By Tori Wittenbrock
Associate Sports Editor
GREEN BAY – As the athletic department at UW-Green Bay continues to rise, the Phoenix have added another local young star to the men’s soccer roster for their next season — James Dorchester of De Pere.
“I’m really excited to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and it will be amazing to be able to play college soccer close to home,” said Dorchester.
Dorchester said he has been playing soccer his entire life and is thrilled to see his dreams finally being realized.
“I have been playing soccer my whole life. I have an older brother, Sam, and he had me kicking the soccer ball with him before I could walk,” said Dorchester.
Although he is also a member of the De Pere Redbirds basketball team, Dorchester said that soccer has long been his priority and passion.
“I have always played soccer and basketball but I always prioritized soccer in the off-season with the goal of playing in college,” said Dorchester.
“Having the opportunity to play collegiately at UWGB is awesome, and staying local will be nice because it will allow for continued support from family and friends.”
Dorchester was the leading goal scorer for his high school team, the De Pere Redbirds, with 25 goals on the season and 13 assists.
Dorchester said that although he is excited to become a Phoenix, he has enjoyed his time as a Redbird and has made some memories that he will never forget.
“Helping lead the team to the WIAA State Tournament for the third time in four years,” said Dorchester about his favorite memory playing high school soccer for De Pere. “Our sectional final game vs. Hudson went to a shootout and making the last PK to send us to State is something I will never forget.”
De Pere took second in the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) to Notre Dame Academy with a record of 6-1-2 on the season and 17-4-4 overall.
This past season the Redbirds advanced to the WIAA State Semifinals game against Brookfield East, which they lost 4-0.
As a Green Bay local, Dorchester said that he is extremely excited to be able to join the Phoenix for their next season.
“I have been following UWGB soccer since I was little and I have really enjoyed watching them. I could always picture myself playing there so I’m very excited to have the opportunity to be a Phoenix,” said Dorchester.
In the 2023 season, UW- Green Bay men’s soccer won the Horizon League Championship and advanced to the first round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009 where they lost to Western Michigan 3-0 in a historic season.
The Horizon League title was the fifth in program history.
“It was a lot of fun following them last year. The wins they were able to string together with a pretty young roster was impressive and it was really cool to see them win the Horizon League Tournament. I’m really excited for the chance to help the team build on the success from last year,” said Dorchester.
Although there is a big allure to going to college out of state, Dorchester said that after entertaining the idea, he decided he belonged here in his home state.
“When I first started thinking about where I wanted to go to college, I thought I would like a school far away but after looking at a few different schools I decided it made the most sense for me to stay close to home for college,” said Dorchester.
After their historic season, the Phoenix will be undergoing some major changes as they prepare for their next season.
UW-Green Bay athletic staff announced that after nine years at the helm of the program, head coach Jeremy Bonomo would be departing from Green Bay to take on a head coaching position at Northeastern University in his hometown of Boston, Mass.
Assistant Coach John O’Reilly will be taking over as the 12th coach in the men’s soccer team’s history.
“I enjoyed getting to know Coach Bonomo during the recruiting process and I wish him the best of luck back home in Boston. However, I am really excited for the opportunity to play for Coach O’Reilly. I have known Coach O’Reilly for a long time and I was even able to work with him a little bit when I was younger. I know he will do a great job,” said Dorchester of his excitement to be a part of the new direction of the program.