 He was a 2003 and 2004 "Parade Magazine" High School All American soccer player and the 2004 NSCAA National High School Player of the Year for the Glen Cove Big Red.He led his club team, the Albertson Red Storm, to both the 2003 and 2004 USYSA National Championships and the Red Storm Academy to the 2004 Super Y-League Championship.Grella played college soccer for Duke University where he was a 2008 first team All American.