Just like his older brother, Madison Memorial senior Cody Banks will play NCAA Division I men's soccer. But the younger Banks will stay much closer to home to do so.
Cody Banks gave a verbal commitment to UW-Milwaukee coach Jon Coleman on Monday, according to Joe Banks, his father.
Banks, who plays club soccer for FC Milwaukee, is one of the most decorated players in Madison history, having earned first-team All-Big Eight Conference and All-City honors in each of his four seasons with the Spartans.
As a senior, he also made the first team of the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association all-state team after being an honorable mention pick his first three seasons.
Verona junior Alex Melin, who has verbally committed to play at Iowa starting in 2010, will miss the 2009 girls soccer season after suffering a torn ACL in her knee during a girls basketball game last month.
Melin has 29 goals and 11 assists for 69 points in two seasons for the Wildcats, and was a second-team all-state pick by the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association All-State team last spring.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:13PM )
Two FC Milwaukee boys soccer players impressed during SPARQ testing at last month's U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Lancaster, Calif.
Gavin Robertson (Glendale Nicolet) finished with the top score in the testing among nearly 2,000 players, according to ESPN RISE. Athletes are tested in four categories — speed, power, agility and endurance — that result in a total score.
Robertson was ninth in the 20-meter sprint and tied for ninth in the vertical jump as he had a 103.88 overall score. Club teammate Collin Monahan (East Troy) was third with a 99.20 overall score and had the sixth-best vertical jump.
The Major League Soccer combine kicks off Friday at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) among the players looking to impress league coaches before the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15.
Banks, who played both defender and midfielder in college at Old Dominion, is listed as a defender for the combine. He spoke with Madison Soccer Central about his professional prospects last month.
However, Banks was named the ninth-best senior midfielder available in the draft in the ESPN Soccernet rankings done by Buzz Carrick, who runs 3rd Degree — a site that covers FC Dallas and MLS.
Two state players earned spots on the College Soccer News All-Freshman teams: UW-Green Bay defender Tony Walls (Wauwatosa East) and Creighton midfielder Ethan Finlay (Marshfield).
Walls (left), who had two assists and started all 16 matches for the Phoenix (6-7-5), was a second-team selection after being named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year. The two-sport athlete has since joined up with the UW-Green Bay men's basketball team.
Finlay (right), meanwhile, landed on the third team after finishing second on the team with totals of 6-4-16 for the Blue Jays (16-2-2), who advanced to the NCAA tournament quarterfinals before a 1-0 loss at eventual champion Maryland. Four of Finlay's six goals were game-winners.
Division 3 state champion Columbus was the WIAA sportsmanship award winner for the boys soccer tournament. Madison West, Chippewa Falls McDonell-Eau Claire Regis and New Holstein were honorable mention.
Division 1 state champion Milwaukee Marquette was named the FieldTurf Great Lakes Region Team of the Year for boys soccer. The Hilltoppers are eligible for the national team of the year award, which will be announced Jan. 16.
The Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association has launched a redesigned Web site.
The Madison 56ers Under-17 girls soccer team had a tough time at the Disney Showcase in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., dropping all three of their matches in the Cope Blue Division.
The 56ers lost to Massapequa SC Power (N.Y.) 1-0 on New Year's Eve to open the tournament, then fell to Birmingham United Elite (Ala.) 3-1 on Thursday and Sting SC Royal (Texas) 4-3 on Friday.
Three FC Milwaukee teams also played at the tournament: the Under-18 side went 1-1-1 in the Showcase Division, while the Under-17 team (1-2) and the Under-16 team (0-2-1) competed in Predator Blue divisions.
Last Updated ( Saturday, January 03, 2009 1:52PM )
The Madison Area Soccer Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for its inaugural 2009 induction class.
To nominate someone for consideration as a player, coach, official or builder, download a form from the Hall of Fame Web site. Nominations are due April 15, and the Hall of Fame board is hopeful that the soccer community will provide the vast majority of candidates for consideration.
Just like his older brother, Madison Memorial senior Cody Banks will play NCAA Division I men's soccer. But the younger Banks will stay much closer to home to do so. 
Verona junior Alex Melin, who has verbally committed to play at Iowa starting in 2010, will miss the 2009 girls soccer season after suffering a torn ACL in her knee during a girls basketball game last month.
Two FC Milwaukee boys soccer players impressed during SPARQ testing at last month's U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Lancaster, Calif.
The University of Wisconsin women's soccer team has added a second recruit to its 2010 class.
The Major League Soccer combine kicks off Friday at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with Trevor Banks (Madison Memorial) among the players looking to impress league coaches before the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15. 
Two state players earned spots on the College Soccer News All-Freshman teams: UW-Green Bay defender Tony Walls (Wauwatosa East) and Creighton midfielder Ethan Finlay (Marshfield).
Just a few quick prep boys soccer notes ...
The Madison 56ers Under-17 girls soccer team had a tough time at the Disney Showcase in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., dropping all three of their matches in the Cope Blue Division.
The Madison Area Soccer Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for its inaugural 2009 induction class.