Chris Wingert

New York native Chris Wingert has soccer in his blood. The Real Salt Lake defender was born in 1982 to former North American Soccer League player Norman Winger and wife Noreen. At St. John the Baptist High School, Chris was named to the all-state soccer team as a junior and a senior and helped his club team, FC Delco, win the 2001 U-19 Snickers US Youth Soccer National Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the final.

Chris attended St. John’s University, where he was captain from his sophomore season on. He received the 2003 MAC Hermann Trophy, awarded each year to the top collegiate soccer player in the nation. He also became the first player in Division 1 men’s soccer history to win the Hermann Trophy and the National Soccer Coaches of America Association’s Scholar-Athlete Award in the same season.

In 2004, Chris was drafted by the Columbus Crew, where he took the field as both a defender and a defensive midfielder, and helped the Crew win the Supporter’s Shield his rookie season. Chris joined the Colorado Rapids in 2006, and made the move to Real Salt Lake the following year. Over the last three seasons, his dependable defense has helped Real Salt Lake perform to sell out crowds and advance through the MLS Cup playoffs. In November, Chris helped clinch Real Salt Lake’s 2009 MLS Cup win by scoring a crucial penalty kick against the L.A. Galaxy. Chris also made his first appearance with the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2009, helping the team secure a 3-2 victory against Sweden.

Off the field, Chris enjoys wake surfing, ping-pong, and playing the guitar.  His favorite movie is “Caddyshack” and he enjoys reading anything by C.S. Lewis. He loves Salt Lake City for the beautiful scenery and the famous fry sauce.