The 2022 Union Omaha continues to grow and yesterday’s announcements were no let-down for Búhos Nation. The club announced four additions to the roster and each player brings a wealth of experience, grit, and in some cases, a little pizzazz. This will be part one of four that will focus on the new players. First up, let’s welcome Gabriel Claudio.
Standing tall at 6’2”, Claudio bolsters an impressive-looking backline for the upcoming season. Even though fans will see him playing defense, don’t be surprised to see his jersey advancing up the field and making a difference on the other side of the midline. Claudio loves to make plays on defense, but is just as eager to push up and add some spice to the offense. This mindset isn’t a new tool to his arsenal. He’s been living on both sides of the ball and receiving awards every step of the way.
Gabriel Claudio started his playing career at Junior College powerhouse Yavapai College (editor’s note: JP Scearce was a star at Yavapai) in Prescott, Arizona. Fitting into an elite group didn’t take long for Claudio and he quickly made a name for himself. By the end of his sophomore season, he was racking up awards, like being named to the 2019 NJCAA First Team All-Region, United Soccer Coaches All-West First Team, and even runner-up for the 2019 Region Player of the Year.
After spending two years at Yavapai College, Claudio transferred to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV). Again, he wasted little time in making an impact on his new team. In his first season with the Rebels, he had already started in 11 matches and even scored the game-winner vs Houston Baptist. His second year with the program only pressed harder on the gas pedal, as he started all 18 matches, scored 1 goal, and earned 3 assists. For his hard work, he was recognized as a 2021 All-WAC Honorable Mention.
In the Union Omaha press release, head coach Jay Mims recognized his abilities and praised his potential, saying:
“Gabe is an athletic defender who is excited to come in and learn and develop. He is a competitor who loves to be challenged and fight for the team. I’m so happy to have Gabe joining our team as I know he is ready to learn and develop.”
Claudio released a quote for the press release, as well. In it, he said, ““I’m excited to get started in Omaha and give everything I have for the organization!” Once the announcement was released on Twitter, he couldn’t contain his excitement there, either. Claudio responded with, “Blessed with this opportunity! Excited for the journey!!!”
When you watch the highlights below, you’ll see exactly why Union Omaha head coach Jay Mims was so keen on Claudio joining his squad. He’s a quality defender who is fast, strong, and extends plays. While not a primary scoring threat, he shows eagerness to be cog in a scoring machine. Back on defense, you can see that he’s not afraid to get physical and often wins those battles, too. One specific item to watch for in his highlight reels is how he works the set pieces. He likes to feign non-involvement in the play, waits for the defense to forget about him, and then throws himself into the mix right as the ball comes into play. Oh, if you thought you were going to miss out on any dance moves due to the absence of former-Owl Devin Boyce, Claudio has you covered. Take a look at his highlight reel and you’ll see that the world is his dance floor.
Stay tuned for part two, where we take a look at the next Owl to join the club.
Who Gives A Hoot? 