Aggies Complete Seven-Player Signing Class
Feb 03, 2016 | Soccer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Aggies wrapped up their 2016 signing class on Wednesday with the addition of Grace Cory and Grace Piper. The Maroon and White have added seven newcomers to a squad that advanced to Texas A&M's 21st consecutive NCAA Championship and made a sixth NCAA Quarterfinal appearance.
The two Graces join five early enrollees who arrived in College Station in January. Cienna Arrieta [El Paso], Jenna Byers [Tulsa, Okla.], Bri Davis [Temple], Jordan Hill [Dallas] and Callyn Walton [College Station] began classes on January 19 and have been taking part in individual workouts and strength & conditioning sessions as members of the squad.
"Grace and Grace top off a gifted seven player 2016 signing class that adds talent, athleticism and versatility to our team's roster," Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri said. "This is a class made up of incredible individuals who've been leaders and impact players on their competitive club and high school teams throughout their careers. It's a class that will blend nicely with the immense talent already on our roster, to again make Texas A&M one of the best teams in the nation.
"We love the talent, athleticism and versatility of this class," Guerrieri said. "All of these girls can compete anywhere on the field. We think the short fall of a lot of programs is that the coach only sees the game in one way and has his or her system. They try to put whatever shape peg the kids are into those holes. Associate Head Coach Phil Stephenson has done such a great job in recruiting this class, as did Lori Stephenson. Phil does a great job of developing these players and helping them to understand that our system is about them."
Cory is a midfielder from Southlake, Texas. She has been a stalwart with the Dallas Texans 98 ECNL Club and Carroll High School. She helped lead the Dallas Texans to fourth and second place national finishes in 2013 and 2014, respectively. She has scored 70 goals and added 45 assists during her time with the Carroll Dragons. In 2015, Cory earned NSCAA All-America, NSCAA All-Winter Region and TASCO All-State accolades as she racked up 19 goals and 18 assists. As a sophomore, she tallied 26 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore to earn NSCAA All-Winter Region and District 4-5A MVP.
"We are very happy to have Grace on our team," Guerrieri said. "She is a second generation Aggie and a great example of what a student-athlete can be. She is intelligent, a great teammate and leader, and a role model. She also happens to be one of the most exciting soccer players coming out of the state of Texas this year. Grace serves as team captain and an important leader of her high school team which has been ranked No. 1 for much of the year. She has developed into a highly skilled player. She has worked under the tutelage of Coach Matt Colvin at Carroll, as well as the combination of Leo Maric, Sean Bubb, Jay Fitzgerald and Kioumars Rezaie with the Dallas Texans."
Piper is a midfielder from The Woodlands, Texas. She has been a member of the Texas Rush 98 squads from U11 to U18, leading Texas Rush U15 to an ECNL National Championship appearance in 2013. At The Woodlands, Piper was a three-time all-district first team selection. As a junior she garnered accolades as District 16-6A MVP, All-District 16-6A First Team, All-Region First Team and TASCO All-State Second Team. In 2013, Piper was named All-Montgomery County Newcomer of the Year and District 16-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. A star in the classroom, she is currently in the top two percent of her graduating class and a two-time Academic All-District 16-6A selection.
"Grace is an all-around, super soccer player and leader who has played a variety of positions for her teams," Guerrieri said. "We love versatility in our players. She's an honor student and captain for her high school and club team. She has gained experience under Coach Dina Graves at The Woodlands, as well as from Stuart Fitzsimmons, Nick O'Shea and Darron Rush with the Texas Rush Soccer Club."
2016 Texas A&M Signing Class
Cienna Arrieta / F / 5-5 / El Paso, Texas / Eastwood HS / Texas Rush
Coach G on Callyn Walton "Callyn is an athletic, tough, and very intelligent defender. She has played in both the midfield and on the backline in her career. Callyn has developed into an outstanding player. She has received coaching from the Challenge Soccer Club staff, both here in Aggieland as well as in Houston with Stuart Self, Chris Maravalli, Pat O'Toole and the rest of their staff. I'm very excited about having her on the team."
