Houston Christian University Head Coach
Ryan Pratt has his seventh signing for the 2025 recruiting class, announcing the addition of Chris Grote on Wednesday afternoon.
A 6'1 defender from Chandler, Arizona, Grote attends Hamilton High School. He currently plays club soccer for Phoenix Rising MLS Next Pro Academy and has also spent time with Real Salt Lake MLS Academy.
PRATT ON GROTE:
"Chris is a talented central defender with ability to play any of the three center back roles. He reads the game very well, is good in the air, covers ground well, and is tough-physical defender. He has top end technical ability that fits our building style of play! Chris is a great fit in all aspects that are HCU and we are thrilled to have him with us!"
With the addition of Grote, the 2025 recruiting class grows to seven total. He joins the following previous signings:
⚽️ Marcos Moore –Forward / St. Louis University
⚽️ Kacey Parrish – Midfielder / Lake Erie College
⚽️ Jace Starling – Forward / Paris Junior College
⚽️ Nico Kross – Defender / East Tennessee State University
⚽️ Angel Jaimes – Goalkeeper / Houston Dynamo Academy
⚽️ Nygel Jobe – Midfielder / Defender / Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
HCU ended its second season in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 8-7-5 overall mark and 5-2-3 ledger in league play. Seven players earned postseason honors for the Huskies, including outgoing seniors
Sam Zeeman, who was chosen OVC Defensive Player of the Year and named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region team, and
Ethan Giwa-McNeil.
Ryan Okerayi and
D'Alessandro Herrera were each named to the All-Conference team for the second straight year, while goalkeeper
Alex Aitken earned All-Conference honors for the first time.
The Huskies finished ahead of Liberty, UIW and Western Illinois in their four-team pod and earn a first-round bye in the conference tournament where they handled Lindenwood in the semifinals 2-0 before falling in a heartbreaking 3-2 double-overtime loss to two-time defending champ SIUE in the title match.
The third-place finish in the league overall came one season after not qualifying for the tournament in the OVC's first season. HCU's eight wins overall were the most since 2015 team won nine matches, and also the first winning record in a season since that 2015 club. The five conference victories were the most since going 5-6 in the WAC during the 2019 season.
#DawgsUp
