Photo: Femi Hollinger-Janzen (in red) defends against a player from Notre Dame in a 2012 match during his time at Indiana University in Bloomington. Hollinger-Janzen was drafted by the New England Revolution, a Major League Soccer team, on Jan. 19. Photo by Everett Thomas.

 For the first time, two Mennonite high school graduates were chosen during the Major League Soccer SuperDraft. Keegan Rosenberry, a 2012 graduate of Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite Schools (LMS), was the third overall pick, chosen by the Philadelphia Union. Oluwafemi “Femi” Hollinger-Janzen, a 2012 graduate of Bethany Christian High School (BCHS) in Goshen, Ind., was the 51^st pick, joining the ranks of the New England Revolution.

This is not the first time Rosenberry and Hollinger-Janzen’s stories have intertwined. During their freshman season, their teams went head-to-head in the 2012 NCAA national championship game.

Rosenberry, originally from Ronks, Pa., was a four-year starter on defense at Georgetown University in

Washington, D.C. He played 90 games with the Hoyas during his college career.

Rosenberry, who attended the live draft in Baltimore, was stunned and excited to be chosen so early and was excited to be headed to his hometown team, the Philadelphia Union. In the past, Rosenberry trained with the Union and participated in a training match against the Union during the Georgetown preseason in August. Prior to college, Rosenberry played with the Union reserve team.

“It was one of the days I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” says Rosenberry, reflecting on the draft. “I was hoping for Philly because it was close to home, and anytime you’re familiar with an environment going in, it gives you more confidence.”

According to his parents, Rob and Candy Rosenberry, playing professional soccer has been Keegan’s dream since elementary school, and the whole family has traveled to tournaments, attended games and supported him along the way. In high school, Rosenberry helped lead LMS’s team to a state championship in 2011. Rosenberry was selected as the most valuable player.

For Rosenberry, time at LMS was about soccer but also about development as a person. He made a last-minute decision to attend the private Mennonite school and is glad he did.

Fred Winey, men’s head soccer coach at LMS, says that while it was obvious from the start that Rosenberry had tremendous technical skills, he was set apart by his ability to see the big picture and “relentless determination” and his positive team leadership.

“In the midst of Keegan’s desire to achieve things on the athletic field, I believe the team culture as well as the school environment as a whole helped Keegan see athletics in their proper perspective and challenged him to use his platform as a way of using his gifts to serve and honor the Lord,” says Winey. “I feel confident that as Keegan takes this next step in his soccer career he will do so full of confidence, knowing that his value is not wrapped up in the quality of his performance but instead comes from the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Femi Hollinger-Janzen was in his dorm room at Indiana University in Bloomington, playing video games with his roommate, when he learned that he had been selected by the New England Revolution.

“We saw my name pop up and just went crazy and ecstatic,” says Hollinger-Janzen. “For five minutes we were just yelling.”

During his time at IU, Hollinger-Janzen racked up 22 goals as a forward and midfielder and was part of the 2012 NCAA National Championship team.

“It truly is a dream come true,” he says. “Ever since I was a kid, I loved soccer and always wanted to play professionally. Coach Yeagley [of IU] started talking to me a few years ago about next steps, and it started hitting me that I could maybe legitimately play at the next level.”

Hollinger-Janzen also credits Bethany Christian Schools, where he attended middle and high school, for shaping him into both the person and player he is today and for providing ongoing support throughout college. According to Rod Hollinger-Janzen, Femi’s father, IU players and coaches started referring to the mass of fans from Bethany and Femi’s home congregation, Waterford Mennonite Church in Goshen, who would turn up to watch games as “Femi’s army.”

At Bethany, Hollinger-Janzen tallied a school record 67 goals and 23 assists in four years, was named 2011 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and 2011 Indiana Player of the Year. In 2012, the Goshen City Council passed a resolution honoring Femi’s stellar high school career.

Hank Willems, principal at BCS, coached Hollinger-Janzen as both a middle and high school student. In a phone interview, he noted that while Hollinger-Janzen’s talent was always obvious, it was his determination and work ethic that really took him to the next level.

“At Bethany, you’re not just known as an athlete or musician or a person in drama. People get to know

you on a very personal level, and when you are good at things, everyone really takes pride in that. They know you as a person first and then they celebrate your talents with you,” said Willems. “And Femi is an outgoing guy and got to know a lot of people. When Femi would play Notre Dame [in South Bend, Ind.], we’d have 100 people there from Bethany watching him.”

Rod Hollinger-Janzen is grateful for the support of Christian church and school communities who have supported Femi in his work to achieve his dream of playing professional soccer.

“I think it’s helped Femi to realize that soccer can fit into a Christian community framework,” says Rod. “It’s really cool to see how people have embraced him in the abilities that he has rather than expecting him to be something else.”

Although the two players don’t know each other personally, they are well-aware that their selections are making ripples in Mennonite settings.

“It’s great for the Mennonite community,” says Rosenberry. “For anybody, let alone two guys from smaller high schools and Mennonite backgrounds to make it is big. Hopefully it excites people in the future of soccer.”

Hollinger-Janzen and Rosenberry will begin training with their teams this week. The 2016 MLS season begins March 6. The New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union will face each other on March 20.

To read more about Femi Hollinger-Janzen’s story, check out the 2014 cover article from The Mennonite magazine.