The two Graces join five early enrollees who arrived in College Station in January. Cienna Arrieta [El Paso], Jenna Byers [Tulsa, Okla.], Bri Davis [Temple], Jordan Hill [Dallas] and Callyn Walton [College Station] began classes on January 19 and have been taking part in individual workouts and strength & conditioning sessions as members of the squad.
"Grace and Grace top off a gifted seven player 2016 signing class that adds talent, athleticism and versatility to our team's roster," Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri said. "This is a class made up of incredible individuals who've been leaders and impact players on their competitive club and high school teams throughout their careers. It's a class that will blend nicely with the immense talent already on our roster, to again make Texas A&M one of the best teams in the nation.
"We love the talent, athleticism and versatility of this class," Guerrieri said. "All of these girls can compete anywhere on the field. We think the short fall of a lot of programs is that the coach only sees the game in one way and has his or her system. They try to put whatever shape peg the kids are into those holes. Associate Head Coach Phil Stephenson has done such a great job in recruiting this class, as did Lori Stephenson. Phil does a great job of developing these players and helping them to understand that our system is about them."
Cory is a midfielder from Southlake, Texas. She has been a stalwart with the Dallas Texans 98 ECNL Club and Carroll High School. She helped lead the Dallas Texans to fourth and second place national finishes in 2013 and 2014, respectively. She has scored 70 goals and added 45 assists during her time with the Carroll Dragons. In 2015, Cory earned NSCAA All-America, NSCAA All-Winter Region and TASCO All-State accolades as she racked up 19 goals and 18 assists. As a sophomore, she tallied 26 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore to earn NSCAA All-Winter Region and District 4-5A MVP.
"We are very happy to have Grace on our team," Guerrieri said. "She is a second generation Aggie and a great example of what a student-athlete can be. She is intelligent, a great teammate and leader, and a role model. She also happens to be one of the most exciting soccer players coming out of the state of Texas this year. Grace serves as team captain and an important leader of her high school team which has been ranked No. 1 for much of the year. She has developed into a highly skilled player. She has worked under the tutelage of Coach Matt Colvin at Carroll, as well as the combination of Leo Maric, Sean Bubb, Jay Fitzgerald and Kioumars Rezaie with the Dallas Texans."
Piper is a midfielder from The Woodlands, Texas. She has been a member of the Texas Rush 98 squads from U11 to U18, leading Texas Rush U15 to an ECNL National Championship appearance in 2013. At The Woodlands, Piper was a three-time all-district first team selection. As a junior she garnered accolades as District 16-6A MVP, All-District 16-6A First Team, All-Region First Team and TASCO All-State Second Team. In 2013, Piper was named All-Montgomery County Newcomer of the Year and District 16-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. A star in the classroom, she is currently in the top two percent of her graduating class and a two-time Academic All-District 16-6A selection.
"Grace is an all-around, super soccer player and leader who has played a variety of positions for her teams," Guerrieri said. "We love versatility in our players. She's an honor student and captain for her high school and club team. She has gained experience under Coach Dina Graves at The Woodlands, as well as from Stuart Fitzsimmons, Nick O'Shea and Darron Rush with the Texas Rush Soccer Club."
