UTSA interim head coach Greg Sheen announced Thursday that 11 student-athletes have signed on to join his program for the upcoming 2015 season.

The group, which features seven individuals from Texas along with standouts from Alaska, California, Hawaii and Ohio, consists of high school players Samaris Batley (San Antonio, Texas/Reagan HS), Michelle Cole (Anchorage, Alaska/Darlington School), Nicole Galan (San Antonio, Texas/Reagan HS), Sara Gribbon (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels HS), Rebekah Kensing (New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels HS), Harper Luczka (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont HS), Channing Machen (Grand Prairie, Texas/Grace Prep Academy), Olivia Nicholls (Frisco, Texas/Wakeland HS), Janaye Shepherd (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mid-Pacific Institute) and Brittany von Schneidau (Westlake Village, Calif./Oak Park HS), who all signed a National Letter of Intent. Meanwhile, Cailey Elder (Austin, Texas/Round Rock HS) signed a grant-in-aid and she currently is attending classes at UTSA.

“I am very excited about our extremely talented 2015 recruiting class,” Sheen said. “With assistant coach Stephanie Sanchez’s help, we have managed to assemble a fantastic group of top-quality student-athletes that possess athleticism, technical proficiency and an undying desire to win. I have no doubt that each and every one of these new additions will compete for quality playing time right away and that 2015 will be a great year for Roadrunners soccer.”

Below is a breakdown of the class.

Samaris Batley

Forward/Midfielder • 5-2 • Fr.-HS

San Antonio, Texas (Reagan HS)

• 2012-13 member of the Olympic Development Program Europe Team

• 2013 member of the Watford Senior Ladies Team

• 2014 Reagan High School varsity member

• Member of SA United Soccer Club

• Teammate of fellow signee Nicole Galan

 

Sheen on Batley …

“Sam is a gifted soccer player in many ways. She will provide us with different attacking options as she can play effectively well on both the right and left side of the field.”

 

Michelle Cole

Goalkeeper • 5-11 • Fr.-HS

Anchorage, Alaska (Darlington School)

 

• 2014 won Most Valuable Keeper at National President’s Cup Tournament

• Member of Darlington School Soccer Academy

 

Sheen on Cole …  

“Michelle possesses great shot-stopping ability, aggressiveness off her line and an innate ability to read the game very well. She should compete for quality minutes in goal right away.”

 

Cailey Elder

Defender • 5-8 • Fr.-HS

Austin, Texas (Round Rock HS)

 

• Already enrolled and currently attending classes at UTSA

• 2012 First-Team All-District 16-5A

• 2012 District 16-5A Newcomer of the Year

• 2012 First-Team Academic All-District 16-5A

• Team captain for Lonestar ECNL 97

 

Sheen on Elder …

“Cailey just might be the most complete player in our entire recruiting class. She is certain to become an immediate anchor along our defensive backline.”

 

Nicole Galan

Midfielder • 5-7 • Fr.-HS

San Antonio, Texas (Reagan HS)

 

• Three-time First-Team All-District 26-5A selection

• Two-time Texas Association of Soccer Coaches All-Region selection

• 2014 All-State honoree

• Member of Lonestar Soccer Club

• Teammate of fellow signee Samaris Batley

 

Sheen on Galan …

“A natural left-footer, Nicole is a very good possession player who has the vision and ability to find others in goal-scoring positions. I would not be shocked if she leads our team in assists next season.”

 

Sara Gribbon

Forward • 5-4 • Fr.-HS

New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels HS)

 

• Four-year varsity letterwinner

• All-District, All-County and All-Region honoree

• Region III Olympic Development Program Team Member

• Member of Lonestar Soccer Club

• Teammate of fellow signee Rebekah Kensing

 

Sheen on Gribbon …

“Sara is a hard-working forward who will provide us the ability to get behind opposing defense by utilizing her speed and aggressiveness to the goal.”

 

Rebekah Kensing

Midfielder • 5-6 • Fr.-HS

New Braunfels, Texas/New Braunfels HS

 

• Four-year varsity starter

• 2014 Second-Team All-District 25-5A

• 2014 team Most Valuable Player

• 2013 First-Team All-District 25-5A

• Member of Lonestar Soccer Club

• Teammate of fellow signee Sara Gribbon

 

Sheen on Kensing …

“Rebekah is extremely proficient in all areas related to skill and technique. She makes the game seem easy and effortless. Further, she has an internal engine that never quits.”

 

Harper Luczka

Forward • 5-10 • Fr.-HS

Kettering, Ohio (Fairmont HS)

 

• Named the team’s Most Valuable Player

• Owns the school record with 41 career goals

• First-Team Greater Western Ohio Conference

• Earned a spot on the GWOC All-Academic Team

• Penn Station WDTN/Channel 2 Athlete of the Month (December 2014)

 

Sheen on Luczka …

“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Harper for the better part of six years and for as long as I can remember, all she does is score goals. She is a great addition to our offensive attack.”

 

Channing Machen

Midfielder/Forward • 5-1 • Fr.-HS

Grand Prairie, Texas (Grace Prep Academy)

 

• All-District honoree

• Member of the D’Feeters Soccer Club, where she is a teammate of fellow signee Olivia Nicholls

 

Sheen on Machen …

“Channing is a quick, technical midfielder and forward that can play wide or centrally and on either side of the field. She is another player that just runs constantly.”

 

Olivia Nicholls

Forward/Midfielder • 5-10 • Fr.-HS

Frisco, Texas (Wakeland HS)

 

• All-District honoree

• Member of the D’Feeters Soccer Club, where she is a teammate of fellow signee Channing Machen

 

Sheen on Nicholls …

“Olivia possesses the physical presence, speed and go-to-goal mindset necessary to be an extremely productive attacking player and goal-scorer for us.”

 

Janaye Shepherd

Midfielder/Forward • 5-10 • Fr.-HS

Honolulu, Hawaii (Mid Pacific Institute)

 

• Four-year varsity starter

• Four-time team Most Valuable Player

• Helped lead the team to two Division II State Championships

• 2013 named to state’s All-Tournament Team

• Member of Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club

 

Sheen on Shepherd …

“Janaye possesses the composure and skill necessary to be a strong presence for us in the midfield. Further, she has the ability to pass and shoot from considerable distance.”

 

Brittany von Schneidau

Defender • 5-7 • Fr.-HS

Westlake Village, Calif. (Oak Park HS)

 

• Four-year varsity starter

• All-County and All-League selection

• Named the team’s defensive Most Valuable Player

• Team captain for high school and club teams

• Member of Simi Valley Express Soccer Club

 

Sheen on von Schneidau …

“Three words that describe Brittany are aggressive, fast and competitively-driven. She is going to be a fantastic addition to our back line next season.”