March 5, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College men's soccer team signed seven more players as it looks to its inaugural season this fall.
The GRCC Athletic Department added soccer in response to a growing interest in the sport internationally and an increasing number of requests from potential student-athletes.
With the addition of seven new players, coach Damiekco Smith has 17 players committed for the 2023 season.
Patrick Gakuru is a striker who played for Union High School. He also played for Michigan Futbol Academy, which won first place in its league and was the winners of the March Madness tournament. He is swift on his feet and very technical with the soccer ball.
Jaret Jaramillo attends Kent City High School. He is a center-attacking mid known for his unselfish play and signature No. 5 jersey. Jaramillo scored 22 goals and 10 assists during his 2022 high school season. He was voted to All-Region, All-District, and All-Conference teams during the 2022 season. He also earned All-Academic team honors.
Alex Lagazo is a forward who played for Forest Hills Northern High School. Lagazo was voted on the All-State Division 2 Team in 2022 and will bring toughness and aggression to the team.
Jordan Okito attended Forest Hills Northern High School. He played forward and midfield. He earned second-team All-State honors after netting 25 goals and nine assists. He also led his team to a conference and district championship. Okito is very strong on the ball and will be able to create a lot of offense for the team.
Jorge Saldanas-Veliz was a midfield player at Wyoming High School. He controlled the midfield for the Wolves for three years on the varsity team. He was a two-time captain for the Wolves and earned All-Conference and All-Conference Honorable Mention honors throughout high school. A well-known player in the West Michigan area, Saldanas-Veliz played for several club teams over the years, including Revolution, Michigan Power, ABK, and Tricks FC.
Jonathan Zamudio-Santoyo was named to All-Conference and All-District teams during his senior year, praised for his technical skills and leadership.
Nathan Thomas played for Clarkston High School, a team that was ranked sixth in the nation at one point during his senior year. He plays left and center back and center back and played soccer at a high level his entire life. He played starting left back for Nationals Union 04 Black, starting every game in the State Cup, National League, and the Midwest Regional Championships.
This story was written by Ben Brown.