2016 Texas A&M Signing Class
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Hometown/High School/Club |
| Cienna Arrieta | F | 5-5 | El Paso, Texas/Eastwood HS/Texas Rush |
| Jenna Byers | M | 5-8 | Tulsa, Oklahoma/Holland Hall Prep/TSC Hurricane |
| Grace Cory | M | 5-9 | Southlake, Texas/Carroll HS/Dallas Texans |
| Bri Davis | D | 6-0 | Temple, Texas/Belton HS/Lonestar |
| Jordan Hill | D/F | 5-3 | Dallas, Texas/Frisco HS/Dallas Sting |
| Grace Piper | M | 5-9 | The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS/Texas Rush |
| Callyn Walton | D | 5-5 | College Station, Texas/A&M Consolidated HS/Challenge SC |
Cienna Arrieta / F / 5-5 / El Paso, Texas / Eastwood HS / Texas Rush
- A star with Texas Rush 98 ECNL Club since 2013
- Also helped lead New Mexico Rush to win the state club title and United States Youth Soccer Region IV Championship in 2015
- Three-year letterwinner in track & field at El Paso's Eastwood High School, competing in the High Jump, Long Jump, 100 Meter Hurdles, 300 Meter Hurdles and sprint relays
- Earned All-District 1-6A accolades on 15 occasions, including three times each in the Long Jump, 100 Meter Hurdles and 300 Meter Hurdles
- Set school record in the 100 Meter Hurdles and High Jump as a junior and named District 1-6A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman
- Graduated a year early and in the top 5% of her class, earning Academic All-District 1-6A First Team as a junior
Coach G on Cienna Arrieta "Cienna is a very athletic and gifted forward. She has good speed and a great nose for goal. She is someone who should be able to come in and compete pretty quickly for playing time with our other talented forwards at A&M. She is the first player we've had from El Paso since the mid-90s when Nicky Thrasher came to Aggieland (and became an All American). Cienna is also the first player to come into our program from the Texas Rush soccer club, and I know that Nick O'Shea, Stuart Fitzsimmons, Darron Rush and all of the coaches in that club are very proud of her and the way she developed."
Jenna Byers / M / 5-8 / Tulsa, Oklahoma / Holland Hall / TSC Hurricane
- Four-year captain for the TSC Hurricane 98 ECNL Club
- Three-year letterwinner at Holland Hall prep school, leading team in scoring all three years
- Earned All-Southwest Preparatory Conference in all three of her seasons at Holland Hall
- Also a two-year standout on the field hockey squad at Holland Hall
- Scored four goals in 17 games for TSC Hurricane U18 during the 2015-16 campaign
- Registered four goals and two assists in 22 games for TSC Hurricane U17 during the 2014-15 campaign
- Guided TSC Hurricane 98 to the 2012-13 ECNL Texas Championship
Coach G on Jenna Byers "Jenna is a talented, all-around central midfield player. She has very good vision and she's very strong technically. Jenna is excellent in the air and she's someone who can change the game in the course of a few seconds. She comes to us from the Tulsa Soccer Club program, guided by Coach Kerry Shubert and Donivan Bradshaw. Jenna has developed into the best player in Oklahoma."
Grace Cory / M / 5-9 / Southlake, Texas / Carroll HS / Dallas Texans
- Member of Dallas Texans 98 ECNL Club, finishing fourth and second nationally in 2013 and 2014, respectively
- Four-year letterwinner and two-year captain at Carroll High School, leading squad to state runner-up finish in 2013 and two regional finals
- Amassed 70 goals and 45 assists during her time with the Carroll Dragons
- Scored 23 game-winners at Carroll, including game winning goal in 2013 State Semifinal
- NSCAA All-America, NSCAA All-Winter Region, TASCO All-State, Fort Worth Star Telegram Super Team and All-District 4-5A First Team in 2015, tallying 19 goals and 18 assists as a junior
- Logged 26 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore to earn NSCAA All-Winter Region, Fort Worth Star Ledger Super Team and District 4-5A MVP
- Earned District 4-5A Newcomer of the Year and All-District 4-5A with 17 goals as a freshman in 2013
Coach G on Grace Cory "We are very happy to have Grace on our team. She is a second generation Aggie and a great example of what a student-athlete can be. She is intelligent, a great teammate and leader, and a role model. She also happens to be one of the most exciting soccer players coming out of the state of Texas this year. Grace serves as team captain and an important leader of her high school team which has been ranked No. 1 for much of the year. She has developed into a highly skilled player. She has worked under the tutelage of Coach Matt Colvin at Carroll, as well as the combination of Leo Maric, Sean Bubb, Jay Fitzgerald and Kioumars Rezaie with the Dallas Texans."
