HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University men’s soccer coach Dustin Fonder announced the addition of 12 players for the 2013 season on Wednesday. The Panthers will welcome a class of 10 freshmen and two transfers for the upcoming season.
Matt Gweh (Apple Valley, Minn.), Zane Laughery (Raleigh, N.C.), Ryan Massey (Bethesda, Md.), Tony Murillo (Las Vegas, Nev.), Duvan Vásquez Ortiz (Bogota, Columbia), Dolu Oyewole (Waldorf, Md.), Chris Ramsell (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Brandon Sloan (Oakland, Mich.), Yosef Teffera (Durham, N.C.) and Jonathan Ware (Upper Marlboro, Md.) will all join HPU as freshmen in 2013 while Dom de Aragao and Joshua de Aragao have both transferred from Mount St. Mary’s and will join the team as juniors next season.
“Once again we have set the bar high with our recruiting as this is one of the most talented classes that we have brought to High Point,” head coach Dustin Fonder said. “This class will provide some much needed coverage all over the field. A lot of young players will get playing time next season and will have to mature quickly. These players fit our criteria of being good students, good soccer players and most importantly good people. Those have been the pillars of our recent success and we want to continue to recruit off those core philosophies.”
Matt Gweh
Forward
Apple Valley, Minn.
5-5, 145
Eastview High School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner from Eastview High School … Scored 28 goals and had eight assists as a junior in 2011 … Named an All-American and the Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2011 … Plays his club soccer with the Minnesota Thunder of the US Soccer Development Academy. Scored 10 goals and had two assists with the 15/16 team and has five goals and two assists with the 17/18 team … Previously played club soccer with … Helped lead team to four-straight Minnesota state championships and a Region 2 Championship in 2011 … Rated a four-star prospect and the 11th-best recruit in the Midwest in the Class of 2013 by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Personal: Son of James and Sarah Gweh … Born on Feb. 15, 1995 … Has one brother, Mark, and four sisters, Leah, Mary, Zaye and Mehzore.
Fonder on Gweh: “Matt Gweh is an exciting attacking player. He is blessed with great pace and balance which makes him a dynamic attacking player. We will look for him to provide competition at both the forward and outside midfielder positions.”
Zane Laughery
Forward
Raleigh, N.C.
5-9, 170
Ravenscroft School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner from Ravenscroft School … Two-time first-team All-Conference selection … Two-time honorable mention Al-Region selection … Led his prep team in goals and assists as a senior … Helped lead his team to back-to-back Conference Championships in 2011-12 … Played his club soccer with CASL Elite … Helped lead CASL to the NCYSA State Cup Championship and the USYS Region III Championship … Trained with the Chelsea Academy in England … Rated a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer..
Personal: Son of Tom and Deb Laughery … Born on Oct. 21, 1994 … Has one younger brother, Austin.
Fonder on Laughery: “Zane Laughery is a North Carolina kid out of Raleigh, N.C., where he played for CASL Elite. He has very good athleticism and will provide immediate depth to our attack.”
Ryan Massey
Goalkeeper
Bethesda, Md.
6-2, 170
Gonzaga College High School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner from Gonzaga College High School … Named All-Met honorable mention in 2012 as a senior … Two-time WCAC second-team All-Conference … Two-time Team Defensive MVP … Helped lead Gonzaga to the WCAC Championship in 2012 … Prep Team was ranked as high as eighth in the nation by EliteSoccerReport.com … Plays his club soccer with AC Bethesda … Helped his club team win the Maryland State Cup in 2008 and 2010 … Rated a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer.
Personal: Son of Robert and Ann Massey … Born on Oct. 14, 1994 … Has one older brother, Michael, and one older sister, Sammi.
Fonder on Massey: “Ryan Massey is a player that has huge upside. He has great size and an outstanding wing span. We feel that he can develop into a very good goalkeeper during his time here and we believe that at some point he will push for the starting position.”
Tony Murillo
Midfielder
Las Vegas, Nev.
5-6, 150
Vista Grande High School
Prior to High Point: Two-year letter winner at Vista Grande High School … Played soccer for the Real Salt Lake Soccer Academy as a senior … Has appeared in numerous MLS Reserve games for Real Salt Lake … Member of the US U18 National Team … Participated in the US U17 National Team Residency Program … Named to the USSDA Academy Select Team … Rated the No. 5 player in the Class of 2013 by ESPN Rise … Rated a four-star prospect and the No. 15 Player in the Class of 2013 by Top Drawer Soccer.
Personal: son of Teresa Espinoza and Jesus Murillo … Born on Feb. 4, 1995.
Fonder on Murillo: “Tony Murrillo is the highest-rated recruit that we have been able to attract to High Point University. He has played with the US Youth National Team and is one of the best attacking midfielders in the country. We think he is a player that can be special in our league.”
Duvan Vásquez Ortiz
Midfielder
Bogota, Columbia
5-6, 145
Liceo teilhard de chardin (Universidad Santo Tomas)
Prior to High Point: Transferred to High Point after one year at Universidad Santo Tomas in Bogata, Columbia.
Personal: Son of Luis Carlos Vásquez Bautista and Luz Janneth Ortiz Acevedo … Born on September 1, 1991.
Fonder on Vásquez Ortiz: “Duvan Vásquez Ortiz is a very special attacking player. He has great vision and feel for the game. We hope that his international experiences will allow him to bring a more seasoned game to High Point University than a normal freshman.”
Dolu Oyewole
Defender
Waldorf, Md.
