@MizzouSoccer Signs Six for 2016 Season
2/3/2016 2:38:00 PM | Soccer
Bryan Blitz lands six standout signees from five different states
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou soccer Head Coach Bryan Blitz announced the addition of six new Tigers on Thursday, Feb. 4, as Izzy Coulter (Niceville, Fla.), Anna Denkmann (Carmel, Ind.), Anna Frick (Webster Groves, Mo.), Peyton Joseph (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Grace Kitts (Leawood, Kan.) and Mercedes Sapp (Windemere, Fla.) all signed National Letters of Intent to attend Missouri and compete for the Mizzou soccer team in the fall. The signees will be joined by early enrollee Sarah Luebbert (Jefferson City, Mo.), who will take part in the spring season.
"We are very pleased with the versatility of this class as it represents all positions on the field: a goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders and a forward," Blitz said. "These players fill some needs we have with the loss of graduating seniors, as well as add depth to other positions on our team. Most of all, we know we are getting players who are willing to put in the work on the field and who are committed to their academics. They are players who have the attitude of team first and are determined to come in and help us reach our goal of winning an SEC Championship, and ultimately making deep runs in the NCAA tournament."
| 2016 MIZZOU SOCCER SIGNING CLASS | |||
| NAME | POSITION | HOMETOWN | CLUB TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izzy Coulter | Defender | Niceville, Fla. | Gulf Coast Texans East / San Diego Football Academy |
| Anna Denkmann | Defender | Carmel, Ind. | Ohio Premier |
| Anna Frick | Defender | Webster Groves, Mo. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher |
| Peyton Joseph | Defender | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Real Colorado |
| Grace Kitts | Midfielder | Leawood, Kan. | Sporting Blue Valley |
| Mercedes Sapp | Goalkeeper | Windermere, Fla. | Orlando City Elite |
IZZY COULTER
Defender | 5-3 | Niceville, Fla. (Niceville) | Gulf Coast Texans East / San Diego Football Academy
- Played club soccer for Gulf Coast Texas East and San Diego Football Academy
- Member of Niceville High School's current 19-0 team
- Helped Niceville to the Class 4A District 1 title
- Also played for Westview High School in San Diego
High School Coach: Michael Denton
Why Izzy Chose Mizzou:
"Mizzou is my dream school. My dad graduated from Mizzou, so ever since I was a little girl I was convinced that was the school I wanted to attend. It's such an outstanding school when it comes to athletics and academics. It is a blessing to be able to play soccer at the highest level and be a part of such a hardworking and successful team."
Club coach Jen Lalor on Izzy:
"I had the pleasure of coaching Izzy for two years. She is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached. She is passionate, dedicated, and very determined to succeed and gives 100 percent on every single play all the time. Off of the field, she is a positive, loyal, and supportive teammate. Izzy is the type of player that is always wanting and looking for extra training. She would consistently come early to practice and work on her individual skills and fitness. Every player respected Izzy for what she did on the field and who she was as a person."
Chose Mizzou over:
Vanderbilt, LSU, Florida State
ANNA DENKMANN
Defender | 5-8 | Carmel, Ind. (Carmel) | Ohio Premier
- Played under coach Willie Gage for Ohio Premier
- Part of Carmel High School's 2014 Class 2A state championship team
- Helped Carmel to a 15-1-2 record in 2015
- 2015 all-conference honoree
High School Coach: Frank Dixon
"From the start of my college search, I knew I wanted to play at a big school. Not only did I want to play at a big school, but it needed to feel like home, and that's exactly how Mizzou felt. When I visited Mizzou, it instantly felt like the right fit. It is the perfect size and family feel I wished for."
High school coach Frank Dixon on Anna:
"Anna is a gifted athlete but an even better person, she spent time every summer helping the less fortunate."
Chose Mizzou over:
Miami (Ohio), Maryland
ANNA FRICK
Defender | 5-9 | Webster Groves, Mo. (Nerinx Hall) | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
- Played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher under the direction of Scott McDoniel
- Helped St. Louis Scott Gallagher to a second-place finish in the 2015 ECNL North American Division national playoffs
- Earned Class 4 all-state second team honors and all-conference first team accolades in 2015 for Nerinx Hall
- Named a 2015 St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame Future Star
- Father, Brad, played football at Mizzou
High School Coach: Brian Haddock
Why Anna Chose Mizzou:
"I chose Missouri because it was the best fit for me. I loved the people, campus, team and facilities. Missouri seemed to me like one big community and I wanted to be a part of it. Growing up I only heard good things about Mizzou from my dad and his friends, they would say how much they loved it and would give anything to go back there. Little did I know I would soon agree with them. The moment I stepped foot on campus I fell in love with the school. I knew that Mizzou would give me the opportunity to succeed in school, life and sports."
