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Feb. 6, 2012

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SEATTLE - Head men's soccer coach Jamie Clark has announced that seven high school seniors and one junior college transfer have signed National Letters of Intent to play soccer and attend school at UW beginning in the fall of 2012.

Highlighted by Highline Community College transfer Darwin Jones, the 2012 class will be the foundation for the future of Husky Soccer. "In my opinion, Darwin is likely the best attacking player entering college soccer next year," said Clark. Including Jones, five of the eight signees are from the state of Washington. "It will always be our goal to keep the best in-state talent here at UW. We have done that with the 2012 class. In addition, we have added players that will add depth to our already strong defensive unit and outstanding, dynamic attacking players that will bolster our attack for many years to come. "

The 2012 class includes Darwin Jones, Michael Gallagher, James Moberg, Ian Lange, Tyler Miller, David Gebert, Dominique Dismuke, and Justin Schmidt.

Darwin Jones, Forward, Highline Community College, Des Moines, Wash.
Jones graduated from Mt. Rainier High School in 2011 before spending the past year playing for Highline Community College. At Highline, he scored 15 goals with 10 assists and was named Team MVP. Jones is also an alumni of the Seattle Sounders Academy where he led the team in goals scored in 2011.

Jones chose the Huskies because "I really liked the coaching staff and [I have] been a long-time UW fan as a kid."

Clark on Jones: "He has electric pace and great feet, which makes him a very tough matchup defender. He had a great season with Highline CC last year and before that was a standout for the Seattle Sounders Academy. He has big shoes to fill with the departure of Brent Richards, but I believe he's ready to make a big impact."

Michael Gallagher, Defender/Midfielder, Eastlake HS, Sammamish, Wash.
Gallagher, a defender/midfielder from Eastlake High School in Sammamish is a member of the U18 Seattle Sounders Academy team where he has served as starting center back and captain. He has been involved with the Sounders organization since 2010, also playing on the U16 team. In 2011, the team was named the No. 5 club team in the U.S. At Eastlake HS, he was the starting center back for the men's varsity soccer team and was named 2011 Eastlake Varsity MVP. In 2010, Gallagher was a KingCo Honorable Mention and made the KingCo First-Team in 2011. Also in 2011, he helped lead Eastlake to the 2011 KingCo 4A Championship win as well as the 2011 WIAA 4A State Championship. He was No. 81 on the 2012 ESPNHS Top 150 List of 2012 College Prospects and was a member of the 2011 Seattle Times All-Star Soccer Team.

Gallagher chose Washington because his "brother Patrick is a junior, [it's a] great school, and [I will have] the opportunity to play in front of my family, friends, and Seattle soccer fans."

"Michael is arguably the best player coming out of the state of Washington this year," Clark said. "He is a very smart player that has the ability to play out of tight situations, which will allow him to be a playmaker out of the back or a connecting defensive midfielder."

James Moberg, Midfielder, Maria Carrillo HS, Windsor, Calif.
Moberg, a midfielder from Maria Carrillo High School in Windsor, Calif., scored 29 goals with 19 assists in 21 games in his senior year. He was a four-year varsity high school men's soccer player, was a two-time MVP and team captain (2010, 11), and was a three-time First-Team All-League/All-Empire (2009, 10, 11) selection. Moberg, the caption of the Region IV 94 ODP Team, has showcased his talent while competing with and against some of the best players in the country. Moberg has competed on Santa Rosa Atletico since 2009, one of the top club teams in Northern California. Academically, he was a four-time NCS Scholar-Athlete (2008-11).

Moberg says "There are many reasons why I chose to come and play at UW. One of the [primary] reasons is that right when I stepped foot onto the campus, I felt like I was at home. Also, the biggest reason is the coaching staff and their capabilities at raising my game to the next level. I want to play professional soccer one day, and I felt like UW and the coaching staff gives me the best chance at obtaining that goal."

"James is a two-way midfielder with the ability to both unlock defenses with clever passes in the attacking half of the field [as well as] buckle down play right in front of the back four in a more defensive role," Clark said. He has a great feel for the game and is one of the top midfielders coming out of high school on the west coast."

Ian Lange, Defender, Kennedy HS, Burien, Wash.
Lange, a strong physical defender, is on the U18 Seattle Sounders Academy team with fellow Husky signee Michael Gallagher. In high school he lettered in his first three seasons and looks to become one of the leaders on the team as a senior.

Lange chose the University of Washington because "I love the school, I like what they offered, [and] I wanted to stay close to my hometown. I think at the University of Washington, I could have the best opportunity for advancing my game to the next level. I love the campus."

"Ian is a powerful defender that has already played with the Seattle Sounders reserve team," Clark said. "His ability to attack balls in the air is unmatched by any youth player I have seen this year. His toughness and intensity makes him a tough defender, but he also has a great range of passing and can help start the attack. His improvement over the last year has been incredible and if it continues, he has a huge playing future ahead."

