Boys Soccer - Named 1st Team HS All-American (2000)

Boys Soccer - 2x FML First Team, 2x All District, Named to the Soccer Dream Team, Holly's All-Time Leading Scorer (58 Goals)

Boys Basketball - 2x All League Honoree

Boys Tennis - Second Team FML (2 Singles), Regional Finalist, MHSAA State Qualifier

HHS Class of 2000

Justin earned seven varsity letters while playing four sports at Holly High School. His high school career, however, is different than most athletes as he opted to play club soccer his freshman year and then moved to Florida for six months his senior year to play with the US U-17 Men’s National Team. He competed in the FIFA World Championships with the US National Team when the US team finished fourth. Justin left his mark on our soccer program in just the two short years he played. He became Holly’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals…a record that still stands. Honors bestowed upon him include: 2 time FML 1st team, 2 time 1st team All District and named to the Dream Team. Despite the fact that he did not compete his senior year, he was named 1st team All State, member of the Dream Team and Oakland County Scholar-Athlete. Justin became our first and only HS All-American athlete when he was named to the 1st team in 2000.

Justin carried over those kicking skills to the football field his junior year. He demonstrated his hands were almost as good as his feet, as he was allowed one play at wide receiver that year and caught a 37-yard pass!

The field is not the only place where Justin’s athletic ability shined. He was a three-year starter as point guard on the basketball team and earned FML honors his junior and senior year, 2nd team and 1st team respectively. He averaged 11 points, six assists and three steals per game.

His senior year, he picked up a racket and headed to the tennis courts where he played 2 singles for the Bronchos. The team won the Flint Metro League title and Justin earned 2nd team FML. He finished in 2nd place in the regional tournament and qualified for the MHSAA state finals.

Justin proved that with hard work and determination you can balance studies with sports. He graduated in the top 10% of his class with a 3.8 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society.

As you can imagine, high school was not an end…only a beginning to his soccer career. The University of Notre Dame gave him a full-ride scholarship and he played in every game during his tenure, starting in all but five. He racked up 28 goals and 22 assists and was a four-time monogram winner. Honors include:
FR year – named to the All Big East Rookie Team; SO year – named to the All Big East 1st team and to the Great Lakes Region 2nd team; JR year – named to the All Big East 2nd team and Great Lakes Region 1st team; and, SR year – named to the All Big East 1st team, Great Lakes Region 1st team, ALL-AMERICAN in 2003 and was chosen as Notre Dame’s MVP. Justin was on the Dean’s list both the fall and spring of his senior year and each of his four years he was named to the All Big East Academic Team. Justin graduated with a double major – Computer Applications and Sociology – and a 3.4 GPA.

Justin’s soccer career continued when he was drafted 43rd overall by the Major League Soccer (MLS) team the Kansas City Wizards. During his two years with the Wizards he was a member of the US Open Cup Champion Team that made it to the MLS Cup final losing 2-3 to DC United.

Justin retired from the MLS to pursue a professional business career and is currently working for Jones Lang LaSalle as a facility manager for General Motors.

Justin would like to take this opportunity to thank those who made this honor possible….

The list could go for days but I would like to give a very special thanks to Mom and Dad, Jerry and Kathy. Both who which were selfless throughout my entire athletic career driving me miles and miles in pursuit of a dream to become a professional soccer player. Thanks to a number of coaches, Tim Hatch, John Creasey, Nathan Blecke, and Bill McDaniel. Your guidance throughout my high school years has proven to be very successful and formed a foundation for my future athletic endeavors. Thanks to my friends and teammates, for pushing each other each day to become better and enjoying good company off of the field. I can definitely say that high school was a wonderful time of my life. And last but certainly not least, the Holly High School fans! You make each game even more enjoyable, ESPECIALLY the basketball games!