Kansas State women’s soccer inks 10 players to NLIs on National Signing Day

MANHATTAN, Kansas – Kansas State soccer head coach Mike Dibbini has restocked the roster for the 2020 season and beyond with the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the November signing period. The 10 signees will join the Wildcat roster for the 2020 season.

The 10 student-athletes that will compete for the program in its fifth season are: Keila Gillispie (Newton, Kansas), Marissa Gohr (Omaha, Nebraska), Lily Hollis (Kearney, Missouri), Taryn Lubbers (Wichita, Kansas), Erin Morrissey (Omaha, Nebraska), Lily Parker (Austin, Texas), Peyton Pearson (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Presli Pearson (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Maddie Weichel (Omaha, Nebraska) and Alaina Werremeyer (Blue Springs, Missouri).

Gillispie is a midfielder and defender from Newton High School in Newton, Kansas. In 2018, she garnered Class 5A All-State Second Team honors and was an All-Arkansas Valley Chisholm Trail League (AVCTL) First Team selection.

“Keila is a versatile defensive center-mid or center back and can be a solid deep playmaker for us,” said Dibbini about the team’s latest addition from Newton, Kansas. “She will also add depth and versatility to our team at the holding mid position and center back. Her mindset defensively will help her acclimate herself quickly.”

Welcome to the Family, a 5A All-State Second Team & AVCTL First Team midfielder/defender from Newton, Kansas, Keila Gillispie (@Keila5G).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/15K9uMBgJY

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Gohr is a forward from Elkhorn South High School in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Gohr has helped the Storm to a 52-10 record in her previous three seasons and helped the program to the 2019 Class B state title. During this timeframe, Gohr has notched 46 goals and 21 assists including a career-best 20 goals and 11 assists in 2018.

“Marisa is a solid forward that is consistent at making good decisions in the attack,” said Dibbini about Gohr’s game. “She will add depth to our attack. She also has the ability to play different positions including center mid.”

Gohr is a two-time Class B All-State First Team selection from both the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. She is also a two-time All-Nebraska Second Team selection from the Omaha World Herald and was named to the Lincoln Journal Star 2019 Super State Second Team.

Welcome to the Family, a 2-time All-State First Team selection by the Omaha World Herald & Lincoln Journal Star and 2019 state champion, a forward from Omaha, Nebraska, Marisa Gohr.
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/OGQULU6fpj

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Hollis is a forward from Kearney High School in Kearney, Missouri. She also competes for Sporting Blue Valley SC. She was named a 2019 TopDrawerSoccer.com Spring State Star for Missouri and was named to the Missouri Olympic Development Program (ODP) and the Midwest Region ODP.

Hollis is a two-time All-Suburban Kansas City Blue Conference First Team selection and a two-time All-District selection.

“Lily Hollis is a strong athlete that can play in the back line or can even play in the front line,” said Dibbini about Hollis’s positional diversity. “She will be able to contribute for us and provide some depth in one of those areas. Up top, she is very opportunistic when I have watched her throughout the process. I am looking forward to watching her growth”

Welcome to the Family, a 2-time All-Suburban Kansas City Blue Conference First Team selection & 2019 https://t.co/HD6ltxwWhu Spring State Star for Missouri, a forward from Kearney, Lily Hollis (@lilyyhollis).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/lG5mEXfbFn

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 14, 2019

Lubbers joins the Wildcats as a midfielder from Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, Kansas. In her three seasons with the Golden Eagles, Lubbers has carded 13 goals and 37 assists.

In the 2019 season, Lubbers was selected to the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association (KHSSCA) Class 5A First Team for the second time in her career as she helped Bishop Carroll to a 16-1-1 record and third-place Class 5A state finish. She was also named a TopDrawerSoccer.com Spring State Star for Kansas.

In 2018, Lubbers was a KHSSCA Class 5A Second Team selection while helping Bishop Carroll to a 15-3-1 overall record and a Class 5A regional title and a fourth-place finish in the state.

“Taryn comes from a very good environment where she is challenged daily and for her to bring that mindset to us will help us in the near future,” stated Dibbini. “We are excited to see where she will contribute with her versatility and excited that she has that ability. She reads the game very well in the middle of the field and can add some depth for our young team.”

Welcome to the Family, a 2-time KHSSCA Class 5A First Team selection & the 2019 https://t.co/HD6ltxwWhu Spring State Star for Kansas, a midfielder from Wichita, Taryn Lubbers (@TarynLubbers).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/4efrEPHJns

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 14, 2019

Morrissey is a defender for Millard North High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and has helped the Mustangs to a 39-15 overall record during her three previous seasons with the varsity. In the 2017 season, Morrissey helped Millard North to a state runner-up finish. The Mustangs returned to the title game in 2018 and secured the Class A state title.

In the 2019 season, Morrissey led the team for assists and collected her second Omaha World Herald Class A All-State honorable mention citation and 2019 Class A All-State honorable mention from the Lincoln Journal Star.

“Erin will be a great addition to our backline as her ability to read the game defensively is her strongest quality,” Dibbini discussed about Morrissey’s potential. “She has the versatile ability to play anywhere in the back, including in the middle of the field. She brings toughness, consistency, and a strong work-rate mentality.”

