Baker senior Gerard Grehan may be from another country, but he was one of the biggest impact players on the Baker men’s soccer team.
As captain of the squad, Grehan was the leading scorer for the Heart of America Athletic Conference champions with 11 goals on the season.
”‘GG’ is a very competitive player,” freshman Galen Huxall said. “He expects a lot out of himself as well as the rest of the team.”
Huxall also believes Grehan’s talent may go beyond college.
“He definitely has the talent to play at the next level,” Huxall said.
Grehan is from Dunboyne, Ireland, a city just north of Dublin in County Mead, and came to the United States just two years ago.
Grehan is one of just three players on the team from outside of the United States.
Grehan said soccer is very different in the United States than what he is used to in Ireland.
“American people are a lot more athletic than people (in Ireland),” Grehan said. “There is not as much emphasis on skill. It’s more about how big and strong and fast you are rather than your skill and control.”
Grehan said despite the physical differences, the competition level is nearly the same as he faced in Ireland.
Some of Grehan’s teammates believe foreign players bring aspects to the game players from the United States do not.
“Players from places like Europe can have a different playing style, which in many cases is an advantage in the United States,” freshman Nick Ebmeyer said.
Among the three seasons Grehan has played at Baker, he believes this is the most important year he has ever played.
Grehan traveled to Fresno, Calif., for the second round of the NAIA Championships, where the team lost in the first match.
“This is the biggest competition I’ve ever played,” Grehan said prior to the tournament. “This is going to define me as a soccer player, so I am looking forward to it.”
For most, Grehan is seen as the best player on the team, and for some, it's the shoes.<br/>"He's the guy with the green shoes," senior AJ Jimenez said. "He's the guy with the green shoes," senior AJ Jimenez said.
“He’s the guy with the green shoes,” senior AJ Jimenez said.
Grehan said green is the only color available in the pair he owns, but there might be some mystique involved.
“They have been pretty lucky so far, so I hope to keep that going,” he said.
