DENVER - University of Denver men's soccer recruit Kasey Esponda (Buffalo, Wyo.) was named 2010-11 Gatorade Wyoming Boys Soccer Player of the Year, The Gatorade Company announced. Esponda will play for the Pioneers beginning this fall.
Esponda is DU's second incoming freshman to receive Gatorade Player of the Year, joining Kentucky Player of the Year Oliver Brown (Louisville, Ky.). Current Pioneers Alex Tarnoczi (Castle Rock, Colo.) and Cole Chapleski (Broomfield, Colo.) won Gatorade Colorado Player of the Year in 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Esponda as Wyoming's best high school boys soccer player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year award to be announced in May, Esponda joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Alexi Lalas (1987-88, Cranbrook HS, Mich.), Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo HS, Mich.), Candace Parker (2001-02, Naperville Central HS, Ill.), Tony Meola (1986-87, Kearney HS, N.J.) and Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.).
The 6-foot-2 senior midfielder has led the Bisons to a 12-1-1 record and a berth in the Class 3A postseason tournament, scheduled to begin May 19. Esponda enters the playoffs with 19 goals and 13 assists. The Class 3A Underclass Player of the Year as a sophomore and a junior, he is a two-time First Team All-State selection.
Esponda has maintained a 3.75 GPA in the classroom. Also a talented musician, he has served as a mentor for elementary school students and volunteered locally on behalf of youth sports programs.
Denver's recruiting classes have been ranked in the College Soccer News Top 40 Recruiting Classes list in each of Muuss' three seasons at Denver, garnering No. 19, No. 18 and No. 34. Muuss plans to announce the addition of another student-athlete this spring.
The Pioneers lost just two starters from a team that captured the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship in 2010 and received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, DU's second appearance in the last three years.
