By: Brian Howard, Sports Information Director
GRAMBLING, La. | Grambling State University head women's soccer coach
Justin Wagar announced the 10 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Lady Tigers in 2019.
Grambling State, the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular-season champions, will look to build upon its first conference title as Wagar signed nine players to the 2019 recruiting class.
"Fortunately, our recruiting classes keep getting better and better as our quality of athlete improves, so does the height for our target that we'd like to achieve," Wagar, who has garnered back-to-back SWAC Coach of the Year honors, said. "This is a very balanced class with speed, athleticism, experience, versatility and competitive drive. There is a lot of talent in this years recruiting class and we'll need every bit of it to compete with a challenging schedule next year, that includes four teams that reached the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament in 2019.
"Talent can present a deceiving level of comfort though for teams if they aren't careful, teams with more heart and drive can sneak up and overcome you. I hope each of our team members realize how hard we need to train to prepare for excellence so we can reach our goals. I'm excited for August to get here and for our fall season to begin."
GSU 2019 Signing class
Macy Ramsey is a 5-foot-8 forward/midfielder from Dover, Del and played at Caesar Rodney High School. A four-year First-Team All-Conference and two-year All-State player, Ramsey captained the team to the north conference championship three straight years and was honored with the teams Best Technical and Best Tactical Awards during those years. Academically, Ramsey has been honored as a National Honor Society member for the past two years, while representing Caesar Rodney High School as a State Delegate at the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Lowell, Mass.
Wagar Quote on Ramsey:
"She has good size and strength but is smooth on the ball making good decisions and can get forward into the attack and create scoring opportunities. She was another player that came to camp this summer as someone we had our eye on and really excelled and impressed us with her play. We're looking forward to having Macy as part of the Grambling family."
To view highlight film on Ramsey, click the link:
https://www.hudl.com/profile/7292675/Macy-Ramsey
Klarysa O'Hara, a native of from San Diego, Calif. And played at Montgomery High School, helped her team to a 19-1-6 record in 2016-17 and set a District record by scoring 29 goals to break her previous season record of 23 goals. Her team was the CIF runner-up that year as O'Hara started every game as an attacking player. She was named to the San Diego Union Tribune Player to Watch and was a three-time First Team All-South Bay League and named the Offensive MVP in 2015-16.
Wagar Quote on O'Hara:
"She has tremendous versatility as an athlete excelling at multiple positions as she has demonstrated dominating up top in the attack in high school, and then for her Development Academy team starting at outside defender and mid for them. Klarysa is great athlete and has a competitive nature which helped her to make varsity in five sports in high school which included volleyball, track, football, soccer, and basketball. She can do it all. We're looking forward to her competing in the black and gold this fall here at GSU."
To view highlight film on O'Hara, click the link::
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuCIi2fiW88
Laila Loring, a native of Las Vegas, Nev., played at Durango High School and was a four-sport athlete, playing soccer, basketball, volleyball and track and field. Loring also played for the Nevada ODP team from 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. For club ball Loring plays for Heat FC 01/00 ECNL II, which currently is in first place in the conference. Her club teams were Nevada State Champions in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Wagar Quote on Loring:
"She's a good posting target up top with a nose for the goal. She scored a brilliant set piece strike the first tournament I watched her in and then came into our camp this summer and proved against other competitors that she belonged at this level. She has a good work ethic and a great personality. The girls and staff really enjoyed having her around and we look forward to welcoming her to our team."
Click link to read media article in the Las Vegas newspaper:
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/durango-3-sport-star-laila-loring-sets-sights-on-grambling-state/
To view highlight film on Loring, click the link::
https://vimeo.com/238990967
Cierra Ramirez, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., is a midfielder/forward who plays at Volcano Vista High School. She led the team in scoring her freshmen year and helped her team with the Metro League title that season. As a sophomore, Ramirez led the state of New Mexico in assists and during her senior year she was honored with First Team All-District and Second Team All-State. Three out of her four years at Volcano Vista she earned the Team Offensive Player of the Year honor.
Wagar Quote on Ramirez:
"She's a great young lady and a talented soccer player. She has a high work rate, a nose for the ball and can score goals and create off the dribble. She'll do a
good job to compliment our attack in coming years."
To view highlight film on Ramirez, click the link:
http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9161490/5a3d9d08f55fe70f485e99dd
Makayla Miller, a native of Seattle, Wash., played at Todd Beamer High School as a forward. She helped guide the team to first place in the SPSL (which is a District of both public and private high schools) in both 2015 and 2016. Miller earned First Team All-League in 2016.
