University of Minnesota, Crookston issued the following announcement.
The University of Minnesota Crookston soccer program announced the additions of Yadira Ramos Gurrola (F, 5-3, Aurora, Colo./Northeastern Junior College) and Jada VanOverbeke (D, 5-6, Hartford, S.D./West Central H.S.) to their 2021 signing class. They are the eighth and ninth signees respectively for Coach Kyle Halfpop and the Golden Eagles. They join Kathryn Brainerd (GK/D, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn./Rochester Community and Technical College), Abby Fettinger (D, 5-5, White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake H.S.), Brooklyn Fischbach (GK, South St. Paul, Minn.), Inanna Hauger (MF, 5-1, Boyne City, Mich./Boyne City H.S.), Morgan Laplante (F, 5-9, De Soto, Kan./Johnson County Community College), Lanie Padelford (D, Mahtomedi, Minn./Mahtomedi H.S.) and Emma Stempien (GK, 5-6, Plymouth, Mich./Canton H.S.).
"Adding Yadira and Jada after signing day is huge for us," said Head Coach Kyle Halfpop. "Both are very big recruits for our program that we are very excited about. They will both make big contributions to this program on the field, in the classroom, and socially. We addressed two big needs to our program as well. I definitely think we are heading in the right direction as a program and how we will shape up, not just next year, but many more years down the road. We now have nine players in our 2021 class and we are looking to tie down a few more."
Ramos Gurrola is the third transfer for the Golden Eagles joining Laplante and Brainerd. Ramos Gurrola will add to UMN Crookston's attack as she showcased her scoring prowess at both Northeastern Junior College and Skyview Academy. Ramos Gurrola scored 10 goals as a freshman for Northeastern Junior College and notched 34 career goals in her prep career. She will aid the Golden Eagles as Coach Halfpop continues to transition UMN Crookston to a more offensive-minded approach.
VanOverbeke is the first signee in the class from South Dakota, a state Halfpop has deep ties to after serving as assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls for three seasons. In addition, Halfpop was the academy director at Dakota Alliance Soccer Club in Sioux Falls, S.D. from 2013-15. VanOverbeke is an All-State player, playing for a team that has won four state championships in five seasons.
The Minnesota Crookston soccer team is looking to build on the 2019 season, in which the Golden Eagles continued to improve throughout finishing with a 1-15 mark, including a 3-2 victory over Minot State University, a perennial power in the NSIC, late in the season. The Golden Eagles saw the 2020 season get cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. UMN Crookston will look to build on what they did in 2019, as they approach the 2021 season.
The student-athletes listed as having signed a National Letter of Intent or Offer of Admission to play soccer at the University of Minnesota Crookston have been verified by the Minnesota Crookston compliance office once they sign the National Letter of Intent or once the student-athlete has accepted an Offer of Admission for Minnesota Crookston.
Yadira Ramos Gurrola (F, 5-3, Aurora, Colo./Northeastern Junior College)
She attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. As a freshman, Ramos Gurrola scored 10 goals and tallied two assists for 22 overall points. Ramos Gurrola had three game-winning goals for Northeastern Junior College. She scored a hat trick of three goals in a 5-0 win over Pratt Community College. Ramos Gurrola notched two goals against Northeast Community College. Ramos Gurrola was an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection for Northeastern Junior College. She scored two goals against Sheridan College. Attended Skyview Academy High School in Thornton, Colo. Ramos Gurrola was a Colorado Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention selection in 2019. She was the MVP of the 4A/3A Colorado League. Ramos Gurrola is the Skyview Academy record holder for most goals with 34 in a career.
Ramos Gurrola is the daughter of Tomas Ramos Acosta and Maria Del Rocio Gurrola. She plans to major in sports and recreation management at UMN Crookston. Ramos Gurrola was born July 31, 2001.
"I am excited to welcome Yadira to the program," Halfpop said. "She is a great addition and is another player that fits exactly into what we are trying to build here. She is a versatile attacking player that can play anywhere across the front three. She is tactically very smart and takes up dangerous positions. Yadira is technically very solid and most importantly she knows how to score goals. She is always active and constantly looking to be dangerous going forward. She is going to bring experience that we need playing at the collegiate level. There is no doubt that she will be a positive influence on and off the field."
Jada VanOverbeke (D, 5-6, Hartford, S.D./West Central H.S.)
VanOverbeke was a South Dakota Class A All-State First Team recipient in 2020. She was also a Class A All-State First Team member as a junior. She helped West Central to a state championship. VanOverbeke has helped lead her team to four state championships in her career at West Central H.S. Her teams also earned a state soccer runner-up finish and state basketball runner-up finish. VanOverbeke is a four-year state track qualifier. She also earned MVP honors for her team and the Trojan Award.
She is the daughter of Troy and Jennifer VanOverbeke. VanOverbeke was born Nov. 26, 2002. She is undecided on her major. VanOverbeke is a member of the National Honor Society. Her great grandpa Larry Sterzinger was a swimmer at University of Minnesota Morris, graduating in 1955. Her great grandpa Merlin Rost was a wrestler at the University of Minnesota.
"Jada is another big addition to our 2021 class," Halfpop stated. "She fits the mold of what we are trying to build here from a mental, physical, tactical, and technical standpoint. She is very competitive and has a winning mentality. She has great positional understanding and awareness as a defender. She is comfortable on the ball which we really like in her position. She has good speed and physical presence. Jada is a very intelligent defender with good 1v1 defending qualities. She is tactically astute and makes very smart decisions. I think she will have a wonderful impact on this program. I am very excited to welcome Jada to our Golden Eagle Family!"
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