5-11, 150
North Point High School
Prior to High Point: Two-year letter winner at North Point High School … Played in the DC United Academy … Took part in a US Club Soccer Tour to Germany and the Netherlands … Rated the No. 72 prospect in the Class of 2013 by College Soccer News.
Personal: Son of Dele Oyewole and Dolapo Popoola … Born on Jan. 7, 1996 … Has one older brother, Dami, and three younger sisters, Esther, Melody and Harmony.
Fonder on Oyewole: “Dolu Oyewole is a left-sided player who is capable of playing a variety of positions. In the long-term we see him as a left center back but he is also capable of playing both left back and left midfield. He is a very good student-athlete who we feel will succeed both on the field and in the classroom.”
Chris Ramsell
Midfielder
Scottsdale, Ariz.
6-1, 162
Pinnacle High School
Prior to High Point: Plays club soccer with Valpo United … Led his team in goals in 2013 … Won Flight 1 at the 2012 CASL College Showcase … Helped his club reach the Arizona State Cup semifinals in 2011 … Rated a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer.
Personal: Son of Kevin Ramsell and Judy Sheirbon … Born on March 10, 1995 … Has one younger brother, Alex.
Fonder on Ramsell: “Chris Ramsell was a player that we found at our identification camp. He is a tremendous athlete who provides a lot of versatility. We believe we can plug him in at several positions around the field. That versatility makes him a valuable recruit to us.”
Brandon Sloan
Midfielder
Oakland, Mich.
6-0, 155
Adams High School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner at Adams High School … Played soccer for the Vardar soccer Academy as a senior … Named to the All-Region and All-District teams as a junior … Named to the All-Area team as a freshman … Helped guide his team to Regional and Sectional Championships in his freshman season and a District Championship as a sophomore … Played club soccer with the Chacago Magic prior to joining Varder in 2010 … Won the US Club National Championship with the Chicago Magic U-15 team … Rated a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer
Personal: Son of Jannell and Jeff Sloan … Born on Sept. 23, 1994 … Brother of former HPU men’s soccer player Shawn Sloan who is now playing for the Columbus Crew in the MLS … Older brother, Steve, played soccer at Louisville.
Fonder on Sloan: “Brandon Sloan is the younger brother of Shawn Sloan, however he was recruited for his own abilities and will make a name for himself here at HPU. Like Shawn, he has an incredible soccer mind and has great field vision. What we really like about Brandon is his ability to take people on in the wide areas of the field and provide good service as well as his eagerness to constantly improve his game.”
Yosef Teffera
Forward
Durham, N.C.
6-0, 170
Jordan High School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner at Jordan High School … Named first-team All-Conference as a senior … Helped guide his prep team to the 2010 NCHSAA 4A State Championship … Plays his club soccer with Triangle United … Rated a three-star prospect by Top Drawer Soccer.
Personal: Son of Macon and Robin Ware … Born on April 7, 1994.
Fonder on Teffera: “Yosef Teffera is another talented local kid from North Carolina. We think that he is a technically proficient player who has talent that is still untapped. His better days are still ahead of him. The biggest thing with Yosef is to get him into a more consistent training environment and push his fitness level to a higher degree.”
Jonathan Ware
Defender
Upper Marlboro, Md.
5-9, 150
DeMatha High School
Prior to High Point: Three-year letter winner at DeMatha High School … Named Gazette All-County as a senior … Helped lead DeMatha to an NSCAA National Championship in 2011 and back-to-back WCAC League Championships in 2010-11 … Plays club soccer with AC Bethesda.
Personal: Son of Macon and Robin Ware … Born on April 7, 1994.
Fonder on Ware: “Jonathan Ware is a quick technical outside back. He is a two-way player who looks to get involved in the attack out of the back. We are looking for him to provide much needed cover at both outside back positions.”
Dom de Aragao
Midfielder
Spring, Texas
5-7, 145
Klein High School (Mount St. Mary’s)
Prior to High Point: Played two seasons at Mount St. Mary’s … Appeared in 16 games including three starts in 2012 … Took three shots on goal … Played in two games as a freshman in 2011 … Four-year letter winner in high school … Finished his prep career with 30 goals and 15 assists … Named first-team All-District … Helped his prep team win two District Championships (2008, 2010) … Played club soccer with the Texas Rush Soccer Club.
Personal: Son of Ernani and Darlene de Aragao … Born on April 14, 1993 … Has one twin brother, Joshua, and one younger brother, Jonathan … Cousin, Mikaela Haley, plays women’s soccer at New Mexico State.
Fonder on Dom de Aragao: “Similar to his brother, Dom de Aragao is adept both in the midfield and at outside back. We will count on him to provide increased depth and experience to our squad.”
Joshua de Aragao
Midfielder
Spring, Texas
5-7, 140
Klein High School (Mount St. Mary’s)
Prior to High Point: Played two seasons at Mount St. Mary’s … Appeared in 16 games including two starts in 2012 … Took two shots including one on goal … Played in two games as a freshman in 2011 … Four-year letter winner in high school … Finished with seven goals and six assists as a senior … Helped his prep team win two District Championships (2008, 2010) … Played club soccer with the Texas Rush Soccer Club.
Personal: Son of Ernani and Darlene de Aragao … Born on April 14, 1993 … Has one twin brother, Dom, and one younger brother, Jonathan … Cousin, Mikaela Haley, plays women’s soccer at New Mexico State.
Fonder on Joshua de Aragao: “Joshua de Aragao is a skilled midfielder with two years of college experience who comes to us from Mount St. Mary’s. He will provide depth throughout the midfield and will be an experienced voice that can help guide our young team next season.”