Seven more added to 'Necks roster
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports
Western Illinois men's soccer head coach Dr. Eric Johnson has announced signing seven players that will join the team for the 2009 season, which include five high school seniors and two junior college players.
The five high school seniors are Whitney Browne, Oskar Gasecki, Timothy Hankins, Husref Jupic and Alex Meine. The two junior college players are Jaime Castrejon and Antonio Katic.
"The incoming players have some big shoes to fill, but I think they are qualified to do it," Johnson said. "They are good people and they will fit in well with our team. Initially, since they will be good teammates and they are competitive athletes, they are really going to help. Overall, we are excited to have this group of athletes join our team."
Browne, the younger brother of current Leatherneck Martin Browne, Jr., hails from Osseo Senior High School in Osseo, Minn. The 5-foot-9 forward/midfielder collected 31 goals last season to lead his team to a state championship as well as being named to the all-state first team and earning all-Metro Player of the Year honors.
He was also selected as Minnesota's Class 2A Mr. Soccer, along with being named an ESPN all-American honorable mention and a finalist for Gatorade's Player of the Year in Minnesota. From 2006-08, he was a member of the United States Youth Soccer Association regional pool team and the Minnesota Olympic Development Program state soccer team.
Not only has the Osseo, Minn., native won a state title on the soccer field, he also was member of his high school's 4x100 team that won the state title last year.
"Whitney is a dynamic player and has the potential to score goals from an attacking midfield or forward position ," Johnson said.
Gasecki, a 6-foot forward/midfielder from Gurnee, Ill., comes to Western after playing soccer at Warren Township High School. He was a two-time all-North Suburban Conference selection during his junior and senior seasons as well as playing club soccer for the Metro FC and the Chicago Fire Juniors.
The five high school seniors are Whitney Browne, Oskar Gasecki, Timothy Hankins, Husref Jupic and Alex Meine. The two junior college players are Jaime Castrejon and Antonio Katic.
"The incoming players have some big shoes to fill, but I think they are qualified to do it," Johnson said. "They are good people and they will fit in well with our team. Initially, since they will be good teammates and they are competitive athletes, they are really going to help. Overall, we are excited to have this group of athletes join our team."
Browne, the younger brother of current Leatherneck Martin Browne, Jr., hails from Osseo Senior High School in Osseo, Minn. The 5-foot-9 forward/midfielder collected 31 goals last season to lead his team to a state championship as well as being named to the all-state first team and earning all-Metro Player of the Year honors.
He was also selected as Minnesota's Class 2A Mr. Soccer, along with being named an ESPN all-American honorable mention and a finalist for Gatorade's Player of the Year in Minnesota. From 2006-08, he was a member of the United States Youth Soccer Association regional pool team and the Minnesota Olympic Development Program state soccer team.
Not only has the Osseo, Minn., native won a state title on the soccer field, he also was member of his high school's 4x100 team that won the state title last year.
"Whitney is a dynamic player and has the potential to score goals from an attacking midfield or forward position ," Johnson said.
Gasecki, a 6-foot forward/midfielder from Gurnee, Ill., comes to Western after playing soccer at Warren Township High School. He was a two-time all-North Suburban Conference selection during his junior and senior seasons as well as playing club soccer for the Metro FC and the Chicago Fire Juniors.
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