4 more to join MSUB men’s soccer team in the fall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Thursday, May 19, 2016 4 more to join MSUB men’s soccer team in the fall

MSUB men’s soccer head coach Alex Balog announces the signing of four more players for the fall 2016 season on Monday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – Four more players have committed to the Montana State University Billings men’s soccer team for the fall of 2016 announced Yellowjacket head coach Alex Balog on Thursday.

Ignacio Crespo (Guatemala City, Guatemala), Julien Dragomir (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Guillaume Kremer (Metz, France), and JJ Schmeck (Orting, Wash.) have each signed letters of intent to join MSUB in the fall. The quartet will join 10 players who have already committed to the Yellowjackets’ program for the fall.

“With the addition of these four players, we have concluded our fall 2016 recruiting,” Balog commented. “It is a big recruiting class, but we feel we have put together what could potentially be the most talented group of players this program has ever had. It will be an interesting mix of freshmen and guys who have a little more experience, but the common denominator is that all of our new players are very talented. We are excited about this upcoming fall season and we know the returners and newcomers are too.”

2016 MSUB Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class Name Position Ian Bream Midfielder Ignacio Crespo Midfielder Flavio Colasanti Midfielder Julien Dragomir Forward Alexis Flores Defender/Midfielder JD Hauenstein Forward/Midfielder Guillaume Kremer Midfielder Callan Martin Midfielder Oliver Posarelli Defender Aidan Raj Defender/Midfielder Victor Sanchez Forward JJ Schmeck Midfielder Chad Triplett Defender/Midfielder Caleb VanBlankenstein Goalkeeper

Hometown North Bend, OR Guatemala City, Guatemala Rome, Italy Scottsdale, AZ Peoria, AZ Spokane Valley, WA Metz, France Spokane, WA Verona, Italy Hollister, CA Portland, OR Orting, WA Edmonds, WA Anchorage, AK

Previous School North Bend High School University of Nebraska High School University of Rome Tor Vergata Primavera Online Grand Canyon University Central Valley High School University of Strasbourg Joel E. Ferris High School Educandato Statale Agli Angeli Grand Canyon University David Douglas High School Edmonds Community College Meadowdale High School Service High School

Ignacio Crespo Guatemala City, Guatemala Futeca School Guatemala 5-foot-7 – Midfielder Intended Major: Business Crespo brings strength as a left winger to the ‘Jackets after playing four years in the Liga Nacional de Futbol Guatemalteca Sub 20 club team in his home nation of Guatemala.

Coach Balog on Crespo: “Nacho is very skillful and has a fantastic left foot, which he will be able to use on the outside of the field. Adding another left-footed player to our roster is something we will benefit from greatly, along with Nacho’s versatility. Along with his soccer abilities, we are getting a quality student, who has a thorough understanding of how to get the job done in the classroom. We look forward to having Nacho here in the fall.”

Crespo on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because the school will help me meet all of my academic and athletic goals. I have learned that MSUB cares deeply about the development of athletic skill, academic proficiency, and most importantly, my personal growth. I truly believe that in order to be successful you have to know what you want and pursue your goals with discipline and consistency.”

Julien Dragomir Scottsdale, Arizona Primavera Online High School/Yavapai College/University of Nevada Las Vegas 5-foot-10 – Forward Intended Major: Health/Human Performance

Julien Dragomir.

Transferring to the Yellowjackets from NCAA Division I UNLV, Dragomir scored four goals and added an assist for nine points as a junior for the Rebels in 2014. He scored a gamewinning goal in UNLV’s Western Athletic Conference semifinal win, and played a key role off of the bench in 18 games on the season.

As a junior-college player, Dragomir ranked third in the nation in assists with 14 and 11th in goals with 19 at Yavapai. He also had the eighth-most points in the country (52) and earned NSCAA All-West Region honors. Dragomir was a key factor in the Roughriders’ run to a conference title and fourth-place finish at the national tournament.

Prior to his collegiate career, Dragomir was a forward for the Real Salt Lake Academy, and played for the Benfica Academy in Lisbon, Portugal for four seasons from 2010-14. Dragomir will enter MSUB’s program as a senior with one year of eligibility.

Coach Balog on Dragomir: “We are very excited to see Julien in an MSUB Men’s Soccer kit and look forward to him giving it his all in his last collegiate season. We know he will want to go out with a bang, and with his talent there is no reason why he can’t make a big impact on our program in one year. Having been at a premier junior college and at UNLV, Julien understands that only hard work will get us where we want to go. He will help us instill that mentality in the younger players around him.”

Dragomir on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because it has a lot to offer from the soccer program and its academics.

Everything about the university all-around seems great.”

Guillaume Kremer Metz, France Louis De Cormontaigne/University of Strasbourg 5-foot-7 – Midfielder Intended Major: Communications A talented French midfielder, Kremer comes to the United States after attending the University of Strasbourg in France. Kremer has experience commanding the game from the center of the pitch, and has the potential to see the field as a central midfielder or defender.

Kremer competed in soccer at Louis de Cormontaigne during his prep career, leading his school to a high school championship in 2012. Also playing for FC Metz in his home town, he helped the team to a fourth-place national finish after winning the U17 conference.

Coach Balog on Kremer: “We feel Guillaume is the missing piece of the puzzle, and now that we have him we believe we have a balanced roster. His versatility will be a weapon, and he has been part of an outstanding youth program in France known for producing quality players. His technical ability and vision will set him apart from many players in our conference. Guillaume can come in and make an immediate impact on our team and conference.”

Kremer on choosing MSUB: “I chose MSUB because I am sure it will be a place where I can reach my goals, and where I can study what I am interested in. The men’s soccer program interested me from the start and I am very excited to meet my teammates. Moreover, Billings seems to be a very beautiful city that is close to wilderness with beautiful landscapes.”

JJ Schmeck Orting, Washington Orting High School/Edmonds Community College 5-foot-9 – Midfielder/Forward Intended Major: Business Management Schmeck will join the ‘Jackets after two solid years at Edmonds Community College, where he captained the Tritons to a conference championship as a sophomore. Schmeck scored a dozen goals and had eight assists, and played in an all-star game after his team advanced to the final four in the NWAC tournament.

Playing for the Seattle Sounders’ U23 team, Schmeck helped the South Sound Shock capture his age group’s national championship title in Virginia Beach.

As a prep player at Orting High School, Schmeck was a first-team all-state selection and was picked as the athlete of the year as a senior. He scored 24 goals - a league-record 23 of which came in conference games. He was a team captain starting his junior year, and first earned all-league notoriety as a sophomore when he was honorable mention.

Coach Balog on Schmeck: “JJ got on our radar late in the recruiting cycle, but he came on a visit and impressed us. He brings a proven track record of scoring goals in one of the premier junior college conferences in the country, and we hope he can keep that going here. Besides having a nose for goals, JJ brings experience and technical ability to our program. Having been a part of the Seattle Sounders youth program, we know we are getting someone with a good understanding of the game.”

Schmeck on choosing MSUB: “When I went on my visit, the moment I got off the plane I knew that MSUB was the school for me. I was able to meld with the team very well in the 48 hours I was there, and the style of soccer the team plays appeals to my playing style very much as well. The most important thing to me is that MSUB is the place I see myself graduating from.”

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