CHICAGO, IL–The one thing in common with Chicago Fire FC’s four selections is that they are all defenders. The Fire started with the seventh pick in the first round, but traded down in a three-way deal with New York Red Bulls and CF Montreal which netted the Fire the 11th pick and $100,000 in general allocation money. With that pick, they selected defender Kendall Burks from the University of Washington.
Burks, 22, is a Tacoma, WA native and split his collegiate career between Cal State-Bakersfield (2018-19) and Washington (2021). While at Bakersfield, Burks appeared in 36 matches (30 starts), including playing in every minute his freshman season. Following his sophomore campaign, the 6-foot-1 defender transferred to Washington and went on to make 22 appearances (22 starts) as he helped the team reach the NCAA National Championship this past season.
The Fire didn’t stop selected from Washington. With the next pick (33rd overall), they selected defender Charlie Ostrem, After earning All-American and 2020-21 PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors following a strong junior campaign, he earned All PAC-12 First Team recognition in his senior season. Ostrem concluded his career at Washington with 75 appearances (61 starts) and 22 assists, ranking ninth all-time for the Huskies.
Next up (63rd overall) was Carlo Ritaccio from Akron. Ritaccio, 22, spent the last four seasons with the Zips, where he made 58 appearances (52 starts). As a freshman Ritaccio helped anchor a Zips’ defensive unit that posted eight shutouts in the 2018 campaign, while tallying three goals, all in the postseason, en route to being named the National Freshman of the Year by TopDrawerSoccer.com, as well as being tabbed to their Freshman Best XI first team. Internationally, he has earned call ups to the U-14, U-15 and U-17 level for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Finally, the Fire selected Yanis Leerman from Central Florida (85th overall). A native of Troyes, France, Leerman started in every match over his four-year career with the Knights. He followed his All-American junior season with a career high in points, collecting his first career goal and three assists in his senior campaign.