Welcome to the Family, a 2017 All-District Second Team performer after scoring 29 goals for McCallum High School, a defender from Austin, Texas, Lily Parker.
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/siMEjwl107

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Parker is a defender from McCallum High School in Austin, Texas. She also plays her club soccer with Lonestar FC and was named to the Texas ODP.

In the 2017 season, she helped McCallum to an 18-7 overall record and District runner-up finish. Parker earned All-District Second Team honors while scoring 29 goals.

“Lily Parker brings good offensive playmaking at the left back position,” said Dibbini about the Texas native. “She likes to get forward and create offensive chances with her services. We are looking forward to having another lefty on our team with an attacking mindset.”

Welcome to the Family, a 2-time All-District selection & a member of the 2018 Tulsa World All-World Girls Soccer Second Team, a midfielder/defender from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Presli Pearson (@PresliPearson).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/Xz54R7HoLP

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Presli Pearson is a midfielder/defender for Broken Arrow High School in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and the Tulsa SC club team. She has also competed for the Oklahoma ODP.

In 2018, Presli Pearson scored 14 goals to help Broken Arrow to a 23-0 record and the 2018 Class 6A state title. Pearson was named to the 2018 Tulsa World All-World Girls Soccer Second Team and is a two-time All-District selection.

“Presli is a solid player that can impact our program right away,” said Dibbini. “She has experience playing both right back and center mid. She is comfortable on the ball under pressure and her decision-making ability is very good. Her consistent play is what will stand out the most right away.”

Welcome to the Family, a 2-time https://t.co/HD6ltxwWhu South Central Region selection, 2-time Spring State Star for Oklahoma & 2-time Tulsa World All-World Girls Soccer First Team selection, a goalkeeper from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Peyton Pearson (@1peytonpearson).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/AnuYF5Zln6

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Peyton Pearson backstops for Broken Arrow High School and the Tulsa SC club team. Peyton Pearson is a two-time TopDrawerSoccer.com South Central Region selection and a two-time TopDrawerSoccer.com Spring State Star for Oklahoma. She has also competed for the Oklahoma ODP.

In the last two seasons, Peyton Pearson has aided the Tigers to a 43-2 overall record. She is a two-time Tulsa World All-World Girls Soccer First Team selection.

In 2018, Pearson allowed three goals and finished the season with a 0.31 goals against average as Broken Arrow won the 2018 Class 6A state title with a 23-0 record.

In 2019, Pearson again tallied a 0.31 goals against average as Broken Arrow finished the season with a 20-2 record and a state semifinal appearance.

“Peyton will be a great technical goalkeeper that will compete with the others and challenge her way into the position. Peyton has really good offensive distribution especially in transition moments. She reads the game very well. She also has the knack to make big saves and has gotten better every time we have watched her develop.”

Welcome to the Family, two-time All-ITG selection, a forward from Papillion, Nebraska, Maddie Weichel (@MaddieWeichel).
#KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/Ul9smxqbCt

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Weichel is a forward from Papillion-La Vista High School in Papillion, Nebraska. In her three seasons with the Titans, Weichel has helped the program to a 34-21 overall record and a district title and state qualifier appearance in 2019. She has tallied 16 goals and 36 assists in her career.

She is a two-time All-ITG selection and garnered the honor in 2019 by dishing out 14 assists and scoring four goals.

“Maddie will bring an instant offensive punch for us whether she is trying to score goals or creating dangerous services for her teammates,” stated Dibbini. “She has played at a very good level and has a dangerous attacking mindset that is going to help our team be more impactful in the final third of the field. We are looking forward to her joining us in 2020.”

Welcome to the Family, a MSCA Class 4 All-State Second Team and 2019 Suburban Big 7 Goalkeeper of the Year selection from Blue Springs, MO, Alaina Werremeyer (@Awerremeyer01). #KStateSOC #EMAW pic.twitter.com/UiN2FtuCHi

— K-State Soccer (@KStateSOC) November 13, 2019

Werremeyer is a goalkeeper for Blue Springs South High School from Blue Springs, Missouri, and with FC Kansas City. In 2019, Werremeyer was a Missouri Soccer Coaches Association (MSCA) Girls Class 4 All-State Second Team selection. She was named the 2019 Suburban Big 7 Goalkeeper of the Year honors and an All-Suburban 7 First Team selection in 2019.

In 2018, Werremeyer was an MSCA Girls Class 4 All-State First Team selection, the District Goalkeeper of the Year and the Suburban Big 7 Goalkeeper of the Year. While representing FC Kansas City, Werremeyer helped the club to a national runner-up finish at the 2018 US Youth Soccer 17U Girls National Championship.

“Alaina will be a presence in the goal for us,” said Dibbini. “She brings a combination of size and skill and will impact the goalkeeping position. Her ability to make big saves and organize will be crucial in the Big 12. We are excited she will be a big part of our program now and in the future.”

Kansas State closed out its fourth season of action with a 3-13-2 overall record and a 1-8-0 Big 12 record. The Wildcats set single season school records for total shots, corner kicks and tied the marks for goals and assists in Big 12 play.