Reinaldo Brenes

Classroom

Brenes is one of the top student-athletes at Akron, posting a 3.90 GPA as an International Business major through his junior season. For his accomplishments, Reinaldo was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team in 2012 after first earning Academic All-Mid-American Conference honors.

Character

Brenes, who inspires those around him with a lead-by-example attitude, was a freshman during the Zips’ NCAA National Championship season of 2010 and has since developed into a veteran leader on the team. As a team captain in 2013, the native of Costa Rica will be counted on to provide even more guidance this fall as the Zips attempt to get back to the College Cup after reaching the Round of 16 in each of the last two seasons.

Community

Brenes has devoted hours of community service in his native land of Costa Rica, locally in Akron and in the Great Northwest during his college career. Specifically, Reinaldo volunteers at the St. Bernard - St. Mary Homeless Shelter, helping to serve food to the needy during the spring. In addition, he has visited special needs children in his native land and interacted with middle school children on field days with his Portland Timbers Under-23 teammates during the summer.

Competition

Brenes enjoyed a breakout season in 2012, leading the Zips with a career-best 11 goals – which ranked him 21st nationally - and four game-winners. Moreover, he recorded the game-winning strike in three consecutive matches from the end of September to early October and bagged his first career hat trick, finding the net three times against Buffalo on Sept. 29. His 11 goals are even more impressive considering he was limited to just 17 matches and 13 starts due to injury. His big play ability will be a key to the Zips success in 2013.