PROVO -- The BYU women's soccer team has signed nine athletes to national letters of intent, BYU Head Coach Jennifer Rockwood announced this week.
In arguably one of the most balanced and talented recruiting classes ever, the Cougars add nine high-impact players to a team that returns 10 of it's 11 starters. BYU graduated just three players from the young 2004 squad that finished second in the Mountain West Conference.
The Cougars received national letters of intent from forwards Katie Fellows (Sandy, Utah), Katie Larkin (Sandy, Utah) and Alyssa Vander Veur (South Jordan, Utah), midfielders Whitney Fellows (Sandy, Utah), Jessica Harmon (Provo, Utah)and Kelsea Kakadelas (Carlsbad, Calif.) and defenders Karen Cook (Sandy, Utah), Heidi Dearborn (Centennial, Colo.), and Andrea Willis (Riverside, Calif.).
The Cougar's recruiting class is led by Larkin, a two-time NSCAA High School All-American and Utah 5A MVP. She led the state in goals and assists and will look to add her offensive talents to the Cougar's line-up in the fall. Larkin is joined by fellow Alta high shool teammates and All-State players Cook, Feller and Fellows. All three seniors were part of the 2004 5A State Champion team that was ranked as high as No. 3 in the NSCAA National high school rankings.
These same four athletes also compete for the Celtic Storm Soccer Club, along with Timpview's All-State standout Jessica Harmon. Harmon and Larkin also have extensive experience within the USA's Olympic Development Program. Both have competed at the region and national levels.
Alyssa Vaner Veur rounds out the Utah connection as a three-time All-State selection. She led Bingham to the 2003 5A State Championship and received the 5A MVP award as a junior.
Three out-of-state players will join the Cougars this fall. Kakedelas comes from one of the top club programs in the nation. As a member of the San Diego Surf, she won the 2003 national championship in her age group. She also led her high school team last year to a CIF championship and they are currently on their way to win again in 2005. Also joining the Cougars from California is standout defender Andrea Willis. She competes on the well-known club team, the Irvine Strikers. She is an All- CIF player and earned the 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year Award.
The Cougars add another talented defender from Cherry Creek High School in Colorado, Heidi Dearborn. She has led her team to success and was voted team MVP in 2004. She also competes on the nationally-recognized Colorado Soccer Academy and has played on the semi-pro Denver Diamonds, out of Denver.
2005 BYU COUGAR Soccer Signees (9)
NamePos.Ht.ClassHometown (High Schoo)Club Team
Karen CookD5-8Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Heidi DearbornD5-9Fr.Centennial, Colo. (Cherry Creek)Colorado Girls Soccer Acad.
Whitney FellerMF/D5-5Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Katie FellowsF/MF5-7Fr.Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Jessica HarmonMF/D5-7Fr.Provo, Utah (Timpview)Celtic Storm
Kelsea KakadelasMF/D5-10Fr.Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon)San Diego Surf
Katie LarkinF/MF5-6Fr. Sandy, Utah (Alta)Celtic Storm
Alyssa Vander VeurF5-7Fr.South Jordan (Bingham)Utah Avalanche
Andrea WillisD5-7Fr.Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Poly)Irvine Strikers
Karen COOK
POSITION: D
HOMETOWN: Sandy, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Alta
CLUB TEAM: Celtic Storm
COACH: Robyn Bretzing
HEIGHT: 5-8
Named to Deseret News 5A All-State First Team ... Named Alta's Most Valuable Defender, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that finished No. 18 in the nation, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that was No. 3 in the nation until semi-final loss, 2003 ... Member of Alta Regional Champion team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta State Champion team, 2002, 2004, and third place in 2003 ... Named Alta varsity soccer team captain, 2004 ... Member of State Champion Celtic Storm club team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Received Most Valuable Defender Award for Celtic Storm, 2004 ... 2002 Regional Finalist: Snickers USYSA Tournament ... State ODP Team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity basketball team, 2005 ... Named Alta varsity basketball team captain ... Daughter of Steve and Marie.
Heidi DEARBORN
POSITION: D
HOMETOWN: Centennial, Colo.
