April 20, 2009
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Iowa soccer wallpaper
- Iowasoccer.com
IOWA CITY, IA – Last year, Cedar Rapids natives Morgan Showalter and Suzy Levett made great first impressions on the Hawkeyes as freshmen. This fall, three more Cedar Rapids imports look to make a similar impact, beginning with goalkeeper Rachel Spellerberg.
Along with high school teammates Jade Grimm and Katherine Lewis, Spellerberg will make the short drive to Iowa City next year after spending the last four years at Kennedy (H.S.), a traditional state powerhouse just north of the city. Kennedy won the Mississippi Valley Conference from 2006-2008 and was the Class 2A state runner-up during that same stretch.
Spellerberg’s high school credentials speak for themselves. A team captain for three years, she is a three-time Elite first team all-state goalkeeper, as well as a three-time first team all-conference and all-metro selection. Spellerberg was also named to the state’s all-tournament team in each of her four years at Kennedy. She holds school records for goals-against-average in a season (0.57 in 2008), saves per game (from 2006-2008) and shutouts per game (from 2006-2008).
Spellerberg also has extensive club soccer experience. She has been a member of Iowa’s Olympic Development Program (ODP) for six years, and has played club soccer for Cedar River Soccer Association (CRSA) for nine years. She also spent two years with the West Des Moines Soccer Club (WDSC).
While goalkeeper looks to be a crowded position next fall for the Hawkeyes with four letterwinners returning, including all-Big Ten Freshmen team selection Emily Moran, Iowa Head Coach Ron Rainey believes the addition of Spellerberg will add competition to the position.
“Rachel will add to the competition level in goal for us,” Rainey said. “She has a passion for the game and that will help her at the college level.”
Spellerberg has shown her athleticism on the hardwood, as she was a three-year letterwinner for Kennedy’s women’s basketball team, earning honorable mention honors as a guard/forward. She plans on majoring in pharmacy at Iowa.