Michelle Lynn Lomnicki (née Wenino; born May 3, 1987) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender.

Michelle Lomnicki
Wenino with the Chicago Red Stars in 2013
Personal information
Full name Michelle Lynn Lomnicki
Birth name Michelle Lynn Wenino[1]
Date of birth (1987-05-03) May 3, 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth Aurora, Colorado, United States
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Colorado Buffaloes
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009 Chicago Red Stars 1 (0)
2010 SC Freiburg 8 (1)
2010 Pali Blues 5 (0)
2011–2012 Sky Blue FC 3 (1)
2013–2015 Chicago Red Stars 40 (3)
Total 57 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life edit

Born in Aurora, Colorado, to parents Pat and Sherri Wenino, Michelle attended Smoky Hill High School and played all four seasons for the girls soccer team. A four-sport, and 15-time letterwinner, she received the school's Athlete of the Year with Honors award in 2005. Wenino was a Tulsa All-Tournament team member in 2004 and received the Fair Play Award in 2000 State Cup play. She was first-team Centennial league as a senior and second-team as a junior and was named MVP for Smoky Hill as a senior. In 2003, the team were the 2003 Centennial League Champions. Wenino also ran track (200-800m distances) and cross country as a member of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 5A state championship teams that finished second at nationals in 2004 in Portland, Oregon. She was also a point guard on the school's basketball team that won the 2002 Centennial League Championship.[1]

Club career edit

Chicago Red Stars (WPS), 2009 edit

In 2009, Wenino played for Chicago Red Stars in the WPS during its inaugural season. She made one appearance during a game against Saint Louis Athletica at Toyota Park for a total of 34 minutes played.[2][3]

SC Freiburg, 2010 edit

In 2010, Wenino played for SC Freiburg.[4] She played seven games with five starts for a total of 476 minutes, scoring one goal.[3]

Sky Blue FC, 2011 edit

In January 2011, Wenino signed with Sky Blue FC.[5][6] She made three appearances and scored one goal.[3]

Chicago Red Stars (NWSL), 2013–2015 edit

In February 2013, Wenino joined Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League.[7] Wenino started 17 games and appeared in 18 games in the 22-game season, usually playing defender on the right wing. She scored one goal and had one assist.[8]

She announced her retirement on March 1, 2016.[9]

Post playing edit

Lomnicki returned to the Chicago Red Stars in 2020 as the Director of Camps and Clinics. [10] In January 2022 she was named associate general manager of the Red Stars, and in January 2023 the Red Stars promoted her to general manager. [11]

On May 5, 2023, the Red Stars announced that the team had fired Lomnicki on May 4 due to a "lapse in judgment to not share important information with club leadership".[12][13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Michelle Wenino biography". Colorado University. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  2. ^ "Soccer Star Michelle Wenino: Red Star Lone Ranger". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Michelle Wenino". Soccer Way. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  4. ^ "Wechselübersicht zur Winterpause". FanSoccer Das Frauenfußball-Magazin. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  5. ^ "Sky Blue FC adds Carrie Drew, Kristi Eveland, and Michelle Wenino to its roster". Capital Sports Report. Archived from the original on April 11, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  6. ^ "Defensive Trio Added to Sky Blue FC Roster". Our Sports Central. January 11, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  7. ^ "Red Stars Add Fowlkes, Mautz, and Wenino". Chicago Red Stars. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  8. ^ "2014 Player Statistics - National Women's Soccer League". Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2013., accessed December 28, 2013
  9. ^ "Red Stars Veteran Michelle Lomnicki Announces Retirement - Chicago Red Stars". chicagoredstars.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  10. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Appoint Michelle Lomnicki as Associate General Manager". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  11. ^ "Chicago Red Stars Promote Michelle Lomnicki To General Manager". Chicago Red Stars. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Chicago Red Stars [@chicagoredstars] (May 5, 2023). "A statement from the Chicago Red Stars Board of Managers" (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2023 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ Linehan, Meg (May 5, 2023). "Chicago Red Stars fire GM after linked youth club employed suspended NWSL coach". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2023.

External links edit