Women's Soccer Announces Four Signees
Feb 5, 2003 | Women's Soccer
Feb. 5, 2003
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - Five players from five different states highlight the 2003 Tulane women's soccer recruiting class on the first day of the spring signing period, Green Wave head coach Betsy Anderson announced on Wednesday.
Tulane has added a pair of players from the Midwest with the signing of Jacquelyn Obert from Cincinnati, Ohio and Lauren Whalen from Chesterfield, Mo. In addition, Tulane continued its tradition of signing some of the top players from the talent-rich states of Texas and Florida with the addition of Jessica Traver from Spring, Texas and Melissa Wheeler from Boca Raton, Fla. The Wave also added Rachel Thompson from Fairfax Station, Va.
"We're extremely excited about this recruiting class," Tulane head coach Betsy Anderson said. "They all come from very successful club and high school programs. And three of the four have competed for a national championship at the club level. We foresee this class as having an immediate impact and being able to contribute in a variety of positions."
Obert is a member of the Ohio South Olympic Development program and attended Region II camp in 2001... A member of the GSE Cardinals club team, Obert currently attends Ursuline Academy where she was named the Girls Greater Cincinnati League Player of the Year in 2002. She has also been an All-State honoree.
Thompson was an honorable mention All-Metro selection by the Washington Post while playing high school soccer at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va. She helped lead Woodson to the 2001 state championship. She also plays with the VISTA Firestars club team, which won State Cup titles in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. A member of the Virginia ODP team, Thompson attended Region I camp in 1998 and 2001.
Traver plays for the prestigious Challenge club team in Houston, helping lead the team to the 2002 State Cup and Region III titles before finishing third at the USYSA National Championships. A five-time member of the South Texas ODP team, Traver has also attended five straight Region III camps. She played one year of varsity soccer before concentrating on her club team, helping to lead Klein to the district title.
Whalen plays with the Busch club team in St. Louis, helping to lead the team to seven consecutive State Cup title game appearances, including championships in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. She also helped lead the team to Midwest Region titles in 1998 and 1999. She plays varsity soccer at St. Joseph's Academy, where she helped lead the team to the state championships in 2001 and 2002.
Wheeler is a three-time member of the Florida ODP team, including the squad that won the 2000 Region III championship. She plays club soccer with the Team Boca Blaze and was a part of seven consecutive State Cup winners. Wheeler currently attends Saint Andrew's Prep, where has been a starter on the varsity team since the eighth grade.
