Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Ashley Winters, Patty Montoya, Jessi Chittwood, Cassie Romero, Sam Perry and Rachel Von Roy, sign their letters of intent to play for Western Nevada Wildcats soccer team on Tuesday.
The Western Nevada Community College women's soccer team has set a standard for excellence on and off the field.
Based on WNCC coach Hillary Arthur's recruiting class for the fall of 2007, the Wildcats are determined for that to continue. WNCC announced the signing of 10 more players on Tuesday in this year's class, bringing the total to 17 freshmen who will join the team this fall.
Last year the Wildcats won the Scenic West Athletic Conference postseason title and also ranked fifth nationally academically. Based on the athletic and academic success of the players who signed on Tuesday, the Wildcats want continued improvement in both areas.
"If you haven't caught on we're trying to up that fifth ranking," said Arthur, commenting that she has a goal of finishing in the top three nationally in academics.
Arthur also isn't finished yet with her recruiting class. She's still talking to two Northern Nevada players and two Southern Nevada players.
Douglas High's Rachel Von Roy, a midfielder who was one of the players who signed, said it's going to be difficult to continue WNCC's success this fall with a young team, but that the club should be up to the challenge.
"It's going to be hard because we're mostly freshmen," Van Roy said. "They were very successful last year. This year we'll be even better. We'll see."
A vast majority of those who signed on Tuesday have already played with and against each other and with and against those already in the WNCC program, so that should be an advantage Van Roy said. "I think we'll be really connecting already," she said.
Van Roy played with the Tenacity club team and was an all-Sierra League midfielder at Douglas. She plans to major in psychology.
Like many of those who signed on Tuesday another Douglas player, Sam Perry, a defender/midfielder, said she chose WNCC to stay close to home.
"I didn't want to go out of state," Perry said. "I wanted to stay local."
Perry played for the INXS and Tenacity club teams and was a member of a league championship team at Douglas. She plans to major in nursing.
Dayton's Ashley Winters chose WNCC over NAIA William Penn of Iowa and Feather River Community College.
"I feel pretty good about it," said Winters about her decision. "A lot of the girls I played against in club. I can play with them."
Winters, a forward/midfielder, played for the Reno/Sparks United Crush club team. She was the Northern 3A most valuable player, an all-league performer for three years and a first team all-state selection. She played varsity for four years and is a Millennium Scholar.
Douglas High's Jessi Chitwood is another midfielder/forward who signed. She played in the Nevada Wonders Academy. She was named to the National Society of High School Scholars, earned the Scholastic Art and Writing Award and earned the Silver Key for excellence in visual arts.
She plans to major in a medical field. "I know it's going to be more challenging, but I'm looking forward to taking the challenge," Chitwood said. "I'm very competitive. I never give up."
Others who signed on Tuesday were South Tahoe's Patty Montoya, a midfielder/defender. She played with the South Shore club team and plans to major in kinesiology.
Yvette Guerrero comes to WNCC by way of Santa Barbara Community College from Sparks High.
"She brings a great knowledge of the game," said Arthur about Guerrero, who also played with Tenacity.
Kim Duke comes to WNCC from Las Vegas High. The defender was an all-Southern 4A selection. She was also maintains a 4.3 grade point average and plays for the Las Vegas Empire Soccer Club. In addition, she ran varsity cross country for four years.
Cassie Romero from Bishop Gorman played four years of varsity soccer and was another all-Southern 4A selection. She plays for the club team Heat FC.
Rounding out those who signed on Tuesday were Myesia Tatum of Las Vegas, a forward who played for the Neuosport club team, and Gardnerville's Jessica Servinak. A midfielder, Servinak was home-schooled and played with Tenacity.