Chicago Machine has finalized its leadership for the 2015 with the additions of Ron Kubalanza and Andy Neilsen. Kubalanza and Neilsen will join captains Walden Nelson, Kevin Kelly, and Cullen Geppert to complete the leadership circle.
Kubalanza returns after captaining Machine last season with Walden Nelson, Kevin Kelly, and Craig Poeppelman. Poeppelman will be returning to the team, but not in a leadership capacity due to time constraints. Replacing him will be first year captain Cullen Geppert. Geppert, an alumni of the University of Wisconsin Hodags, has been with Machine for 5 seasons and is expected to bring intensity and edge to the leadership.
Andy Neilsen will be returning to the team as a coach in 2015, after taking a season off in 2014. Prior to that, Neilsen served as a captain for Machine from 2010 - 2013, a period in which Machine's on-field success and internal culture experienced dramatic growth and development.
These 5 will serve as the core leadership for the 2015 season, but many other players will fill leadership roles for the team after the roster is announced in early June. Machine's financial treasurer in 2015 will be third year player Greg Slover. Returning as the team's fitness, strength, and conditioning coordinator is Goose Helton. The team will also feature a social media and web coordinator, jersey logistics coordinator, USAU roster coordinator, travel logistics coordinator, and more.