Tyler Miller, Defender, Volcano Vista HS, Albuquerque, N.M.
Miller, a defender from Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, N.M., is a teammate on both high school and club teams with fellow signee Justin Schmidt. He competes with the New Mexico Rush 94 club team. At Volcano Vista HS, Miller was a three-time letterwinner, named First-Team All-State (2008, 2009, 2011), First-Team All-District (2011), and Academic All-District (2011). He was nominated for Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico and was the first player at Volcano Vista High School to make First-Team All-State. Soccer runs in the family as his dad, Michael, played collegiate soccer at the University of New Mexico in 1983.

Miller chose Washington "because they have one of the best soccer programs in the nation, but also because they have an amazing science program."

"Tyler Miller is a very smart defender that led his New Mexico Rush team to the national finals of last year's club soccer championship," said Clark. "He is a very calm defender that has the ability to play out of the back. His vision allows him to see passes that will make forwards very happy."

David Gebert, Defender/Midfielder, Everett HS, Everett Wash.
Gebert, a defender/midfielder from Everett High School in Everett, Wash., has played with both Tynecastle and Crossfire Academy Club Teams. At Everett HS, he was a three-year letter winner in varsity soccer (2009, `10, `11), two-time All-Wesco Player (2010, `11), 2011 Soccer Team MVP, and three-time Scholar Athlete (2009, `10, `11). He competed on the varsity cross-country team, participating in the state meet in 2011, and played varsity tennis in 2011. His relative, Edward Kirk Gebert, was an All-American men's basketball player at Washington State from 1939-42.

Gebert chose UW because he "really wanted to be a part of this great university. I really like the soccer program and the facility it has, the great academic courses it offers, and [Seattle] is an awesome city. I also think it will be a great opportunity to be a part of the new coaching staff and I think I will become a much better soccer player from their coaching."

"David is a very good player that we first saw at our camp," said Clark. "He is an incredibly tough player that is very two-footed. This versatility should allow him to play any of the back six positions at UW. He's a very intelligent player and real winner on the field. On his Crossfire U18 academy team, he is the engine and glue in the middle of the park."

Dominique Dismuke, Forward, Decatur HS, Federal Way, Wash.
Out of Decatur HS in Federal Way, Wash., Dismuke was ranked the No. 7 player in the west by TopDrawerSoccer.com. He played club ball with the Seattle Sounders and earned all-conference honors the last three years and all-city for two seasons. He scored nine goals in the USSDA in 2009 and in 2010 at DHS he led them to an 8-5-3 record with 14 goals, five assists and four multi-goal games. He was a part of the SUM U-17 Cup Sounders Academy Team that had a good summer. Dismuke currently leads the Sounders 18s team and ranks first in the Northwest Academy Division in scoring with 11 goals.

He chose Washington because, "I grew up watching UW play and it's always been my No. 1 school. Once I came on my visit I fell in love with the campus and all of the facilities. It's just a great place to play and get your education."

"In our opinion, Dom is the best senior forward in the state," Clark said. "He has the ability to stretch defenses with his pace, but also has very good feet and has a nose for goal. He is one of the top scorers in the academy league at the half way point in the season and I'm sure he will continue to find the net for the rest of this season and in seasons to come."

Justin Schmidt, Defender, Volcano Vista HS, Albuquerque, N.M.
Schmidt, a defender from Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, N.M., is high school and club teammates with fellow signee Tyler Miller. Though he is coming from out of state, he has in-state ties, as he was born in Everett, Wash. With his club team, the New Mexico Rush Nike '94 Argonauts, he was named a TopDrawerSoccer Player to Watch, made the National League team (2010, 2011), and the WCDA All-Tournament Finals Team (2011). He helped lead the team to the State Championship five times (2005-10), as well as the 2011 Far West Region IV Championship, and to be a National Champion contender in 2011. At Volcano Vista HS, he was a District 1-6A Player of the Year, ABQ Journal First-Team All-Metro, four-year varsity letterwinner (2008-11), First-Team All-District (2008, 10, 11), Honorable Mention All-State (2008), Second-Team All-State (2010, 11), Albuquerque Journal Super Seven (2011), and Team MVP (2008, 11). He also helped lead the team to the District Championship win in 2010 and 2011. Academically, he was a four-time Hawk Academic Athletic Achievement Award winner (2008-11) and received Academic All-District honors four times (2008-11). Schmidt also was a two-year letterwinner in varsity football (2008, 2009), 2009 Special Teams MVP, 2009 First-Team All-District, and 2009 First-Team All-State.

Schmidt chose UW because of "the great soccer program, great coaching staff, great academic[s], [and] beautiful campus. [I] have always loved the area (born in Washington!) [I] can't wait to be a part of it!"

"He is an adventurous left back that loves to go forward and get into the attack," said Clark. "He serves a great ball and could become a force on the left flank. He is physically ready for the college game, and this shows with how good he is in one-on-one situations."