Utah State adds new athletes with spring letter of intent day
The spring letter of intent signing period began Wednesday and so far three student athletes have been added to Utah State rosters. Gymnastics added its final athlete while women’s soccer added two new players. Women’s volleyball is expected to announce at least one signee. Ashley Barr, a senior at Cherry Creek High School in Denver, Colo., is gymnastics’ final signee for the 2003 season. “This rounds out a great recruiting year for us, ” gymnastics Head Coach Ray Corn said. “Ashley is an outstanding gymnast whose all-around strength we need on the floor of competition.” This season at state Barr finished first on floor, second in the all-around, third on vault, fifth on bars and eighth on beam. “[Barr’s] credentials speak for her,” Corn said. “We’re fortunate to add her to an excellent early signing class [with] Rachael Mandy, Meagan Nelson, Jessica Parenti and Ashley Young that will give us needed strength in the all-around competition.” Mandy, from Fargo, N.D., is a Level 10 gymnast and two-time state champion. In 2001 she was a regional vault champion and qualified for regionals. Nelson, also a Level 10 gymnast, is from Las Vegas, Nev., and is an eight-time state champion. Another Level 10 gymnast, Parenti, joins the Aggies from Glendora, Calif. In 2000, she took second at nationals in bars, beam and all-around. The fourth fall signee, Young, comes to Utah State from Berthoud, Colo., where she was a Level 10 gymnast and took first in the vault at 2001 regionals. Women’s soccer Head Coach Jen Kennedy Croft announced Thursday two players have been signed to letters of intent. Soccer’s two additions are from Ogden and are both currently sophomores at Dixie State College where they competed on the 2000 NJCAA national championship and 2001 national runner-up soccer teams. Shaylee Hogge, a second team All-American, will join the Aggies as a defender. “I chose Utah State because I wanted to stay in Utah, ” Hogge said. “Utah State has a good program and I was ready to move on to the next level.” LynDee Russell is a mid-fielder and was chosen all-region in high school. “I really like the soccer program and the girls I will be playing with at Utah State, ” Russell said. “Coach Croft made me feel welcome and Utah State also has the academic programs I was looking for.” Kennedy Croft said, “We’re excited about both Shaylee [Hogge] and LynDee [Russell] joining our program. They’re good prospects who should add a lot. LynDee [Russell] will bring depth to our midfield and Shaylee [Hogge] will really add depth to our defense. I think Shaylee [Hogge] will be an impact player.” In addition to any expected spring signees, volleyball Head Coach Burt Fuller signed three players during the fall signing period. All three of the fall signees play middle blocker and are 5′ 11″ or taller, adding height to the Aggie roster of seven returning letterwinners. Jenna Jordan is a 6′ 2″ middle blocker from Plant City, Fla., and was named the Florida state Player of the Year during her junior year. The second fall addition, 5′ 11″ Stacy Kratchner from Gilbert, Ariz., was a first team all-region selection her senior year. Ingrid Roth, a 6′ 2″ middle blocker, comes from Barrington, Ill., where she received all-conference and academic all-conference honors. “We are extremely happy that Ingrid [Roth], Jenna [Jordan] and Stacy [Kratchner] have decided to attend Utah State University and play for our program,” Fuller said. “All three of these recruits bring good size, strength and athleticism. In addition to their on-court abilities, they are all great people who fit in very well with our volleyball family. These kids are going to keep Utah State volleyball headed in the right direction.” Guard Jaycee Carroll from Evanston High in Wyoming recently agreed to play basketball for Utah State. He averaged 39.4 points as a senior. Carroll said he plans to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-Day Saints before playing the Aggies.