{{Short description|American soccer player}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Tom Presthus | image = | fullname = Thomas Presthus | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|4|5}} | birth_place = Edina, Minnesota, United States | height = 6 ft 4 in | position = Goalkeeper | youthyears1 = 1993–1996 | youthclubs1 = Southern Methodist University | years1 = 1994 | clubs1 = Minnesota Thunder | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1997–2000 | clubs2 = D.C. United | caps2 = 59 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1998 | clubs3 = → MLS Pro 40 (loan) | caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2000–2003 | clubs4 = Columbus Crew | caps4 = 47 | goals4 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1999 | nationalteam1 = United States | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}

'''Thomas Presthus''' (born April 5, 1975, in Edina, Minnesota) is an American former soccer goalkeeper. He spent seven seasons in Major League Soccer and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1999.

==Youth== Presthus grew up in Minnesota playing football and hockey. When he was twelve, he broke his neck. As a result, he began playing soccer and basketball.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Crew+Goalie+Presthus+Joins+The+Financial+Solutions+Network+in+Dublin-a0112176648 Crew Goalie Presthus Joins The Financial Solutions Network in Dublin]</ref> He graduated from Edina High School. Presthus attended Southern Methodist University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1993 to 1996. He completed his bachelor's degree in finance in 1997. In May 1994, he signed with the Minnesota Thunder of USISL.<ref>''MILLERS NAME EX-RED SOX STAR SCOTT AS FIRST MANAGER'' St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) - Wednesday, May 18, 1994</ref>

==Professional== In February 1997, D.C. United selected Presthus in the second round (20th overall) of the 1997 MLS College Draft. Presthus spent most of the 1997 as a backup to Scott Garlick. However, by the end of the 1998 season, Prestus had begun to emerge as United's top goalkeeper and the team traded Garlick during the off-season.

On February 5, 2001, United traded Presthus and a tenth round 2001 MLS SuperDraft pick to the Columbus Crew for third round pick in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. Presthus became the Crew's starting goalkeeper, but on July 23, 2003, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during a game. He underwent surgery on September 30, 2003, but the rehabilitation went much slower than he expected. As a result, he announced his retirement on January 14, 2004.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 14, 2004 |title=Two-time MLS champ Presthus retires with elbow injury |url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/crew/2004-01-15-presthus-retires_x.htm |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040708044651/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/crew/2004-01-15-presthus-retires_x.htm |archive-date=July 8, 2004 |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

==National team== Presthus earned his lone cap with the U.S. national team in a 2–1 win over Chile on February 21, 1999. He replaced Zach Thornton at halftime with the score 0-0.<ref>{{cite web |last=Courtney |first=Barrie |date=June 19, 2003 |title=USA - Details of International Matches 1995-1999 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det95.html |publisher=RSSSF |accessdate=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

==Post soccer career== After retiring from playing, Presthus became a financial planner with The Financial Solutions Network. He is now a vice president with American Electric Power.

== Honors == '''Individual'''

* MLS All-Star: 1999<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{NFT player|28276}} *{{Cite web |url=http://www.sams-army.com/index.php?Mlist=player&Pid=173 |title=Sams-Army.com profile |access-date=2007-11-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022081322/http://www.sams-army.com/index.php?Mlist=player&Pid=173 |archive-date=2007-10-22 |url-status=dead }} *[http://www.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=mls&player=presthus_t&playerId=pre593274&statType=career MLS bio with stats]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Presthus, Tom}} Category:American men's soccer players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:United States men's international soccer players Category:USISL players Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:D.C. United players Category:Columbus Crew players Category:Minnesota Thunder players Category:SMU Mustangs men's soccer players Category:MLS Pro-40 players Category:A-League (1995–2004) players Category:D.C. United draft picks Category:Southern Methodist University alumni Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Edina High School alumni Category:20th-century American sportsmen