Rachel Lenz Photo Gallery

“We are all very excited to have Rachel join us at Texas A&M. She is an incredible young lady and is going to have a wonderful impact on our team’s success. Many people have rated her as the top defender in the state and the southern United States, and as one of the very best defenders in the nation in her age group. She is fast, fearless, smart, dominant in air battles and skillful. She is a great addition to our team.

“Rachel comes to us from the Lonestars Soccer Club in Austin, Texas, where she was coached by JD Cochran. We have several great players from that club in our team right now (Rachael Balaguer, Chelsea Jones and Nora Skelton) and have always been impressed with the high level of soccer-athletes that have matriculated through the Lonestars program. While serving as a captain for several seasons, Rachel has a great history of being an outstanding leader and teammate.

“We feel especially blessed to have Rachel at A&M a semester early. She is already working out with the team and (as we anticipated) has fit into our soccer family environment with ease. She has looked great in the weight room, in speed-development training, and during our on-field sessions.  Being here for our entire non-traditional season this spring will provide great developmental opportunities for Rachel, as well as some vital college experience prior to the start of her actual freshman season this fall.  By that time I know that she will be fully integrated into our program.”

– Coach G

• U-20 Women’s National Team camp (2009)
• Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region III team (2006-10)
• ODP Region III team international trips to Spain and Brazil
• South Texas ODP State Team (2004-08)
• Captain of Lonestars ’91
• State champions (2006, 08-09)
• Regional quarterfinalists (2006, 08-09)
• EDDOA Premier League (2005-08)
• Premier League Champions (2008)
• Two-year letterwinner at Round Rock High School
• All Cen-Tex Newcomer of the Year (2007)
• First team all-district (2008)
• One-year letterwinner at St. Stephens Soccer Academy
• Adidas Elite Soccer Program (2008)
• Academic honors all four years
• Student Class Council three years
• Born July 1, 1991
• Daughter of Russel and Cindy Lenz
• One brother, Aaron (23)

Sara Ellis Photo Gallery

“Sara is an outstanding student-athlete who will be able to immediately compete for playing time in several positions on the field for the Aggies in 2010. She is a natural athlete, who is fast, agile and skillful, and who is also a very strong student, accustomed to earning straight A’s in challenging courses.

“Sara has a history of success while competing as a wide player for her high school, ODP, and club teams.  She has done well as a defender at The Woodlands High School and as a member of the South Texas Olympic Development team.  Meanwhile, she’s been a good attacking option as a midfielder or wide forward with Pat O’Toole’s Challenge ’92 club team.

“She joins a long list of other Aggie players who’ve been developed in Pat O’Toole’s Challenge Soccer Club, including current A&M players Whitney Hooper, Nicole Ketchum, Amber and Lyndsey Gnatzig, Katie Hamilton, Kat Armstrong, and Megan Majewski.

“Having great speed and experience in a variety of positions makes her a very valuable player for us at A&M. I am confident that she’ll do very well in our competitive team environment, and I know that she will fit perfectly with the Aggie community.  She comes from a wonderful Aggie family – her dad is an A&M grad, and her brother and sister are already here on campus as students. Plus, her uncle is legendary Aggie football coach R.C. Slocum, so she’s a natural fit in Aggieland.”

– Coach G

• Member of Challenge Soccer Club (2004-present)
• Texas State Cup Champions (2005-09)
• Region III Finalists (2006, ’08)
• National League (2008-09)
• Eclipse Select Challenge Champions, Chicago, Ill.
• Quarterfinals, Las Vegas Invitational
• Premier League Champions (2009)
• South Texas Olympic Development Program (ODP) Team (2005-08)
• Region III ODP State Champion Team (2007)
• Three-year letterwinner at The Woodlands High School
• Texas 5-A State Finalist (2009)
• Region II Champions (2009)
• District 14-5A Champions (2008-09)
• Region III Finalist (2008)
• First team all-district (2009)
• Academic all-district (2008-09)
• Defensive MVP at The John Cooper School (2006)
• Competed in track and field and volleyball (2006-07)
• Volunteer for TOPS Soccer Program, Adopt a Family, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and a reading buddy for Elementary School Program
• Born Feb. 11, 1992
• Daughter of Mark (’79) and Julia Ellis
• Two siblings, Preston (’11) and Jenna (’13)