WJU Coach Robbie Handy and Mitch Pingree

“I am proud to announce I have committed to William Jessup University! I am beyond excited to play collegiate soccer! I chose WJU due to the small campus size and the opportunity to receive a private education where I can truly get to know my professors and classmates.

All of my appreciation goes out to my family, friends, and amazing coaches I have had throughout my soccer years. I would first like to thank Coach Jason Gantt. Thank you for pushing me every day to become the player you knew I could be. I have learned so much these past few years and I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given on your team. Your experience and dedication showed me how I needed to play to be able to compete at the next level. I would also like to thank my high school coaches, Matt Scammacca and Dave Shiro. I also can’t forget my LYSC coach of many years, Manny Fajardo, as well as my very first soccer coach, my Dad. Without your coaching and guidance in my younger years of the game I would not have the opportunities granted to me now. I would also like to thank my parents for driving hours upon hours each year and always supporting me. And a special thanks to my sister, Macie, for always supporting me and pushing me to do my best.

These few years at Placer United made me a stronger, smarter, and more competitive soccer player. I am thankful to all of the people that made my dream of playing college soccer possible. To my team, we went out with a bang and I wish you all the best of luck in the future.”

—Mitch Pingree

(l-r) Hunter Seman, Coach Jason Gantt, Austin Burrows

“I am honored to announce that I have committed to Macalester College, a NCAA Division III school in St. Paul, Minnesota. Macalester and Coach Gregg Olson offered me the opportunity to play at the collegiate level while studying at one of the top-ranked liberal arts colleges in the country to pursue my goal of becoming a physician. I can’t wait to join players from all over the country, as well as players from around the world, as we try to get Macalester back into the NCAA tournament for the twelfth time.  

Soccer has been part of my life since I was four years old. I am grateful to my Placer coaches, Jason Gantt and Kelcey Chaidez, for always expecting me to play at the highest level. I would also like to thank my first coach, Paul Devereux, as well as my family, for coming to all of the games and tournaments over the years. I couldn’t have done it without you!

I look forward to joining Coach Olson and my teammates this August for the 2013 season. Go Mac Scots!”

— Austin Burrows

“I am very excited to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of the Pacific.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to play Division 1 soccer at such a prestigious academic institution.  After visiting the campus and meeting with the coaches and team, I’m confident in my decision and know it’s the perfect fit for me.  Keith Coleman and Carmen Padilla have been great to work with and I can’t wait to play soccer under their direction at UOP!

I want to thank my parents and family for always being so supportive and helping me reach my dream.  I would also like to thank my previous Boca coaches; Melissa Cavitt, who instilled a never-ending quest to be the best player I could be; Antonio Sutton, who inspired my crazy love for the game;  and Berhane Anderberhan, who taught me to be a technical, team player.

I would also like to recognize and thank my new coach, Ron Benjamin, for believing in me and being invaluable in the last steps of this process. I’m very grateful for your efforts and can’t wait to compete with my new Placer U18 Red team!

Finally, thank you to my incredible teammates, past and present, for always pushing me to the next level, on and off the field. You guys are some of my best friends and I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Go Tigers! — Julia Beck