Your future, our focus
Regional Title Boosts School’s Profile
Fresh off a regional championship, Northwest College head men’s soccer coach Rob Hill has had no trouble this spring finding recruits willing to listen to his sales pitch to come to the Powell campus.
“We have definitely seen a lot more interest in the program due to the fact that we won the region,” Hill said. “It certainly has helped cement players’ decisions. Student athletes want to know they are coming to a good academic institution as well as a good soccer program.”
Of the 23 individuals Hill invited to campus for a visit, 19 signed to attend Northwest College — a ratio many coaches could only dream of achieving. The interest level runs far deeper than that, however.
“I could have filled three teams with the number of players that have contacted me,” Hill said. “The campus itself is an easy sell, especially when they see the new Trapper Field and practice facilities. I’ve already been contacted by more than 30 players for the 2013 season and over a dozen players for 2014. They keep coming in on a daily basis from all over the country.”
That interest couldn’t come at a better time for Hill. With just four players returning off last year’s roster the Trappers coach found himself looking for a number of players in preparation for Northwest College’s third soccer season.
That effort resulted in a recruiting class of 22 players scheduled to join the team this fall.
The Trappers bring in a pair of goalkeepers to join returning sophomore Cameron Stanek. Kyle Lavender will join the team from Park High School in Livingston, Mont., while Kenyon Baker is an in-state product out of Green River.
“Cameron had a very good season for us last year,” Hill said. “Kyle has tremendous potential and Kenyon is someone I coached at the Wyoming Olympic Development program. Both of the new keepers have good size to them and will do a good job of keeping Cameron on his toes.”
Defensively, the Trappers return only Cody product Kory Jansma next season. That presented the need for Hall to go out and rebuild almost his entire back line for next fall.
“We have players who have played at a high level and who have played in some big games,” said Hill. “I am excited with who we have coming in. We have quite an adaptable group of players in that some of these guys can also play midfield.”
Among that group of versatile defenders are Laurel, Mont., product Ryan Bureau, Mountain Home, Idaho, native Nate Hunt and Utah products Colton Strong and Kellin Farnes.
Learning a lesson from last year’s district tournament appearance, Hill also added height to this year’s defensive recruiting class. Jake Higginbotham joins the Trappers from Staffordshire, England, after playing high-level soccer there. He stands 6-2, but will have to look up to Strong, 6-3 and coming to Powell from the Rampage Soccer Club in Utah, and Marcus Couldridge, 6-4 from Kelly Walsh.
Callum Dickerson, a solid center-back recruit and teammate of Lavender’s at Park High School, will also be in the mix for possible starting honors next season.
“All these guys bring something to the game and will be an asset in those key positions,” Hall said. “Kellin is a very tidy player from the Forza Club, formerly known as Utah Nike Rush, and can play on either side of the defense. Nate is a quick, aggressive defender from Idaho Nike Rush who distributes very well out of the back. Zach Lempka (Worland) brings speed and tenacity at the left back and Ryan is very versatile.”
The Trappers return two midfielders in Dean Johnson and injury redshirt freshman Sergio Rodriguez, who tore an ACL last fall.
“Sergio has a fantastic left foot and Dean will again be very versatile in the fact that I can play him anywhere in midfield or up front,” Hill said.
Joining them will be Deven Farnes, twin brother of defensive signee Kellin from Davis High School in Utah, Jake Ombach from Roy High School in Utah, Will Moats out of Boise, Idaho, Dakota Dragoo from Horizon High School in Thornton, Colo., Kris Mull from Worland and Darren Darling from Edinburgh, Scotland.
“Darren is a very talented midfield player that will have an immediate impact on the team,” Hill said. “Dakota plays for the Colorado Storm soccer club and will be pushing for playing time this fall. Devin will be a good attacking threat who has good feet and likes to get forward. Jake is a very good distributor of the ball and will be an asset in the middle of the park. Will can play either flank. He has good feet, good delivery and an eye for goal. Kris has a lot of potential and can play up front or in midfield.”
Up front, the Trappers will have to replace a lot of graduating firepower. Hill found multiple options for that task.
“Gage Woodward from Bonneville, Utah, plays for Forza. He is an aggressive and tenacious forward with an eye for goal,” Hill said. “He has good movement off the ball and works hard.”
Mountain View, Idaho, prospect Kevin Fekete plays for the Idaho Rush club. Hill notes Fekete is capable of finishing with both his feet and his head and could present a big target in the box for the Trappers.
Jamie McMorrow is an international prospect from Glasgow, Scotland. Matt McQuade, at 6-3 from Ocala, Fla., gives the Trappers a definite big target up front. John Husar will come to Powell from Billings West, where he is an athletic player.
“John is a very hard worker,” said Hill. “He will be a player who will really embrace the level of soccer at college.” Giving the recruiting class a local flavor will be Cody’s Wyatt Fabrizio, the state’s top goal scorer as a junior.
“Wyatt was a late recruit for us and the fourth Cody player in three years to come play for the Trappers,” said Hill. “He has an eye for goal and is good at set pieces.”
The Trappers will assemble on campus in August to prepare for the fall season. The team’s first exhibition game will take place Aug. 11 with the regular season getting started on Aug. 25.