2 April 2002
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309.556.3206 and/or head coach Dave Barrett, 309.556.3343
 
 

IWU Gains Six Recruits for Women's Soccer

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Six high school soccer standouts have announced they will Illinois Wesleyan University to continue their academic and athletic careers, IWU soccer coach Dave Barrett announced today.

Among the recruits are Jessica Budden of Wauconda (Carmel HS); Jackie Gustafson of Terre Haute, Ind. (South HS); Mary Karson of St. Charles (East HS); Jenny LaBrenz of Kalamazoo, Mich. (HS); Courtney Odelson of Oak Lawn (Richards HS); and Colleen Yerkes of Shorewood, Wis. (HS).

About his new women recruits as a group, Barrett says, "I am very excited about these players joining our team. We needed to address concerns of depth in the recruiting process this year, and I think we are on our way with these players.

"I know for certain that several of these girls are going to compete immediately for playing time in the fall. Considering that we return eight starters from our 14-4 team, this should speak volumes about the type of players and people who have committed to us so far."

Barrett indicated there are three or four more players he is still recruiting who he hopes to also add to the 2002 team.

IWU head coach Barrett's comments on these members of his recruiting class:

r Jessica Budden, Wauconda, Ill. (Carmel HS)
A veteran of the Chicago Sockers FC, Budden is an athletic, strong, left-sided player who will look to provide some stability at left back for the Titans. Her club team won the Snickers State Cup in 2001, and finished third at the Region III Championships. In high school, she earned all-area and all-conference honors the past two seasons. She was also in the Illinois state Olympic Development Program player pool in 2000.

r Jackie Gustafson, Terre Haute, Ind. (South HS)
A three-sport athlete in high school, Gustafson was involved in soccer, basketball, and softball. She was a four-year varsity soccer letterwinner and earned Best Attacker from 1999?2001, All-Vigo County Honors 1999?2001, and was the most valuable player of the All-Vigo County Team in 2001. Gustafson's leadership abilities enabled her team to make it into the state playoffs in soccer as well as win the 2001 state basketball championship. An athletic, fast, and tenacious attacker, Jackie will be immediate help offensively for the Titans.

r Mary Karson, St. Charles, Ill. (East HS)
Karson, a tall, athletic, and fast player hails from Campton United F.C. who was the Snickers State Cup Championship team in 2001, as well as the President’s Day Cup Champions in 2002. Karson was also involved in the National Honors Society, Student Council, and Peer Leadership. At St. Charles East High School, she has started each of the last two seasons. Her leadership role will be key as she fights for a starting position in the midfield for the Titans. After turning down a Division I scholarship, Karson says IWU is a perfect fit for her both academically and athletically. She joins former St. Charles East teammates Ann Bernard and Marisa Johnson and becomes the third former Saint in three years to wear Titan green.

r Jenny LaBrenz, Kalamazoo, Mich., (HS)
An athletic and skillful player, LaBrenz has played with Grand Valley Premier S.C. and was team captain last fall at Kalamazoo High School. As a four-year varsity letter winner, LaBrenz earned team captain honors in 2000-01, as well as all-conference honors in 2001. She will see time in the midfield and in the back for the Titans.

r Courtney Odelson, Oak Lawn, Ill. (Richards HS)
Odelson is a four-year varsity letterwinner and a two-time captain for the Lady Bulldogs. She is a disciplined, hardworking, competitive athlete who will see time as a wide player for the Titans. Her strong leadership skills and winning attitude will be assets to her success at IWU.

r Colleen Yerkes, Shorewood, Wis., (HS)
A strong, athletic, and hard working player Yerkes is a member of Mequon United S.C. At Shorewood High, a perennial state power in Wisconsin, Yerkes shared time at the striker position with a couple of Division I players. Colleen will look for time as a target forward and will help the Titans gain depth in a rotation of attackers. Her skill, technique, and personality will complement the IWU squad well.
 
 

About Illinois Wesleyan University Soccer

The Illinois Wesleyan women's soccer team returns 14 letterwinners from a team that finished 14-4 in 2001…The IWU women are 30-8 the past two seasons…Dave Barrett will begin his second season as IWU's head coach for both the men's and women's team.

About Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan University, founded in 1850, enrolls about 2,000 students in a College of Liberal Arts, and individual schools of Music, Theatre Arts, Art, and Nursing. In the last decade, the University has seen approximately $120 million in new construction, including the $26 million Ames Library and the $6 million renovation of Memorial Gym to become the Hansen Student Center, both opened in January 2002.
Also added since 1994 have been the Shirk Center for Athletics and Recreation, the Center for Natural Sciences, Harriett Fuller Rust House (residence hall), the Center for Liberal Arts, Jack Horenberger Baseball Field and the Nies Soccer Field.