Kansas Wesleyan University :: Athletics :: Soccer

Kansas Wesleyan Soccer announces 2007 signees
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

It's a familiar formula. Raise the bar, challenge for the title!! For Coach Mike Dibbini and the Kansas Wesleyan men’s and women’s soccer teams, it is a formula the Coyotes are eager to use again.

With that being said, Wesleyan announces the signing of 21 players for the 2007 season.
“Combine the speed of play and athleticism of our returning players, with the strength, speed of play, and tenacity of our recruiting class, and you have a dynamic mix of incredible potential,” Dibbini said.

"Our returning rosters are very strong," said Dibbini. "We're ranked at the top in the conference and very high in the region.”

“We are not looking for replacements for what we had, we are specifically looking to go one better,” Dibbini continuted. “The players who are coming to us now, combined with the strength of our returning rosters represent a whole new level in our evolution as a regional and possible national powerhouse.”

Dibbini mentioned that his returning players represent a strong group overall, probably one of his best set of returners since he took over the reigns in 2005, highlighted by a core of outstanding talent.

"Key returnees will be All-Americans Juliet Cervantes and local phenom Heather Muilenburg, and star player Janna Macy, who missed a portion of the season with an injury, for the women, and men’s all-conference players Mike Padilla, Tommy Umeck, Rashaun Thompson and Abraham Moran. Add in the extraordinary talents of the incoming players and I think we are in for a very exciting season for both teams."

The Coyotes will also look to excel in the classroom as well.

“All the returners and incoming players are excellent students in the classroom,” Dibbini said. “They will challenge their classmates to become better students, while continuing to hold the same high standard of success in the classroom they are accustomed to.”

Dibbini again concentrated his efforts in the California junior colleges and the Arizona high schools, but also picked up some local talent in Blake Schwartz from Topeka.

The list includes:

2007 Men’s Soccer Recruits		2007 Women’s Soccer Recruits
Robert Carillo	Los Angeles, Calif.	Kelli Beatty	Diamond Bar, Calif.
Daniel Hill	Brea, Calif.	Alexa Chico	Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Juan Mundo	Glendale, Calif.	Stacy Lastra	Ontario, Calif.
Mario Rodriguez	Diamond Bar, Calif.	April Smith	Brea, Calif.
Brandon Rumore	Gilbert, Ariz.	Eliana Parada	La Mesa, Calif.
Anthony Russo	Mesa, Ariz.	Lauren Lowrey	Santee, Calif.
Anthony Bersano	Tempe, Ariz.	Kathleen Benton	Mission Viejo, Calif.
Ruben Flores	Rico Rivera, Calif.	Marisa Brownwell	Orange, Calif.
Tyler Williams	Orange, Calif.	Megan Tharp	Ocean View, Calif.
Blake Schwartz	Topeka, Kan.	Nikki Leyva	Downey, Calif.
Derek Dodrill	Rio Rancho, N.M.	Kerri Agner	Redding, Calif.

-- KWU SI --