Bri Davis / D / 6-0 / Temple, Texas / Belton HS / Lonestar
- Four-year member of Lonestar 98 ECNL
- Three-year letterwinner and junior captain at Belton High School
- Standout defender who helped Tigers log 32 shutouts as a freshman and sophomore, yielding just three goals in 22 matches in 2014
- Named All-District 8-5A First Team as a freshman and sophomore and District 8-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player as a sophomore
- A track star, finishing third in the district meet in the 400-meter dash as a freshman and sophomore
- Earned Academic All-District 8-5A three times in soccer and twice in track & field
- Played in 15 matches for Lonestar in 2015-16, logging two goals
Coach G on Bri Davis "Bri, you will see from her height, can be a very dominating factor in the air, but she's also a very gifted athlete who can quickly close opponents down defensively. She's strong with the ball and will be able to help us create as we possess the ball into the attack. Bri has developed into a terrific defender. She has received coaching from Wes Schevers and the rest of the Lonestar Soccer Club staff of coaches and mentors."
Jordan Hill / D-F / 5-3 / Dallas, Texas / Frisco HS / Dallas Sting
- Member of the Dallas Sting 98 ECNL Club for the last two years
- Earned TASCO All-District 9-5A First Team and TASCO All-Region Second Team honors as a junior
- Notched 40 goals and 14 assists as a sophomore to lead District 18-4A in scoring
- Garnered TASCO Class 4A All-State Second Team, District 18-4A Offensive Player of the Year and All-District 18-4A First Team as a sophomore
- Received TASCO Academic All-State recognition as a junior
- Logged 11 goals in 23 matches for Dallas Sting ECNL U17 in 2014-15 to lead team to Texas Conference title
- Scored two goals in 11 matches for undefeated Dallas Sting ECNL U18 in 2015-16 campaign
- Second generation Aggie
Coach G on Jordan Hill "Jordan is very athletic and has the ability to play in a variety of positions. She's an excellent defender, but she's also pretty explosive going forward. Jordan has blossomed into an outstanding all-around player. She received coaching as a young player from Matt Grubb in the FC Dallas youth program and for the past couple seasons in the Sting Soccer Club under Anthony 'Tatu' Pecorari and their coaches."
Grace Piper / M / 5-9 / The Woodlands / The Woodlands HS / Texas Rush
- Captain of Texas Rush 98 squads from U11-U18, leading Texas Rush U15 to an ECNL National Championship appearance in 2013
- Three-time All-District 16-6A MVP, All-District 16-6A First Team, All-Region First Team and TASCO All-State Second Team in 2015
- All-Montgomery County Newcomer of the Year and District 16-5A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2013
- Ranked in Top 2% of graduating class at The Woodlands High School and two-time Academic All-District 16-6A
- Teammates with Cienna Arrieta on Texas Rush ECNL U18 in 2015-16, logging three goals and two assists in 18 games
Coach G on Grace Piper "Grace is an all-around, super soccer player and leader who has played a variety of positions for her teams," Guerrieri said. "We love versatility in our players. She's an honor student and captain for her high school and club team. She has gained experience under Coach Dina Graves at The Woodlands, as well as from Stuart Fitzsimmons, Nick O'Shea and Darron Rush with the Texas Rush Soccer Club."
Callyn Walton / D / 5-5 / College Station, Texas / A&M Consolidated HS / Challenge SC
- Five-year member of Challenge SC 98 ECNL, serving as captain the last three years
- Led squad to ECNL National Playoffs in her freshman and junior seasons and played up with 97 ECNLs as they reached National Playoffs in her sophomore season
- Played for A&M Consolidated as a freshman and junior
- Earned All-District 18-5A First Team as a junior and All-District 14-5A First Team as a freshman
- Named A&M Consolidated's Newcomer of the Year as a freshman and MVP as a junior
- South Texas Olympic Development Program State Pool Team Member and ODP Sub Regional participant
- Third generation Aggie
Coach G on Callyn Walton "Callyn is an athletic, tough, and very intelligent defender. She has played in both the midfield and on the backline in her career. Callyn has developed into an outstanding player. She has received coaching from the Challenge Soccer Club staff, both here in Aggieland as well as in Houston with Stuart Self, Chris Maravalli, Pat O'Toole and the rest of their staff. I'm very excited about having her on the team."
Highlights: Texas A&M 1, Texas 0
Thursday, October 02
Texas Postgame: G Guerrieri, Hattie Patterson, Trinity Buchanan
Thursday, October 02
The Aggie Soccer Hour (Ep 5)
Wednesday, October 01
Weekly Press Conference: G Guerrieri
Monday, September 29
