Two Thunder Players Announce Retirement

Published on December 30, 2002 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (Dec. 30, 2002) - The Minnesota Thunder announced today the retirement of two players, midfielder Mike Gentile and defender Eric Otto.

"These are two of the most respectable players that the Thunder has ever seen," said Thunder General Manager Jim Froslid. "Their accomplishments on and off the field are extraordinary."

Gentile, 28, retires on the heals of a 2002 season in which he played in 25 games scoring 2 goals and 2 assists. He was the team's most valuable player in 2001.

After spending four seasons and winning one A-League title with the Milwaukee Rampage, Gentile joined the Thunder in July 1999 and played an instrumental role in helping the Thunder win its first and only A-League Championship.

Gentile, a Livonia Michigan native, played his college soccer at the University of Wisconsin, where he helped the team win the 1995 NCAA title over Otto's Duke Blue Devils. He remains the only player in the country to win an NCAA championship and A-League titles with two different clubs.

Otto, 25, retires having won the Thunder Humanitarian Award the last two seasons. He has become one of the team's elite players with his community involvement. Otto's most productive season on the field came in 2001 where he started 17 games and played over 1500 minutes.

After winning two state championships with St. Paul Academy, Otto played his college soccer at Duke University, before returning to Minnesota in 1999 when the Thunder selected him in the second round of the A-League draft. He made his professional debut on May 29, 1999, in a 7-0 home win over El Paso.

The Thunder coaching staff anticipates Otto's replacement to come from one of its two draft choices -- Dustin Brannan or Taylor Graham. The team will look to current players Hugo Llamas or Matt Schmidt to fill the void left by Gentile.

With their professional soccer careers behind them, the two will move forward in vastly different career ventures. Gentile will look to advance his professional career in the restaurant business, while Otto has been accepted to the U.S. Air Force.

The Minnesota Thunder, founded in 1990, is a professional soccer franchise that plays in the Western Conference of the 19-team A-League. The Thunder's home schedule runs May through September at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Information on single-game and season tickets, as well as youth camps, can be found on the team's website www.mnthunder.com or by calling 763-785-3668.

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