Eleven members of the Tyler Junior College men’s soccer team have signed with four-year institutions, including six to the NCAA Division I level, Apaches soccer coach Steve Clements announced.
Signing scholarships were Anis Abdulgasem(University of Denver), Kejoun Benjamin (Georgia Gwinnett College), Carl Blundell (Belhaven College), Iko De Oliveira (Florida International University), Sammy Deing (Georgia Gwinnett College), Samuel Hosseini (University of South Florida), Tom McCarthy (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Byron Peters (Clayton State University), Ashley Reece (University of Missouri-Kansas City), Mario Samperio (North Carolina State University) and Johan Sanchez(Georgia Gwinnett College).
“These guys were a great group who accomplished a lot during their time here,” Clements said.
Over the last two years, the class had an overall record of 38-1-5, an unbeaten home record of 21-0-2, won the 2010 NJCAA Division I National Championship on their home field (Pat Hartley Field) and tied for third place at the 2011 national tournament in Phoenix. Of the 11 four-year signees, all but two will be graduating next week at TJC’s commencement ceremonies, Clements said.
Benjamin and Sanchez will transfer to Georgia Gwinnett College without graduating from TJC.
As a program over the last two years, the men’s soccer has a graduation total of 21 student-athletes, produced five All-Americans and has sent 16 to the NCAA Division 1 level.