Ava Gertz, a senior forward for Prairie Ridge High School, has officially committed to join the soccer program at Indiana State University, marking a significant addition to the Sycamores' roster.
Over her last three varsity seasons she has recorded 37 goals and nine assists, helping the Wolves to a 9‑6 record and tying for second in the Fox Valley Conference with 20 goals during her junior year.
High School Highlights
Her performances earned All‑Fox Valley Conference honors, a Northwest Herald first‑team selection and IHSSCA All‑Sectional recognition, underscoring her status as one of the area’s top returning scorers.
Club experience with the Chicago Inferno and Rockford Raptors broadened her exposure, culminating in a recruitment breakthrough after an impressive showcase in March.
Family Legacy and Academic Plans
Gertz follows a family tradition of soccer excellence; her mother, Lindsay Gertz, starred at Wauconda High School and later played NCAA Division‑I soccer at the University of Illinois.
At Indiana State she intends to study physical therapy, blending her athletic ambitions with a focus on health care.
Future Outlook
Coaches anticipate that her scoring prowess will place her among the top returning offensive threats in the upcoming season, and her presence could help the Sycamores make a deeper run in the IHSA Class 2A playoffs.