BATON ROUGE — The LSU soccer team officially added another highly touted player to its list of newcomers for the 2003 season on Monday as Parkview High School’s former standout Kate Ripple transferred to LSU from Texas A&M.
Ripple, Louisiana’s Athlete of the Year in both 2000 and 2001, was given permission to transfer by Texas A&M’s head coach G. Guerrieri over the weekend and will be able to participate for the Tigers in the fall. The Baton Rouge native will be a sophomore during the 2003 season and is expected to be a major asset for LSU at many positions.
“Kate was one of the top recruits to come out of the state of Louisiana over the past few years and we’re extremely honored that she decided to come back home,” said LSU head coach George Fotopoulos. “We expect her to make an immediate impact for us next season and we feel that she will definitely help us improve as a team.”
LSU, which finished the 2002 season with a 12-5-3 overall record, added nine newcomers to its talented crop of returning starters and boasts some of the best young talent in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers’ incoming freshman class consisting of Christina Best, Stacy Bishop, Michelle De Cespedes, Stephanie Ford, Ashleigh Gunning, Jordan Parker, Joleen Phillips and Heather Zurburg is considered the best in school history.
“I think that having Kate transfer here is a huge plus for our program,” Fotopoulos said. “Shes an outstanding player, she has a lot of experience at the collegiate level and most importantly shes a fierce competitor. She played a lot last season for Texas A&M and they were one of the top teams in the nation. Were extremely glad to have her.”
Last season, Ripple competed in 13 games for the Aggies and scored three goals on 13 shot attempts. Texas A&M finished the year with a 20-5-1 overall record and a perfect 12-0 record at home in College Station, Texas.
The Ripple family has been known for its athleticism over the years as Kates father Steven played football at LSU and her mother Jan was a member of the U.S. triathlon team. Her sister Shelly is currently a member of the U.S. swimming team and her older brother plays basketball at Nicholls State.
The LSU soccer team will begin its 2003 season on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. as the Tigers play host to Coastal Carolina.
LSUs 2003 Newcomers
Christina Best, D, Littleton, Colo. (Arapahoe HS)
Stacy Bishop, F, Land O Lakes, Fla. (Land O’ Lakes HS)
Michelle De Cespedes, M, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS)
Stephanie Ford, M, Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist HS)
Ashleigh Gunning, M, Baton Rouge, La. (McKinley HS)
Jordan Parker, D, Houston, Texas (Stratford HS)
Joleen Phillips, F, Carmel, Ind. (Cathedral HS)
Kate Ripple, M, Baton Rouge, La. (Texas A&M)
Heather Zurburg, GK, Gainesville, Fla. (Lincoln Way Central HS)