University of Miami head soccer coach Sarah Barnes signs 9 high school standouts

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami head soccer coach Sarah Barnes announced Wednesday the signing of nine high school standouts.

The Hurricanes have officially added: Mia Atrio, Michaela Baker, Annie Blair, Delaney Brown, Hannah Dawbarn, Julia Edwards, Katerina Molina, Gabriela Rusek and Cailey Wesolowsky to the class of 2020.

Mia Atrio: A 5-foot-3-inch forward from just a mile down the road in Coral Gables, Atrio hails from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. During her sophomore campaign, she led the program to its first state title in school history and ended her high school career a two-time member of the 5A-4A FHSAA All-Dade First Team in 2018 and 2019, as well as capturing MVP and Offensive Player of the Year recognition by the Bobcats. As a senior, she earned 2019 All-Dade Player of the Year honors from the Miami Herald.

“We’re thrilled for Mia to become a Hurricane this year, as she will add depth to our core of wide attackers,” Barnes said. “She’s committed to learning and willing to set high standards. Mia is a local Miami product, resilient and competitive, and that will help her continue to develop as a student, an athlete and a soccer player.”

Michaela Baker: A 5-foot-3-inch midfielder/forward hailing from San Diego, Baker is one of two incoming first-year students from the Golden State. Competing at San Marcos High School, she was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year, finishing as its leading scorer and being recognized as a First Team All-Conference member. Baker played for San Diego Surf at the club level from U12-U18, including four years in ECNL and two years in USSDA, finishing her career at LA Galaxy San Diego at the U19 level. In 2018, Baker led San Diego to the USDAA U17 Surf Cup Championship title. This past season, she was granted Top Drawer Offensive Standout honors.

“We look forward to Michaela joining the Hurricane family from the West Coast this season, as she has experience in several attacking positions. She aims high, pushes herself and has shown resilience throughout her club career,” Barnes said. “Michaela’s experiences and competitive nature will help her to adjust to the collegiate environment as she continues to reach new goals.”

Annie Blair: A native of McLean, Va., Blair attends Langley High School and competes for McLean ECNL. The 5-foot-8-inch midfielder has been a standout student-athlete in the classroom and on the pitch, securing club conference championships three years in a row, as well as earning scholar athlete accolades. In 2019, she helped McLean reach the title match in San Diego.

“We’re excited for Annie to join our program this year, as she will add talent to our midfield,” Barnes said. “She comes from a competitive training environment that has helped her develop for the collegiate experience. Annie is responsible and passionate about the game and is an excellent student who is committed to learning and growing.”

Delaney Brown: A 5-foot-6-inch defender from Johns Creek, Ga., Brown attended Blessed Trinity Catholic and participated on Concorde Fire 02 ECNL Platinum. Starting at center back, she contributed to a pair of ECNL titles, including Southeast Region Champs (2018-19) and Georgia State Cup Champions (2015). At the high school level, Brown was named the Blessed Trinity Rookie of the Year, earned Defensive Player of the Year accolades, was a team captain and in 2018 secured a spot on the Georgia State All-Region First Team.

“We are thrilled for Delaney becoming a Hurricane this fall. She has spent her club career competing as a center back, with and against quality players,” Barnes said. “This challenge has made her grow in that she is constantly analyzing and adjusting her game, which will help her adapt to the higher collegiate level. Delaney is a dependable student-athlete who will invest in her development on and off the field.”

Hannah Dawbarn: Set to cross the Atlantic Ocean for the start of the 2020 season, Dawbarn is a 5-foot-5-inch defender from High Wycombe, England. For seven years, she played for Arsenal Academy and most recently won the FA Academy Cup with Arsenal’s U21 team. In 2018, she played at the national level, competing for England U18 and earned wins over Mexico, Columbia and the United States. In 2016, she won the Dallas International Girls Cup with Arsenal U15.

“We are anticipating Hannah to be a competitive in contributing to the back line. She has experience with the English youth national system, which will help her transition to the challenges of ACC play,” Barnes said. “Hannah has high ambitions for her development and that will be a cornerstone for her continued growth as a student-athlete.”

Julia Edwards: Joining Blair from the state of Virginia, Edwards is a 5-foot-6-inch midfielder/forward hailing from Richmond and attended Collegiate School. Playing multiple positions, she garnered VISAA State Player of the Year accolades as a sophomore, First Team All-State honors as a sophomore and junior and Richmond Times First Team All-Metro recognition as a freshman, sophomore and junior. In addition, she helped lead Collegiate School to a pair of VISAA State Titles.

“We are excited for Julia to join the Hurricane family this fall. She has played in almost every position on the field and will be able to solve problems as they arise,” Barnes said. “She’s disciplined and has played in a competitive environment. Julia is determined to push herself and always looks for ways to expand her skill set, in all aspects of her life.”

Katerina Molina: Set to reunite with Atrio, Molina is a 5-foot-7-inch midfielder/forward also from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami. She was a starter as both a freshman and a sophomore, helping the Cougars secure their first ever state championship. At the club level, Molina competed for Weston FC DA.

“We look forward to Kat becoming a Miami Hurricane,” Barnes said. “A local product, Kat grew up around the corner from The U. She is adaptive and sets high standards for herself regardless of where she plays on the field. Kat has been in a competitive, demanding environment and will face several teammates in conference play. She will continue to push herself to develop throughout her career.”

Gabriela Rusek: A 5-foot-6-inch midfielder/forward from Warwick, N.Y., Rusek is a four-year varsity starter for Warwick Valley and a two-time NPL Champ with Quickstrike FC. In 2019 she led Quickstrike FC to the semifinals at Nationals for NPL and most recently was an All-State First Team member.

“We anticipate Gabi’s versatile experience in a variety of positions will help her make an impact at Miami,” Barnes said. “She likes a challenging environment, loves to play, and is the type of player who puts the team’s needs first. Gabi sets high standards and that will help her to deal with the challenges of the college game, while continuing to improve as a student, athlete and soccer player.”

Cailey Wesolowsky: Joining the Hurricanes as an early enrollee this past January, Wesolowsky is a 5-foot-7-inch midfielder/forward from San Diego. Prior to Miami, she was a three-time DA team selection.

“We are thrilled for Cailey to return for the fall semester. A mid-year enrollee from the West Coast, Cailey’s first semester was cut short, but she gained valuable insight into the challenges of being a student-athlete in the ACC,” Barnes said. “She has high expectations for herself and the ability to focus and execute under pressure. She will be a competitive wide player as she continues to grow and learn as a student-athlete.”