Davidson Men’s Soccer Announces Incoming Class
2/11/2013 3:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Christian Fechter (Westfield, N.J.), Thomas O'Brien (Boulder, Colo.) and Max Pragnell (Kingston, Jamaica) will join the Davidson men's soccer program beginning with the Fall 2013 semester, as recently announced by head coach Matt Spear.
“We are very excited to bring in these three talented men to Davidson Soccer. And a warm welcome to their families too. Thanks to Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Tony Falvino, our upperclassmen and our Admissions/Financial Aid counselors for their important roles in yielding these fine additions. Each of these three motivated student-athletes will add further quality, conviction, work ethic and ambition to our continued growth,” commented Spear.
Profiles of all three student-athletes, listed alphabetically, are below.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 145
Hometown / High School: Westfield, N.J. / The Pingry School
Club Team: PDA
Why did you choose Davidson? “It is a great school with a really nice campus that offers great athletics as well.”
Coaches Comments: “Along with playing with a quality club in PDA and nationally-ranked Pingry high school team, we also benefited from having Christian attend our three-day summer camp. We saw his midfielder quality in terms of technique, passing, vision, combination play, and ideas on the ball. It is also an advantage that he's been able to learn from his two older brothers' path, who played college soccer too. His father was a college athlete too.”
Before Davidson: Named Somerset County Player of the Year as a senior… Also earned all-county and all-state recognition… Finished with nine goals and 11 assists in 2012… Served as a team captain last season… Led Pingry to the 2012 State Championship game… Helped the PDA U18 club to a Regional title… Named to the Honor Roll.
Personal: Born November 11, 1994… Son of Jerry and Cynthia Fechter… Has two older brothers, Brad (25) and Matthew (22)… Father played lacrosse at Drexel… Both siblings played collegiate soccer.
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Hometown / High School: Broomfield, Colo. / Broomfield High
Club Team: Colorado Rush
Why did you choose Davidson? “I chose Davidson for its outstanding academic tradition and reputation, as well as its Division I athletics. I am excited for the opportunity to play for and represent such a tightly-knit community.”
Coaches Comments: “We love Thomas' intensity and competitiveness. He puts every ounce of energy and fight in to each tackle and each play. He has played a lot at center back the past two seasons, but we believe he can play anywhere across the back line – and also at right midfield – due to his attitude, work rate, and athleticism.”
Before Davidson: Named one of the Top-150 recruits by Top Drawer Soccer… Member of the all-conference and all-state teams… Selected Attacking Player of the Year twice… Also a member of the all-state academic and school's honor.
Personal: Born July 16, 1995… Son of Kelly and Don O'Brien… Has two younger siblings, Jack (14) and Sean (11).
Max Pragnell
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Hometown / High School: Kingston, Jamaica / Shrewsbury School (England)
Club Team: Shropshire
Why did you choose Davidson? “As a Jamaican/UK student, the US system really appealed to me. I researched several top caliber colleges, and eventually came to a decision that Davidson fitted me both academically and as an athlete. I am excited about Division I Soccer with great fixtures not only against SoCon opponents, but also ACC teams. Davidson will make me better, because it will give me a top-class degree whilst playing top-quality soccer.”
Coaches Comments: “Recruiting and learning about Maxi was fun. We see him as a pure attacker more than just a forward, so he will be versatile to roam the field and play up top, underneath and wide. His goal-scoring rate and nose for the goal has been phenomenal. His instincts and skills will help accelerate our offensive flow, creativity and production.”
Before Davidson: Served as team captain of the ISFA England U16 and ESFA Shropshire U18 teams… Set school record with 39 goals as a freshman… Currently has 84 goals for his high school career… As a senior tallied 25 goals while leading his club to the ISFA Cup semifinals… Also played rugby, cricket and handball in high school.
Personal: Born September 11, 1994… Son of Matthew and Jenny Pragnell… Has two older siblings, Louis (20) and Freddie (23).
Additional recruits to the 2013 class may be added at a later date.
“We are very excited to bring in these three talented men to Davidson Soccer. And a warm welcome to their families too. Thanks to Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Tony Falvino, our upperclassmen and our Admissions/Financial Aid counselors for their important roles in yielding these fine additions. Each of these three motivated student-athletes will add further quality, conviction, work ethic and ambition to our continued growth,” commented Spear.
Profiles of all three student-athletes, listed alphabetically, are below.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 145
Hometown / High School: Westfield, N.J. / The Pingry School
Club Team: PDA
Why did you choose Davidson? “It is a great school with a really nice campus that offers great athletics as well.”
Coaches Comments: “Along with playing with a quality club in PDA and nationally-ranked Pingry high school team, we also benefited from having Christian attend our three-day summer camp. We saw his midfielder quality in terms of technique, passing, vision, combination play, and ideas on the ball. It is also an advantage that he's been able to learn from his two older brothers' path, who played college soccer too. His father was a college athlete too.”
Before Davidson: Named Somerset County Player of the Year as a senior… Also earned all-county and all-state recognition… Finished with nine goals and 11 assists in 2012… Served as a team captain last season… Led Pingry to the 2012 State Championship game… Helped the PDA U18 club to a Regional title… Named to the Honor Roll.
Personal: Born November 11, 1994… Son of Jerry and Cynthia Fechter… Has two older brothers, Brad (25) and Matthew (22)… Father played lacrosse at Drexel… Both siblings played collegiate soccer.
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Hometown / High School: Broomfield, Colo. / Broomfield High
Club Team: Colorado Rush
Why did you choose Davidson? “I chose Davidson for its outstanding academic tradition and reputation, as well as its Division I athletics. I am excited for the opportunity to play for and represent such a tightly-knit community.”
Coaches Comments: “We love Thomas' intensity and competitiveness. He puts every ounce of energy and fight in to each tackle and each play. He has played a lot at center back the past two seasons, but we believe he can play anywhere across the back line – and also at right midfield – due to his attitude, work rate, and athleticism.”
Before Davidson: Named one of the Top-150 recruits by Top Drawer Soccer… Member of the all-conference and all-state teams… Selected Attacking Player of the Year twice… Also a member of the all-state academic and school's honor.
Personal: Born July 16, 1995… Son of Kelly and Don O'Brien… Has two younger siblings, Jack (14) and Sean (11).
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Hometown / High School: Kingston, Jamaica / Shrewsbury School (England)
Club Team: Shropshire
Why did you choose Davidson? “As a Jamaican/UK student, the US system really appealed to me. I researched several top caliber colleges, and eventually came to a decision that Davidson fitted me both academically and as an athlete. I am excited about Division I Soccer with great fixtures not only against SoCon opponents, but also ACC teams. Davidson will make me better, because it will give me a top-class degree whilst playing top-quality soccer.”
Coaches Comments: “Recruiting and learning about Maxi was fun. We see him as a pure attacker more than just a forward, so he will be versatile to roam the field and play up top, underneath and wide. His goal-scoring rate and nose for the goal has been phenomenal. His instincts and skills will help accelerate our offensive flow, creativity and production.”
Before Davidson: Served as team captain of the ISFA England U16 and ESFA Shropshire U18 teams… Set school record with 39 goals as a freshman… Currently has 84 goals for his high school career… As a senior tallied 25 goals while leading his club to the ISFA Cup semifinals… Also played rugby, cricket and handball in high school.
Personal: Born September 11, 1994… Son of Matthew and Jenny Pragnell… Has two older siblings, Louis (20) and Freddie (23).
Additional recruits to the 2013 class may be added at a later date.
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