HIGH SCHOOL: Cherry Creek
CLUB TEAM: Colorado Girls Soccer Academy
COACH: Scott Dedyker
HEIGHT: 5-9
MPV for Cherry Creek varsity soccer team, 2004 .. Attended regional camp ODP, 2003 ... Member of the Colorado Girls Soccer Academy, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 ... Member of state champion team, 2002 ... Lettered and started on the varsity team all four years ... Member of team that advanced to regionals ... Member of US Club Soccer Regional Championship team- All Stars, 2003 ... Played semi-pro for Denver Diamonds ... Daughter of Kip and Elana.
Whitney FELLER
POSITION: MF/D
HOMETOWN: Sandy, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Alta
CLUB TEAM: Celtic Storm
COACH: Robyn Bretzing
HEIGHT: 5-5
Named to All-State First Team (Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune), 2004 ... Named to Honorable Mention, 2003 ... Received the Gatorade "Will to Win" Award ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that finished No. 18 in the nation, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that was No. 3 in the nation until semi-final loss, 2003 ... Member of Alta Regional Champion team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta State Champion team, 2002, 2004, and third place 2003 ... Member of State Champion Celtic Storm, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 ... Regional Finalist, 2001 (CSSC) ... Regional Semi-finalist, 1999 (Dublin High Energy) ... Named team captain of CSSC three years ... Named Alta team captain 2004 ... ODP Region Camp in 2003 and 2004 ... Lettered on varsity team all four years ... Daughter of Kirk and April.
Katie FELLOWS
POSITION: F/MF
HOMETOWN: Sandy, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Alta
CLUB TEAM: Celtic Storm
COACH: Robyn Bretzing
HEIGHT: 5-7
Named to Class of 2005 Top 100 Players in the nation by studentsports.com ... Best Offensive Player of the Year, 2003 ... Region Pool team, 2002 and 2004 ... All-State Second Team, 2002 and 2003 ... Named Celtic Storm team captain two-times ... Named Best Offensive Player of the Year, 2001 ... Attended region camp, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of ODP State team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that finished 18th in the nation, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that was No. 3 in the nation until semi-final loss, 2003 ... Member of Alta Regional Champion team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta State Champion team, 2002, 2004, and third place 2003 ... Most Inspirational Player, 2004 ... Best Goal fo the Year, 2001 and 2002 ... Three-year varsity starter ... Member of State Champion Celtic Storm, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Regional Finalist, 2002 ... Member of Alta varsity basketball team, 2004-2005 ... Played four years with Shockers Club ... Member of National Honor Society ... Presidential Academic Award ... Freshman, Senior Class Officer ... Daughter of Robert and LoisAnn.
Jessica HARMON
POSITION: MF/D
HOMETOWN: Provo, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Timpview
CLUB TEAM: Celtic Storm
COACH: Robyn Bretzing
HEIGHT: 5-7
All-State Selection, 2004 (Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune) ... All-State First Team, 2003 and 2002 (Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune) ... All-State First Team, 2001 (Salt Lake Tribune) ... All-Valley MVP, 2003 (Daily Herald) ...All-Region VI Selection First Team, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (Daily Herald) ... All-State First Team, (Daily Herald) 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ... Member of State Champion Celtic Storm, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Named team captain of Celtic Storm, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ... CSSC Offensive Player of the Year, 2003 and 2002 ... CSSC MVP, 2003 ... MVP of Utah United, 2000 ... Member of ODP, 2000-2004 ... Attended ODP Region Camp, 2000 ... ODP Region Pool, 2001 ... Member of ODP Region team, 2004, 2003 and 2002 ... Received invitation to ODP National/Interregional Competition, 2002 and 2003 ... Four-time Utah 4A Semi-finalist ... Utah Region VI Champions, 2003, 2002 and 2001 ... Basketball First Team All-Region VI Selection, (Daily Herald) 2003, 2002 and 2001 ... Basketball Defensive Player of the Year (Daily Herald, Deseret News) ... Three-time Utah Region VI Champions, basketball ... Daughter of Kent and Lisa.
