Hall of Fame
Lewis University men's soccer coach Evan Fiffles once was asked which player he would select first if he were to build a team from scratch.
Fiffles' swift reply was "John Thompson." Thompson garnered many accolades during his four-year career; most notably, he is the only Lewis soccer player to make the All-American first team more than once, earning the honor three times and he also was a three-time selection to the all-region and All-Great Lakes Valley Conference first teams. However, Thompson is revered just as much if not more for the leadership qualities he displayed during one of the most successful four-year periods enjoyed by any program in Lewis athletics history.
In 1998 Thompson earned team co-Rookie of the Year honors as Lewis went 11-5-4, finished atop the GLVC standings (10-1) and claimed the league title by winning the GLVC Championship tournament. Thompson was part of a defense that notched a 0.94 goals-against average and tied for seventh in NCAA Division II in shutouts (10).
Thompson achieved the first of his three consecutive All-American, all-region and all-conference first-team sweeps and was chosed Lewis' Most Valuable Player as a sophomore in 1999. He led the team in goals(11) and points (23), placing third and fourth, respectively, in the GLVC, while helping the defense finish 26th nationally in GAA (0.98). Lewis' 12-4-2 record included an 8-1-2 league mark that was good for a first-place GLVC regular season tie, and the team was voted No.24 in the final Division II national poll.
Lewis earned its first NCAA tournament bid in 2000; the Flyers won two NCAA games, advanced to the national semifinals and finsihed with the No.4 national ranking. Thompson led the Lewis defense to second in GAA (0.38) and fourth in shutouts (14) in Division II. The Flyers won 17 games (17-5-1), a school record at the time, and tied for first in the GLVC regular-season standings (9-2).
The 2001 season saw Lewis reach unprecedented heights. The Flyers were ranked No.1 nationally twice during the season; finished second in the nation in wins (school record 20) and winning percentage (20-1-1, .932); won the GLVC crown after tying for first (9-0-1) in the regular season; qualified for the NCAA tournament; and landed in the No.10 spot in the final NCAA poll. The Thompson-led defense again made its mark, placing fifth in GAA (0.75) and 14th in shutouts (8) in the nation. Thompson was selected men's soccer GLVC Scholar Athlete of the Year and Lewis' Best Defensive Player.
The Flyers registered a 60-15-8 (.771) overall record and a 41-7-4 (.827) ledger vs. GLVC teams (including postseason) in the Thompson era; he spearheaded a defense that compiled a 0.75 GAA and 38 shutouts during that four-year span. Thompson missed just two games and tallied 21 goals and nine assist during his career.
Thompson, who earned a bachelor's degree in management information systems, twice was named Academic All-GLVC; was a two-time recipient of the University's Brother David Delahanty Award, presented to student athletes who excel in the classroom; and made the Dean's List four times.
