August 12, 2020 (Las Vegas, NV) — When Las Vegas Lights FC launched in 2018 it announced the “Lights FC Homegrown Player Program” presented by Nevada State College. This initiative set forth a firm commitment by Lights FC to become the first professional sports team to guarantee that at all times in its future history it would always have at least one player on its roster that was either born in Las Vegas, raised in Las Vegas and/or went to college in Las Vegas before their professional career began. Today, in year three of the Club’s existence, Lights FC announced Blake Frischknecht as the eighth player in club history to be a “Home Grown Player.”
Frischknecht, 24 years old, starred at Centennial High School where he was named first-team All-State, All-Sunset Region and All-Northwest Division. He initially attended college at Brigham Young University before taking a two-year hiatus to complete a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. Upon returning to the States he joined the NCAA Division One soccer program at Utah Valley University where he thrived setting numerous school & conference goal scoring records and was named the WAC Offensive Player of Year.
However, Lights FC fans will likely remember Frischknecht’s goal scoring prowess when he led his summer amateur team — Orange County FC — into Cashman Field during last year’s 2019 U.S. Open Cup and scored the game winning goal in the 89th minute.
Most recently, Frischknecht’s senior season in college was unfortunately cut short due to a knee injury that required surgery — and caused him to have to forego the 2020 MLS Draft where he was widely considered to be a high draft pick had he not been injured. Frischknecht has been training with Lights FC for many months during his rehabilitation and was cleared this week for full contact play setting in motion today’s official signing.
Below is a list of all previous Lights FC Home Grown Players Presented by Nevada State College:
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Thomas Olsen (Born & Raised in Las Vegas; Attended Bishop Gorman H.S.) (2018, 2019, 2020)
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Angel Alvarez (Born & Raised in Las Vegas, Attended Rancho H.S.) (2018, 2019, 2020)
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Matt Thomas (Born & Raised in Las Vegas; Attended Palo Verde H.S.) (2018 & 2019)
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Julian Portugal (Raised in Las Vegas, Played for UNLV Soccer) (2018)
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Marco Jaime (Born in North Las Vegas) (2018)
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Sebastian Hernandez (Raised in Las Vegas, Attended Bonanza H.S.; Played for UNLV Soccer) (2018)
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Adolfo Guzman (Born & Raised in Las Vegas; Attended S.E. Career & Technical Academy) (2018)
The Lights FC Home Grown Player Initiative is proudly presented by Nevada State College. Located on more than 500 acres in Henderson, Nevada State College was founded in 2002 and is one of the fastest growing educational institutions from a percentage basis not just in Nevada (but the entire country). With over 3,000 undergraduate students representing our diverse community, Nevada State College is a proud partner of Lights FC. Be Bold. Be Great. Be STATE!
