Gregg Thompson
Encyclopedia
Gregg Thompson is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who was the 1983 North American Soccer League
Rookie of the Year. He spent two season in the NASL and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1984 Summer Olympics
and earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team
when he was fourteen. He became a star athlete at Stillwater High School
. The school did not have a soccer team, so Thompson played football and ran track while playing soccer with local youth clubs. He was an outstanding running back, averaging 8.9 yards per carry over his high school career. He earned All State honors and received football athletic scholarship offers from the University of Colorado
, University of Minnesota
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. He was also went to the state finals in track his senior year. While he was an excellent football player, he preferred soccer and chose to attend the Indiana University when that school offered him an athletic scholarship to play soccer.http://stillwatergazette.com/articles/2006/01/26/sports/sports12.txt Thompson was the Minnesota High School Athlete of the Year when he graduated from Stillwater in 1978.
Thompson joined the Hoosiers in 1978. He did not play in 1979, but became a regular through the 1980-1982 seasons. In 1982, he captained Indiana as it ran to the NCAA championship game
. In that game, Indiana went up against Duke University
and its top defenseman Joe Ulrich
. Thompson scored the first goal, but Duke replied and the game ended tied at one all. The game was in its eighth overtime when Ulrich fouled Thompson just outside the box. Thompson replied with a swerving free kick which found the net, giving Indiana its first national title. Thompson would come in second in the balloting for the Hermann Trophy
that year, losing to Ulrich.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
selected Thompson with the number one selection in the 1983 MISL Draft. Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
selected Thompson with the first pick in the 1983 NASL college draft. He elected to sign with the Rowdies and was named the 1983 NASL Rookie of the Year after playing thirty games. Following the 1984 NASL season, the league collapsed. After the collapse of the NASL, the Rowdies traded Thompson to the Minnesota Strikers
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He remained with the Strikers through the 1987-1988 MISL season before retiring.
as it prepared for the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles
. Thompson played all three games for the U.S. at the Olympics, including scoring the U.S. goal in its 1-1 tie with Egypt. The U.S. finished the first round at 1-1-1 and failed to qualify for the second round.
Even before the Olympic games, Thomspon had earned his first cap with the U.S. national team in a May 20, 1984 scoreless tie with Italy
. He would go on to play a total of 12 times for the full national team between 1984 and 1985, including several qualification matches for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. His last national team game came in the May 31, 1985 debacle in Torrance, California when the U.S. lost to Costa Rica
. That loss cost the U.S. a spot in the final round of qualifications.
Defender
Defender usually refers to a position in association football .Defender or The Defender may also refer to:-Film and television:* The Defender or The Bodyguard from Beijing, a film starring Jet Li...
who was the 1983 North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
Rookie of the Year. He spent two season in the NASL and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team
High school and college
Thompson spent his early youth in California before moving Stillwater, MinnesotaStillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
when he was fourteen. He became a star athlete at Stillwater High School
Stillwater Area High School
Stillwater Area High School is a public school located in Oak Park Heights, Minnesota and is part of the Stillwater Area Public Schools - District 834...
. The school did not have a soccer team, so Thompson played football and ran track while playing soccer with local youth clubs. He was an outstanding running back, averaging 8.9 yards per carry over his high school career. He earned All State honors and received football athletic scholarship offers from the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. He was also went to the state finals in track his senior year. While he was an excellent football player, he preferred soccer and chose to attend the Indiana University when that school offered him an athletic scholarship to play soccer.http://stillwatergazette.com/articles/2006/01/26/sports/sports12.txt Thompson was the Minnesota High School Athlete of the Year when he graduated from Stillwater in 1978.
Thompson joined the Hoosiers in 1978. He did not play in 1979, but became a regular through the 1980-1982 seasons. In 1982, he captained Indiana as it ran to the NCAA championship game
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
. In that game, Indiana went up against Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
and its top defenseman Joe Ulrich
Joe Ulrich
Joe Ulrich is a retired U.S. soccer defender. He won the 1982 Hermann Trophy as that year's top collegiate soccer player. He also played three seasons with in the Major Indoor Soccer League.-Youth and college:Ulrich attended Arlington High School...
. Thompson scored the first goal, but Duke replied and the game ended tied at one all. The game was in its eighth overtime when Ulrich fouled Thompson just outside the box. Thompson replied with a swerving free kick which found the net, giving Indiana its first national title. Thompson would come in second in the balloting for the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
that year, losing to Ulrich.
Professional
The Los Angeles LazersLos Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
selected Thompson with the number one selection in the 1983 MISL Draft. Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
selected Thompson with the first pick in the 1983 NASL college draft. He elected to sign with the Rowdies and was named the 1983 NASL Rookie of the Year after playing thirty games. Following the 1984 NASL season, the league collapsed. After the collapse of the NASL, the Rowdies traded Thompson to the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He remained with the Strikers through the 1987-1988 MISL season before retiring.
National and Olympic teams
At the end of the 1983 NASL season, Thompson joined the U.S. Olympic teamUnited States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
as it prepared for the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Thompson played all three games for the U.S. at the Olympics, including scoring the U.S. goal in its 1-1 tie with Egypt. The U.S. finished the first round at 1-1-1 and failed to qualify for the second round.
Even before the Olympic games, Thomspon had earned his first cap with the U.S. national team in a May 20, 1984 scoreless tie with Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He would go on to play a total of 12 times for the full national team between 1984 and 1985, including several qualification matches for the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. His last national team game came in the May 31, 1985 debacle in Torrance, California when the U.S. lost to Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
. That loss cost the U.S. a spot in the final round of qualifications.