Men's Soccer Freshman Captains USVI U-20 Squad in CONCACAF Championships

MILWAUKEE – While his Marquette University team is pushing for a BIG EAST title, freshman forward Jett Blaschka is leading a nation in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

It was only a few months ago that Jett began his journey as an 18-year-old freshman and a member of the Marquette University men's soccer program. Now, he's captaining the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) against the best U-20 players and teams in the CONCACAF region.

His unique road to success has already come full circle to an extent. Born in Milwaukee, Jett spent the first eight years of his life in the area until his family moved to St. Croix in the Virgin Islands. His father, Brian, a former pro and Division I player at UW-Milwaukee, was instrumental in Jett's development as he transformed the youth soccer system in the Virgin Islands.

"When we moved to the USVI, I quickly realized that the youth program needed some help," Brian said. "So, I joined the board of directors and created two traveling teams, a U-12 team for Jett and a U-16 team for his older brother, Chandler."

They traveled regularly to places like the Dominican Republic, Florida and Minnesota, in order to gain exposure against elite competition.

Brian had built a relationship with UW-Milwaukee legend and World Cup hero, Tony Sanneh, and was familiar with his Sanneh Foundation, which helps disadvantaged youths in the Twin Cities area. Through that relationship, he and Sanneh, as well as his good friend and former Marquette assistant coach, Boro Sucevic, were able to organize a clinic on St. Croix.

Current and former MLS players also flew in to participate in the clinic. They included LA Galaxy assistant coach Cobi Jones, Chivas USA's Zach Thornton and Jesse Marsch and FC Dallas' Jeff Cunningham. At such a young age, Jett's great fortune and interaction with people like that only accelerated his development.

"We did the camp for three years in a row on St. Croix," Brian said. "Jett was able to associate with these guys, get to know them on a personal level, and see what they were like and their thought processes to training and the game."

When Jett was 15 years old, he was named captain of the U-15 team that competed at the CONCACAF tournament in the Cayman Islands. His dad asked to be assistant coach and, a year later, was asked to be head coach of the U-17 team that Jett was once again named captain to.

"Jett has always been the lead-by-example type. Hardest worker. First guy there and last to leave. He's always positive, bringing the players around him up, never down."

Jett owes a lot to his father for his influence in the continuation of his, and his brother's, development.

"His willingness to transform and improve soccer in the Virgin Islands created so many opportunities for us," Jett said of his father's commitment to build the youth system in USVI. "I loved having him as my coach because we both have the exact same mentality and his style of play fits mine perfectly."

"We have many similarities such as our drive, determination and game knowledge," Brian said of his son. "He knows what he wants and what it will take to get there. I never had his speed, not many people do, and his maturity at such a young age both on and off the field is very rare, but I think it's because of his association with friends that were pro players and coaches. It all started at age six with Coach (Louis) Bennett."

"At first, he was a little shy and almost timid, but he was quick and very fast," Bennett said, remembering his initial interaction with Jett as a six-year-old with the Milwaukee Bavarians club. "Over time, he became confident and comfortable with the team surroundings, and started flourishing as a player like his older brother, who was also at the club."

It's been over a decade since Jett first met Bennett, but he still looks back on that time with the Bavarians and what it meant to him.

"They helped develop me and my love for soccer, especially Coach Bennett," Jett said. "He had a huge impact on me and shaping how I play. After we moved, I continued to follow Marquette as much as possible. The level of trust is hard to find somewhere else. I have a background with Coach Bennett and that was a big thing for me when making my decision to come here."

Brian's influence in his sons' soccer development goes above and beyond that of the typical parent. When Jett's development had reached its max on the island prior to entering high school, Brian sought out additional opportunities for his son. They decided to move the family to Orlando, Florida in order to enroll Jett at the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA).

"From a small island where you are one of the best players, to the No. 1 rated high school program in the country is a true test of maturity and confidence," Brian said of Jett's transition. "Montverde was the best thing I could have done for him, truly an incredible program and he did fantastic both on and off the field. The coaching staff was simply amazing. I finally got to sit back and watch for the first time."

Jett worked his way up through the program, improving his skills to the level where he was getting recruited and then ultimately signed with Marquette.

"My freshmen year, I was probably on the worst team in the academy, but by my senior year, I had worked all the way up to the best team," Jett said. "There is no place like it. More than 200 kids in the program competing for a spot. That created a mentality that I must work hard every day and even that might not be enough to get a starting spot or even play. I believe it prepared me for what to expect at the Division I level and Marquette specifically, because you have to bring it every day."

He was named USVI team captain ahead of the team's week-long training session a few weeks ago and it was a proud moment for him.

"I was so excited, I can't really explain it," Jett said. "It's a whole new motivation. There's nothing bigger than representing your country and it's a great opportunity."

"I was very proud when he was asked to captain the U-15 team and I'm even prouder now," Brian said of his son. "Our entire family is very proud of him. He leads by example both on and off the field. He's the hardest worker, always positive and a true teammate. As they say, 'He gets it.'"

"It's a great opportunity for Jett to represent and compete against the best U-20 players and teams in the CONCACAF region," Bennett said of his freshman forward. "It's a wonderful experience for him as a player, captain and leader of the USVI."

The CONCACAF U-20 Championship is taking place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida from Nov. 1-21. USVI opened the tournament with a loss to Suriname on Nov. 1.

While Marquette is taking on Xavier in a BIG EAST Championship First Round match-up on Saturday, Jett and Co. will face off against the U-20 U.S. Men's National Team in their second of five group matches during the tournament.

Men's Soccer Freshman Captains USVI U-20 Squad in CONCACAF Championships

Players Mentioned

Jett Blaschka

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