GREGORY TO PLAY DIVISION II

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PRESS RELEASE – Former Guam resident and soccer standout Jordan Onedera Gregory doesn’t just face challenges head on, he actively seeks them out. His perseverance has handsomely paid back with a full athletic college scholarship.

Jordan Gregory

Gregory, who moved to Texas about two years ago to finish his junior and senior years of high school, recently accepted a full athletic college scholarship to Eastern New Mexico University. He plans to major in pre-medicine at the university.

“I hope to improve in my college career and be the best player I can be,” Gregory said via E-mail from Texas. “I’m anticipating much larger and faster opponents (in college), so I am training for strength and balance.”

Eastern New Mexico University men’s soccer coach Harold Munoz officially announced Gregory’s decision to accept the full scholarship and play soccer for the Greyhounds in a news article on the NCAA Division II university’s Web site. In the news article, Munoz describes Gregory as “a powerful striker who possesses good technique, plays well with his back to goal, very comfortable in possession and scores goals.”

Before heading to the university in the fall, Gregory will participate in training with a Premier Development League team, his father Dr. Robert Gregory said. The younger Gregory will participate solely to gain experience without any compensation before he delves into U.S. collegiate soccer.

Jordan Gregory playing soccer at the GFA field in Harmon. (courtesy photo)

“I am of course very proud of Jordan,” said Dr. Gregory. “I always emphasize that this is his dream and not mine. He’s always had a passion for the game.”

In Jordan Gregory’s final IIAAG High School Boys Soccer season with the Father Duenas Memorial School Friars as a sophomore, he scored 18 goals and also was credited with 18 assists in 13 games. It was after the championship game that year that Gregory approached his father and asked to move off-island to be in a better position to earn a college athletic scholarship, Dr. Gregory said. The younger Gregory’s decision also came after being inspired by a presentation at Guam Football Association by George Kuntz, men’s soccer head coach at University of California-Irvine.

Upon moving to Texas, Jordan Gregory enrolled in Friendswood High School and also tried out for Space City soccer club. Although the traveling team had already been selected by the time Gregory approached the club to try out, he impressed coaches with his ability and was given a spot on the team. It was during college showcase tournaments playing for Space City that Munoz spotted Gregory and offered the scholarship, Gregory said.

Gregory pondered over the decision to accept the full scholarship and other potential opportunities until he received an E-mail message from Matao captain Jason Cunliffe, who also was his soccer coach at FD.

“Cunliffe sent an E-mail to Jordan and encouraged him to take the scholarship a day before the coach called him,” Dr. Gregory said. “In the E-mail, he said that the key is to find a coach that likes you and wants to play you in matches. Playing time is the key.

“For me as a father, I was really impressed by this,” added Dr. Gregory.

Jordan Gregory began playing soccer at the age of five with Dededo Soccer Club. His first coach was Richard Lai, who currently is the president of GFA. He moved on to play for the Orange Crushers and Sidekicks, and also played for Quality Distributors in the Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League growing up. He also represented Guam internationally with the island’s youth national teams. At the senior level, Matao head coach Gary White selected Gregory to travel with the team in June 2012 for its Philippines training trip. Earlier this year while on break from school, Gregory squeezed in a Budweiser Soccer League Division I game with Quality Distributors against the Southern Cobras.

“I would like to thank Richard Lai and everyone that is a part of GFA, because of all the opportunities given to me,” Gregory said. “My advice to younger players in Guam would be to really take advantage of the national program. The atmosphere and quality of training is the perfect place to improve as a soccer player.”

Although not selected to play for the Matao in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Yangon, Myanmar earlier this month, Gregory still very much hopes to be called up to represent Guam with the Matao in future international competitions, he said.

Gregory is the son of Dr. Robert Gregory and Dr. Barbara Onedera-Gregory, chiropractors at Pacific Life Chiropractic in Tamuning. He has one older half brother Bryan and has two younger sisters, Sierra and Chloe, all of whom still reside in Guam.

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