Kelsea KAKADELAS
POSITION: MF/D
HOMETOWN: Carlsbad, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: La Costa Canyon
CLUB TEAM: San Diego Surf
COACH: Collin Chesters
HEIGHT: 5-10
CIF Champion, 2004 ... Three-year starter on La Costa Canyon varsity soccer team ... Scholar Athlete Award, 2004 ... Named team captain, 2005 ... Named to Barons All-Tournament Team, 2004 ... Named to Avocado League Honorable Mention, 2003 and 2004 ... Eight-time Surf Cup/Girls Surf Cup Champion ... Cal South State Champion, 1999, 2001 and 2003 ... Far West Regional Finalist, 1999 and 2001 ... Far West Regional Champion, 2003 ... Snickers US Soccer National Champion, 2003 ... San Diego Surf Soccer 10 years ... 2004 English Department Award ... Junior Class Officer ... Member of National Charity League, 1998-2005 ... Daughter of Kim and Teresa.
Katie LARKIN
POSITION: F/MF
HOMETOWN: Draper, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Alta
CLUB TEAM: Celtic Storm
COACH: Robyn Bretzing
HEIGHT:
NSCAA High School State Player of the Year, 2004 ... NSCAA All-American, 2003 and 2004 ... Holds the Alta record for most career assists ... Holds the Alta record for most goals in a season ... Alta Offensive Player of the Year in 2004 ... Member of Region IV Team, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... National Pool Player, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of State Cup Championship team, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... MVP of State Cup, 2002 ... Team captain of Celtic Storm, 2000, 2002 and 2005 ... Named team captain of Alta's varsity soccer team, 2004 ... State High School MVP, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that finished No. 18 in the nation, 2004 ... Member of Alta varsity soccer that was No. 3 in the nation by NSCAA until semi-final loss, 2003 ... Member of State Champion Celtic Storm club team, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004 ... Member of Alta Regional Champion team, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 ... Member of Alta State Champion team, 2002, 2004, and third place 2003 ... Daughter of Pete.
Alyssa VANDER VEUR
POSITION: F
HOMETOWN: South Jordan, Utah
HIGH SCHOOL: Bingham
CLUB TEAM: Utah Avalanche
COACH: Connie Martins
HEIGHT: 5-7
5A All-State MVP ... 5A leading scorer ... Three-time 5A All-State First Team ... ODP two years ... Girls Soccer Athlete of the Year ... Offensive Player of the Year ... Three-time All-Region First Team ... Totaled 76 goals and 44 assists in high school career ... Named All-Region Most Outstanding Striker ... Member of 5A State Championship team in 2003, runner-up in 2004 ... Named Team Captain of Bingham varsity soccer team ... Named team captain of Utah Avalanche ... Started and lettered on varsity team all four years ... Received Business Medal ... Member of National Honor Society ... Honor Roll ... FCCLA Medal ... Academic All-Region ... Coach's Honor Roll ... Daughter of Kevin and Sherrie.
Andrea WILLIS
POSITION: D
HOMETOWN: Riverside, Calif.
HIGH SCHOOL: Riverside Poly
CLUB TEAM: Irvine Strikers (CYSA South)
COACH: Hamid Sedhi
HEIGHT: 5-7
Received All-CIF Award 2001-2003 ... 2003 Gatorade Player of the Year Award ... Named to the All-Ivy League First Team in 2003, 2004 ... Two-time team captain ... Member of the Riverside Poly varsity soccer team (four years) ... Lettered in soccer, track and cross country as freshman ... Four-year scholar athlete ... Four-year member of Principal's honor roll ... Member of the ODP CYSA South Winter Pool, 2001-2002 ... Member of 2002 European ODP travel team ... Inaugural member Premier Development Program (CYSA South) ... Played club soccer for Irvine Strikers Soccer Club Premier (CYSA South) 2001-2005 ... 2004 California State Cup Finalist ... 2003 OCU Tournament Champions (Irvine Strikers) ... 2003 W.A.G.S. Tournament Finalist ... 2003 Nomads College Showcase Final Four ... Daughter of Robert and Tamara.