MANHATTAN – Kansas State soccer head coach Mike Dibbini has added Arizona State transfer forward Jael Larson to the 2021 roster.
Larson will join K-State at the start of the second semester and begin her eligibility with the Wildcats as a redshirt freshman.
“Jael will provide depth for our attack up top,” said Dibbini about the latest signee. “She has the ability to press defensively using her pace and she is able to cover a lot of ground. Her speed will hopefully allow her to get behind defenses for services.”
Larson, a product of Durango, Colorado, is the second addition to the 2021 roster from the state of Colorado, as the Wildcats also added midfielder Katy Coffin from Grand Junction. Coffin and Larson join current Wildcats Bailey Nemechek (Fort Collins) and Riley Dietrich (Fort Collins) from The Centennial State.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Pac 12 Conference decision to compete in the spring of 2021, Larson did not suit up for Arizona State.
During her three seasons for Durango High School, Larson helped the program to a 26-19-2 overall record and a 15-7-2 mark in the 5A/4A Southwestern League and three trips to the Colorado 5A/4A State Tournament with three different head coaches. In her three seasons with the Demons, she notched eight goals and five assists. She had her 2020 season with Durango canceled due to the pandemic.
She also played with the Rio Rapids Soccer Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a three-and a half hour drive from Durango. She helped the program to the 2017 New Mexico State Championship and a finals appearance in 2018.
Larson also played three seasons on the Demons’ girls basketball squad. She helped Durango reach the Class 4A Sweet 16 in 2020 by averaging five points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
K-State capped its Big 12-only schedule with a record of 3-6-0. This marked the most wins in league play since the program started as a member of the Big 12 in 2017.
The Wildcats, winners of three of their final five matches, also clinched a seventh-place finish in the league standings which marked its highest finish in the league standings.
Kansas State 2021 signees
Name, Position, Hometown, School
Adah Anderson, M, Kansas City, Missouri, Park Hill South HS
Rebecca Bartosh, M/D, Hiawatha First Nation, Ontario, Canada, Pittsburgh/Thomas A. Stewart
Katy Coffin, M, Grand Junction, Colorado, Grand Junction HS
Kenzi Gillispie, D, Newton, Kansas, Circle HS
Juliann Kidd, D, Houston, Texas, Memorial HS
Jael Larson, F, Durango, Colorado, Arizona State/Durango HS
Joey Lujan, M, Gilbert, Arizona, Perry HS
Brooke Sullivan, F, Wichita, Kansas, Goddard HS
Kursten von Klahr, Defender, Kannapolis, North Carolina, North Carolina State/Northwest Cabrrus HS
– kstatesports.com –