo because I feel like it's the perfect fit for me as a student-athlete. It's not too far from home, it's the perfect size, and the perfect learning environment as well. I also chose the University of Toledo for its soccer program. Learning about the University of Toledo's medical school success also drove my excitement to be a Toledo Rocket and a future physician."
 
Buchholz on Garcia: "Ariana comes from a soccer family, with her dad being a top club coach in Michigan. Ariana is a very technical midfielder who has great vision on the field. She has a strong passing ability that will be a big asset to our current group of midfielders. She is also excellent at making decisions on dead ball situations. We hope to use Ariana in an attacking midfield role next fall, but she is very capable of playing other midfield spots, if needed."
 
Kaitlyn Maciejewski

• Club: Nationals Soccer Club
• High school: Dakota
• Hometown: Macomb, Mich.
• Position: Defender
• Anticipated major: Undecided
• Highschool team won two conference titles and one district championship
• Won two Michigan State Cup Championships (U16/U17)
• 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Champion
• 2017 U.S. Youth Soccer National Champion

 
Why Kaitlyn chose Toledo: "I chose Toledo because from the start they've shown me loyalty, consistency and unconditional support. I saw the potential of creating a true family with their staff and players."
 
Coach Buchholz on Maciejewski: "The thing that we really like about her is that she can play on both sides of the defense. She's an excellent one-v-one defender, and is a player who plays bigger than she is. She has a toughness about her. As we're building out of our defense, you have to be able to play out of the back, and she helps with that. She's very technical and she can distribute. We like that we can use her in most roles in our backline next fall."
 
Madison Medalle

• Club: Nationals Soccer Club
• High school: Chippewa Valley
• Hometown: Clinton Township, Mich.
• Position: Forward
• Anticipated major: Undecided
• Club soccer national champions (2015, '16 and '17)
• Won the tournament's Golden Ball award in 2016 and 2017 for most goals in the National Tournament
  • Scored a hat trick in the 2017 title match

 
Why Madison chose Toledo: "I loved the size of the campus and distance away from home.  The soccer coaches were very personal and made me feel at home, as did the girls on the team. They have such a great variety of majors that it made me feel comfortable going in without knowing what I wanted to study. The overall atmosphere was super fitting for me."
 
Coach Buchholz on Medalle: "Madison is a true center-forward who has had a lot of scoring success. In the national championship game two years ago she scored a hat trick to secure her team's national title. Madison has great poise in front of the goal and she is tactically very smart at reading the game. Not only can she score goals, but she also is excellent at creating opportunities for other attackers around her. We expect her to join our forward line next year and play mostly toward the center of our attack."

 
Rylee Michaels

• Club: Midwest United F.C.
• High school: Forest Hills Eastern
• Hometown: Ada, Mich.
• Position: Defender
• Anticipated major: Business
• Won club soccer national championship in 2016
• Club soccer national championship runner up in 2017
• Region II Champion (2016, '17)
• High school records: Most goals in a season (36 goals, junior year), most career goals (70), most career assists (30)
• 01 ODP Regional Team ('14, '15, '16)

 
 
Why Rylee chose Toledo: "I chose to go to the University of Toledo because I loved the coaches, the team, the campus, and the Business/Sales program. I'm excited to be a Rocket!"
 
Coach Buchholz on Michaels: "Rylee is a player who can play anywhere. She is very athletic and attack minded. She's really good at going forward and has good speed. She has that ability to take over the game and be a force going forward. It's hard to know exactly where we're going to play her but she's very much a wide player and probably someone who's going to play on the right side of the field for us."