Baylor adds eight players to 2023 recruiting class

WACO, Texas – The Baylor University soccer program added eight players to the 2023 recruiting class, as announced by head coach Michelle Lenard.

The class features five hailing from Texas and one each from Nebraska, Florida and Illinois, with the group set to take the pitch in the fall of 2023.

“We are extremely excited to welcome eight new Bears to the team today,” Lenard said. “We have a wonderful mix of talent that has shown a combination of high soccer IQ, athleticism, competitive mentality and most importantly, high-character individuals.  These eight girls all exhibit characteristics that we value here at Baylor, and we know they will be tremendous additions to our team. It’s a great day to be a Baylor Bear!”

Adriana Merriam
Midfielder, Evanston, Ill., Evanston Township High School, FC United

Adriana Merriam signs with Baylor out of Evanston, Ill., and Evanston Township High School. She played club for FC United under coach Sean Palacios.

Merriam helped lead her team to a fourth-place finish at state, while picking up 3A Conference Sectional Best Player honors for two-straight seasons. In her junior campaign, she was named to the Central Suburban League All-Conference team. Merriam also tallied nine goals in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Academically, Merriam is a four-time honor roll recipient and has been a part of the Latin Academic honor roll for four years. She volunteers for Girls Play Sports.

Brianna Chesley
Forward, Ormond Beach, Fla., Seabreeze High School, Florida Elite Soccer Academy

Brianna Chesley signs with Baylor out of Ormond Beach, Fla., and Seabreeze High School. She played club for Florida Elite Soccer Academy under coach Sean Bubb.

Chesley helped lead her team to a district championship, while picking up MVP in her junior campaign and the team’s best forward award her sophomore year. She led her team in goals scored her sophomore and junior years.

Off the field, Chesley was in her schools AICE Cambridge program and National Honor Society, while taking college courses and keeping a 3.9 GPA.

Callie Conrad
Forward, Mansfield, Texas, Lake Ridge High School, Solar Soccer Club

Callie Conrad signs with Baylor out of Mansfield, Texas and Lake Ridge High School. She played club for Solar Soccer Club under coach Jason Bates.

Conrad was named First team All-District and District MVP during her high school campaign. She scored a school-record 27 goals last season and was named Offensive Player of the Year.

Academically, Conrad is in the top 3 percent of her class and a member of National Honor Society. She was also named Academic All-District.

Claire Kniss
Defender, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southwest High School, Gretna Elite Academy

Claire Kniss signs with Baylor out of Lincoln, Neb., and Lincoln Southwest High School. She played club for Gretna Elite Academy under coach Chad Gleckler.

Kniss, a three-time letterwinner at her high school, helped lead her team to back-to-back state tournament appearances. She played in every game, except for senior night last season, and was fourth on the team in assists.

Off the field, she is a three-time academic letter and athlete scholar recipient and recorded a perfect score on her ACT. She is a 2022 AP Scholar Award honoree and a member of the National Honor Society.

Georgia Mulholland
Defender, Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point High School, Albion 05 ECNL

Georgia Mulholland signs with Baylor out of Missouri City, Texas, and Ridge Point High School. She played club for Albion 05 ECNL under coach Rafa Brazo.

Mulholland helped lead her team to two state semifinals in her freshman and junior years and a state final her sophomore year. She was named to the TAPPS All-State second team for her sophomore campaign. After her team posted a 26-1 record her junior year, Mulholland was named 6A All-State first team, All-District first team and team MVP.

Academically, she was named to the Academic All-District team after her junior year.

Kaitlin Swann
Midfielder, Dallas, Texas, The Covenant School of Dallas, Dallas Sting Black ECNL U19

Kaitlin Swann signs with Baylor out of Dallas, Texas, and The Covenant School of Dallas. She played club for Dallas Sting Black ECNL U19 under coach Marcus Kelcher.

Swann helped lead her team to two runner-up finishes at state and a state championship her sophomore season. She is a two-year varsity captain and two-time offensive player of the year. She holds the Covenant record for most career goals (boys and girls) and ended with 119, which led her to be named team MVP. Swann is a three-time First Team All-District, All-State and All-Tournament selection.

Off the field, Swann is currently Summa Cum Laude and a member of National Honor Society, National Art Society and National English Honor Society.

Skylar Zinnecker
Forward, Austin, Texas, Westwood High School, Classic Elites ECNL 05

Skylar Zinnecker signs with Baylor out of Austin, Texas, and Westwood High School. She played club for Classic Elites ECNL 05 under coach Aaron Metzger.

Zinnecker helped her team to an undefeated district season in 2022, garnering Offensive MVP honors for the district and First Team All-Region recognition. She led the team in both goals and assists her freshman and sophomore seasons, while picking up First team All-District and First Team All-Region honors in both years. She also won the 2020 District Newcomer of the Year award in her freshman campaign.

Off the field, Zinnecker was named an AP Scholar in 2022 and was a member of the Pacesetters organization for three years.

Theresa McCullough
Midfielder, Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine High School, DKSC U18/U19 ECNL

Theresa McCullough signs with Baylor out of Grapevine, Texas, and Grapevine High School. She played club for DKSC U18/U19 ECNL under coach Michael Bones.

McCullough helped lead her team to a second-place finish at state in 2022 and a third-place finish in 2021. She was awarded team and District MVP in her junior year while also garnering First Team All-State and All-Tournament honors. In her freshman season, she was named the team and district newcomer of the year. So far in her career, she has tallied 62 total goals and 76 assists.

Academically, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and is in the top 10 percent of her class.

2023 Baylor Soccer Signees

Adriana Merriam
Midfielder, Evanston, Ill., Evanston Township High School, FC United

Brianna Chesley
Forward, Ormond Beach, Fla., Seabreeze High School, Florida Elite Soccer Academy

Callie Conrad
Forward, Mansfield, Texas, Lake Ridge High School, Solar Soccer Club

Claire Kniss
Defender, Lincoln, Neb., Lincoln Southwest High School, Gretna Elite Academy

Georgia Mulholland
Defender, Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point High School, Albion 05 ECNL

Kaitlin Swann
Midfielder, Dallas, Texas, The Covenant School of Dallas, Dallas Sting black ECNL U19

Skylar Zinnecker
Forward, Austin, Texas, Westwood High School, Classic Elites ECNL 05

Theresa McCullough
Midfielder, Grapevine, Texas, Grapevine High School, DKSC U18/U19 ECNL