Wagar Quote on Miller:
"We're excited to have Makayla coming to compete for Grambling State. She is a tremendous competitor and plays at a high level for a quality team. I love that Makayla can play both sides of the ball getting into the attack on set pieces and scoring header goals, winning balls in the air, distributing to her teammates and being solid on defense to read the play and make stops in the midfield. Her club ball experience helped to develop grit and will prepare her well to face top teams at the Division I level in the near future. Welcome to the squad Makayla."
To view highlight film on Miller, click the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTb4bP6jzYw
Zenaya Barnes, a native of Mundelein, Ill., played at Carmel Catholic High School where she has been a three-time IESA State Qualifer and competed on the lacrosse and soccer teams. Barnes led the team in scoring with 16 of their 28 goals, which earned her First Team All-Area, All-Conference and All-State honors. She helped guide the team to the regional championship, Class 3A Sectional Championship and a Super Section Qualifier finish with a 17-5-4 record. In addition, Barnes was twice named Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the match. Her senior season will take place in the spring. Outside of soccer, Barnes was a Student Ambassador from 2016-2019 and was a student-athletic trainer from 2017-2019.
Wagar Quote on Barnes:
"She was a late addition to our recruiting class but a valuable and talented pick up for us. Zenaya is a versatile forward or mid that has the ability to create off the dribble and beat defenders with her quickness and moves. An ACL injury kept her out during an important recruiting time while she recovered. She got healthy in time for her junior year to prove that she's fully recovered and ready to go and make an impact at the NCAA level.
Welcome to our Grambling family Zenaya!"
To view highlight film on Barnes, click the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64hDby03MUc
Kennedy Moore, a native of Marietta, Ga., played at Hillgrove High School, where she was a four-year letter winner and helped guide the team to three consecutive regional championships and two elite eight appearances. Moore was a member of the State Olympic Development Team (ODP) team last year and also competed in club soccer for Tophat SC and now plays for Darlington School Soccer Academy. Academically, Moore excels in the classroom as a member of National Beta Club for three years, Academic Booster club, Athletic Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society member.
Wagar Quote on Moore:
"She's a talented soccer player who was one of the top midfielders we had in at camp this past year. She's athletic, hard working, gets up and down the flanks and creates plays. We believe she'll have a good future at the Division I level and on top of her soccer prowess, she's a great person and fantastic student.
Welcome to Grambling Kennedy!"
To view highlight film on Moore click the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zlNgz-MuXY&feature=player_embedded
Trina Davis, a native of Marysville, Wash., is a forward/midfielder who played at Marysville Pilchuck High School. She was a four-year starter at outside midifield and captained her team during her senior year. A four-year First Team All-Conference player, Davis broke the record for most scored in a season during her freshman season. She earned a call up to represent the Fijian National Team this past summer where she helped lead the team in scoring with a hat trick in her debut and earning a first cap during the Oceanic Football Confederation Women's Nations Cup Qualifiers.
Wagar Quote on Davis:
"I have been a big fan of Trina's play ever since I first saw her play a few years ago. She has been one of the top forward recruits on my depth chart ever since day 1 when I watched her blow by the opposing teams defense and score a few goals that game. I love her work ethic, her competitive nature and passion to learn. Her speed and attacking ability will create problems for opposing defenses to keep up with. We're happy to have her as a member of our Grambling team."
Click link to read media article: https://www.heraldnet.com/…/marysville-pilchuck-soccer-sta…/
2018 Oceanic Football Confederation Women's Nations Cup Qualifier :
https://www.heraldnet.com/…/mp-soccer-star-lands-spot-on-f…/
Michaela Danyo, a native of Edmonds, Wash., played at Edmonds-Woodway High School and was a four-year starter, while being named captain during her senior season. She amassed 105 goals and 63 assists during her four-year prep career, and garnered All-Area First Team and All-Wesco First Team honors. Dayno received three All-Wesco honors and was selected as the Marysville-Getchell High Player of the Game/Sportsmanship Award.
Wagar Quote on Dayno:
"Michaela is a very talented player that was a standout for years that had impressed me when I first saw their team play for her ability to post up, turn and blast a rocket of a shot into the goal. She has good size, pace with a ball and a nose for the goal. She is another versatile athlete that can succeed at a couple of positions and will only get better and better in college if she continues to work and grow as a player. She's had a fair amount of success already in her playing career, but I think she can grow even more and peak the next four years at the Division I level. I'm excited to see her play in a GSU uniform and welcome her aboard."
To view highlight film on Danyo click the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMX8ddLubgA
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