Four join men’s soccer program

The 2004 Missouri Southern State University men’s soccer team figures to have a vastly different look when August rolls around. Head coach Kiley Cirillo has announced that four more additions will join the Lions’ squad this season, bringing the total recruiting class up to 12 new faces.

Willie Brasel (Warrensburg, Mo.), Dushan Gorechan (Wichita, Kan.), Ryan Morris (Topeka, Kan.) and Blake Wright (Conway, Ark.) have announced their intentions to attend Missouri Southern and play soccer with the Lions in 2004.

Brasel, 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, started at midfield for three years at Warrensburg High School under coach Chris Thompson. A four-year letterman, Brasel was a first-team all-state selection in 2003, also earning first-team all-conference, all-district and all-regional honors. The son of William and Patricia Brasel, he was a second-team all-conference and all-district player in 2002. Brasel is the WHS school record holder with 18 assists. He also helped the Tigers to back-to-back district crowns in 2000 and 2001.

Gorechan, born in Yugoslavia, started four years at forward for the Wichita East High School Aces of coach Mike Anderson. As a senior in 2003, Gorechan was a second-team pick for all-city and all-region accolades and was the team captain. He had been an honorable mention all-city pick his previous three seasons. Gorechan, 5-6 and 160 pounds, is the son of Branko and Gordana Gorechan and he intends to major in business at MSSU.

Morris, 6-0 and 170 pounds, helped Washburn Rural High School to the Kansas Class 6A state title in 2002 and a fourth-place state finish in 2003. He was a two-year letterman for the Junior Blue of head coach Lionel Swarez, earning all-league, all-city, All-Central Region and all-state accolades. The son of Larry and Sondra Morris, he intends to study pre-physical therapy at Southern.

Wright, 6-2 and 145 pounds, was a four-year starter at sweeper at Conway (Ark.) West High School. An all-state and all-conference performer, he helped the Wampus Cats to a conference title in 2002-03. He’s the son of Mark Wright and Mary Gatewood and plans to major in criminal justice at MSSU.

The four latest additions join eight other players that have signed with the MSSU men’s soccer program. Incoming freshmen Josh Blackman (Kirksville, Mo.), Ebrima Colley (Gambia), Brett Kohler (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault Catholic HS), Alain Njoume (Crowder College), Neil Stoessel (Papillion, Neb./Platteview HS) and Drew Whitworth (Webb City, Mo.) announced in February their intentions to play soccer at Southern. Aaron Rippelmeyer (Waterloo, Ill.) and Austin Whiles (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East HS) made MSSU their choice in March.

Cirillo’s Lions, members of the fledgling Southwest Soccer Conference, kick off their 2004 campaign on Sept. 1 at Hal Bodon Field by hosting Missouri Valley College.


	April 29, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Four join men’s soccer program Cirillo’s recruiting class up to 12 for 2004 The 2004 Missouri Southern State University men’s soccer team figures to have a vastly different look when August rolls around. Head coach Kiley Cirillo has announced that four more additions will join the Lions’ squad this season, bringing the total recruiting class up to 12 new faces. Willie Brasel (Warrensburg, Mo.), Dushan Gorechan (Wichita, Kan.), Ryan Morris (Topeka, Kan.) and Blake Wright (Conway, Ark.) have announced their intentions to attend Missouri Southern and play soccer with the Lions in 2004. Brasel, 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, started at midfield for three years at Warrensburg High School under coach Chris Thompson. A four-year letterman, Brasel was a first-team all-state selection in 2003, also earning first-team all-conference, all-district and all-regional honors. The son of William and Patricia Brasel, he was a second-team all-conference and all-district player in 2002. Brasel is the WHS school record holder with 18 assists. He also helped the Tigers to back-to-back district crowns in 2000 and 2001. Gorechan, born in Yugoslavia, started four years at forward for the Wichita East High School Aces of coach Mike Anderson. As a senior in 2003, Gorechan was a second-team pick for all-city and all-region accolades and was the team captain. He had been an honorable mention all-city pick his previous three seasons. Gorechan, 5-6 and 160 pounds, is the son of Branko and Gordana Gorechan and he intends to major in business at MSSU. Morris, 6-0 and 170 pounds, helped Washburn Rural High School to the Kansas Class 6A state title in 2002 and a fourth-place state finish in 2003. He was a two-year letterman for the Junior Blue of head coach Lionel Swarez, earning all-league, all-city, All-Central Region and all-state accolades. The son of Larry and Sondra Morris, he intends to study pre-physical therapy at Southern. Wright, 6-2 and 145 pounds, was a four-year starter at sweeper at Conway (Ark.) West High School. An all-state and all-conference performer, he helped the Wampus Cats to a conference title in 2002-03. He’s the son of Mark Wright and Mary Gatewood and plans to major in criminal justice at MSSU. The four latest additions join eight other players that have signed with the MSSU men’s soccer program. Incoming freshmen Josh Blackman (Kirksville, Mo.), Ebrima Colley (Gambia), Brett Kohler (Waterloo, Ill./Gibault Catholic HS), Alain Njoume (Crowder College), Neil Stoessel (Papillion, Neb./Platteview HS) and Drew Whitworth (Webb City, Mo.) announced in February their intentions to play soccer at Southern. Aaron Rippelmeyer (Waterloo, Ill.) and Austin Whiles (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East HS) made MSSU their choice in March. Cirillo’s Lions, members of the fledgling Southwest Soccer Conference, kick off their 2004 campaign on Sept. 1 at Hal Bodon Field by hosting Missouri Valley College.