Jenna Bike Explained

Jenna Bike
Birth Date:2 February 1998[1]
Birth Place:Trumbull, Connecticut, United States
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Chicago Red Stars
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2012–2015
Youthclubs1:St. Joseph High Cadets
Collegeyears1:2016–2021
College1:Boston College Eagles
Collegecaps1:89
Collegegoals1:18
Clubs1:NJ/NY Gotham FC
Years1:2022
Caps1:9
Goals1:0
Clubs2:Chicago Red Stars
Years2:2023–
Caps2:31
Goals2:1
Nationalteam1:United States U18
Nationalyears1:2014
Club-Update:July 31, 2024

Jenna Bike (born May 18, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Early life

Bike is a native of Trumbull, Connecticut, where she played youth club soccer.[2]

Youth career

Bike attended St. Joseph High School, where she played girls' soccer for the St. Joseph High Cadets. In her sophomore season in 2013, Bike scored 40 goals and was credited with 35 assists, and the Cadets reached and won the Connecticut state championship match. In her senior season, Bike scored 25 goals, and the Cadets won the Class L state championship again with a record.[3] She scored a goal and was credited with an assist in the Cadets' 2–0 Class L finals match victory against Suffield High School, completing her high school career with 79 goals and 45 assists, both school records.[4]

Bike was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America national high school player of the year on December 8, 2015,[5] [6] and a Gatorade Connecticut Player of the Year twice.[3] [7] [8]

In November 2022, Bike was inducted into the Connecticut Girls' Soccer Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.[9]

College career

In 2016, Bike began playing NCAA Division I women's soccer for the Boston College Eagles as a forward.[1] [8]

Bike suffered an injury that kept her from playing her senior season in 2019[8] and required 13 months of rehabilitation, which she performed herself due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She graduated from Boston College's nursing program in 2020 and registered for the 2020 NWSL College Draft, but was not selected and returned to Boston College for two graduate seasons of play while pursuing a master's degree, then a doctorate degree, in nursing practice.[9] She also worked at Boston College as a nurse.[2]

By the end of her career with the Eagles in 2021, Bike made 89 appearances, 88 of them starts, and played a total of 6,461 minutes. She scored 18 goals and was credited with 15 assists, and was named the team's captain for her final two seasons.[8] [10]

Club career

In 2022, NWSL club NJ/NY Gotham FC invited Bike to its open tryouts, and she stepped away from her doctorate program to pursue a professional soccer career.[2]

NJ/NY Gotham FC (2022)

On February 1, 2022, Gotham named Bike to its preseason roster as a non-roster invitee.[11] Bike trained with the team as a practice player after tryouts, then signed a National Team Replacement Player (NTRP) contract with Gotham FC on June 27, 2022.[12] Gotham moved Bike from forward to right back, where she trained on the position with goalkeeper Michelle Betos and center back Ali Krieger,[2] both of whom had also joined Gotham that season.[11]

Bike debuted for Gotham on June 2, 2022, against the Chicago Red Stars. On August 5, 2022, days after the expiration of her NTR contract, Bike signed a full contract with Gotham FC in August 2022.[2] [13]

Gotham waived Bike in November 2022.

Chicago Red Stars (2023–)

In January 2023, Chicago Red Stars coach Chris Petrucelli contacted Bike about the team's need for a winger.[14] The team subsequently signed Bike from the NWSL waiver wire to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, where she returned to playing as a forward.[14] [10] [15]

International career

Bike attended United States women's national under-18 soccer team training camp in 2015.[3]

Personal life

Bike has two younger sisters, Julia and Tory, both of whom play soccer.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jenna Bike . . June 1, 2023.
  2. Web site: Tonelli . Jenna . September 30, 2022 . From a Nurse to a Pro, Jenna Bike Reflects on Her First Season with Gotham FC . June 1, 2023 . Nets Republic . en-US.
  3. News: Times . Trumbull . December 9, 2015 . Soccer: Jenna Bike National Player of the Year . June 1, 2023 . The Trumbull Times . en-US.
  4. February 8, 2016 . Faces in the Crowd . Ali . Fenwick . June 1, 2023 . . en-us.
  5. News: St. Joseph's Bike named National Player of the Year in girls soccer . December 8, 2015 . June 1, 2023 . . Doug . Bonjour.
  6. News: December 18, 2015 . NSCAA announces 2015 National Players of the Year (Women/Girls) . June 1, 2023 . SoccerWire . en.
  7. News: February 4, 2016 . Connecticut Girls Soccer POY: Jenna Bike . June 1, 2023 . USA TODAY High School Sports . . en-US.
  8. Web site: Jenna Bike - Women's Soccer . June 1, 2023 . . en.
  9. November 11, 2021 . Jenna Bike '16 Inducted into CGSCA Hall of Fame! . June 1, 2023 . www.sjcadets.org . en-US.
  10. News: January 11, 2023 . Red Stars sign F Jenna Bike to 2-year contract . June 1, 2023 . . . en.
  11. News: Lewis . Michael . February 1, 2022 . MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM: Gotham FC unveils 30-player preseason roster . June 1, 2023 . Front Row Soccer . en-US.
  12. June 27, 2022 . Jenna Bike & Amanda Visco Join Gotham FC as National Team Replacements . June 1, 2023 . . en-us.
  13. August 5, 2022 . NJ/NY Gotham FC Signs National Team Replacement Jenna Bike to Senior Contract . June 1, 2023 . . en-us.
  14. Web site: Tonelli . Jenna . June 1, 2023 . With the Chicago Red Stars, Jenna Bike is trusting the process . June 1, 2023 . All For XI . en.
  15. Web site: Dell'Apa . Frank . March 16, 2023 . NWSL: Why BC alum, Connecticut native Jenna Bike found the right fit with Red Stars . June 1, 2023 . New England Soccer Journal . en-US.
  16. News: Morelli . Joe . October 24, 2022 . Julia Bike keys St. Joseph's defense as Cadets prep for another long girl soccer postseason run . June 1, 2023 . CT Insider . en-US.