Club coach Scott McDoniel on Anna:
"Anna is relentless worker who plays with tenacity and energy and personality at all times. She's a great tackler of the ball, great in the air and is a true winner, loves to compete and loves to be at training and games representing her club. She is a leader by example, courage to do the difficult things in the field, a caring, genuine teammate that has a connection and relationship with each teammate. Anna is intelligent, spirited and always positive no matter what adversity she and the team faces."
Chose Mizzou over:
Wisconsin, LSU, Arkansas, Illinois
PEYTON JOSEPH
Defender | 5-6 | Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Mountain Vista) | Real Colorado
- Played club soccer for coach Scott DeDycker and Real Colorado
- Part of a Real Colorado team that finished second at ECNL nationals in 2013 and third in 2015
- Named ECNL National Finals Best XI honors in 2013
- Helped Mountain Vista to the 2013 state title a 50-6-3 record in her high school career
- Sister, Sierra, played soccer at Arizona State
High School Coach: Theresa Echtermeyer
Why Peyton Chose Mizzou:
"I chose Missouri because as soon as I visited the campus, I knew it was where I wanted to spend my college years. Athletics has always been a huge part of my life and it is also a very big part of the University of Missouri, which I love. The campus is also extremely beautiful and to me it is the perfect size. Missouri was also the first college I visited that really had a family feel."
Club coach Neil Payne on Peyton:
"Peyton is a tremendous soccer player who is committed to excellence every time she steps onto the field. Moreover, Peyton flourishes in a leadership role to bring out the best in others. Bryan and his staff are a great fit for Peyton as they will develop her game further, they have recruited a great player and person in Peyton and I have no doubt she will have a successful career at the University of Missouri."
Chose Mizzou over:
Oregon State, LSU, Arizona, Colorado, UC Davis
GRACE KITTS
Midfielder | 5-9 | Leawood, Kan. (St. Teresa's Academy) | Sporting Blue Valley
- Played club soccer for Sporting Blue Valley under head coach Gags Pritchard
- Helped St. Teresa's to the 2015 Missouri Class 4 title
- 2015 all-state first team honoree as a junior
- Compiled 29 goals and 13 assists in her high school career
- Uncles Tim and Tom Hornof played football at Missouri
High School Coach: Jeremy McElduff
Why Grace Chose Mizzou:
"I chose Missouri because ever since I was little I always heard my mom talking about her experience at Mizzou and watching her brothers play football for Mizzou. It was my goal was to play a sport there too. Once I went to camp freshmen year, I saw how welcoming the soccer program was at Mizzou and so set a goal for myself to work as hard as I could to be a part of it someday."
Club coach Gags Pritchard on Grace:
"Grace is a tremendous midfielder who can compete at the highest level of soccer in this country. She has the athletic ability to be a player who can change the outcome of any game. We all know Grace is a top notch player but she also has the character to match."
Chose Mizzou over:
Tulsa, SLU, Missouri State
MERCEDES SAPP
Goakleeper | 5-6 | Windermere, Fla. (Lake Highland Preparatory School) | Orlando City Elite
- Played club soccer for Orlando City Elite and coach Dan Tidmarsh
- Named the Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) 2A Player of the Year in 2015
- Also earned All-State honors from the FACA
- Helped Lake Highland Preparatory School to the 2015 district championship
- Father, Warren, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders
High School Coach: Angie Palazzo
Why Mercedes Chose Mizzou:
"I chose Missouri because when I stepped on campus, I immediately felt comfortable, I felt like I belonged there. I wanted to be a part of a program that is in a competitive division and is dedicated to hard work, and I found that at Mizzou. Also, I was looking for a school with a rich football history and tradition."
Goalkeeper coach Chris Barocas on Mercedes:
"Mercedes' best soccer is ahead of her. She has put in a good body of work since I started at Orlando City and I feel with the guidance from staff in place at Mizzou she will continue to grow and achieve both on and off the field. She is an extremely gifted athlete and when challenged she will respond in big ways. She was a rock this past fall for our 18 ECNL team and played consistently at a very high level."
Chose Mizzou over:
Georgetown, Wake Forest, Arkansas, Miami (Fla.)
