Cowgirl Soccer Adds Eight Student-Athletes for 2013

Cowgirl soccer head coach Pete Cuadrado announced the addition of eight student-athletes for the 2013 season Thursday morning.

The eight athletes joining the program are Alisha Bass (Sydney, Australia), Kimmy Burbank (Spring Branch, Texas), Brooklyn Chambers (Oak Bluff, Manitoba, Canada), Sammi Dunda (Wildwood, Mo.), Anne Hinman (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Mandy Meyer (Tustin, Calif.), Laurel Ramer (Kasson, Minn.) and Shelby Shorb (Hermosa, S.D.).

“We are really excited about our 2013 class,” Cuadrado said. “First of all, they are good people. Second, we expect all eight players to come in and work hard. Our current players and staff are doing a good job of taking the program in the right direction, and we believe that these incoming players will help us continue in that direction.”

The group will look to fill in for departing seniors Carmen Blume, Jenny Johnson, Sydney Jones, Ashlyn Mazur, Courtney Merkle, Amy Sarandopoulos and Cassie Sheffield. Coming off a season in which the Cowgirls scored the most goals (30) in school history, the incoming class will build on the success second-year coach Cuadrado is establishing with the program.

The following is an individual look at each incoming Cowgirl:

Alisha Bass
Marist Sisters’ College - Sydney, Australia

Playing as a midfielder, Alisha was a member of the U-14 Australian National Team in 2009 and captain of the U-17 Australian National Team that traveled to China for the 2011 Asian Cup. Bass played for three years (2010-12) at the NSW Institute of Sport for football and was a member of the Australian National W-League for 2012 semifinalists Sydney FC (2011-12) and Western Sydney Wanderers (2012-13). She is the daughter of Craig and Margaret Bass and has one brother, Matthew.

Kimmy Burbank
Bracken Christian School - Spring Branch, Texas

A defender, Kimmy was a member of the Classics Elite club team in San Antonio, Texas, and helped the team to a runner-up finish at the 2012 National Cup South Texas state championship. She was also a member of the South Texas Olympic Development team and attended the Region III camp from 2008-10 and 2012. An excellent track athlete, Burbank was a member of the school’s 4x200 relay team that placed first in the district and fourth at the Texas state championships. Kimmy also did well in her classwork as she was a four-year member of the National Honor Society and four-year member of the Presidential Honor Roll. Born in Chico, Calif., she is the daughter of Glenn and Julie Burbank and has two older brothers and a younger sister. She plans to major in biology at UW.

Brooklyn Chambers
Linden Christian School - Oak Bluff, Manitoba, Canada

Playing the forward position, Brooklyn helped Linden Christian School to three district championships and provincial championships with club teams Winnipeg South End United (2009) and the WSA North Stars (2012). Chambers was a member of the Manitoba provincial team from 2007-11 and served as a team captain the last two seasons. A full-time Canadian National Development Centre member since 2008, Brooklyn helped Team Manitoba to a silver medal at the 2011 Western Canada Summer Games. An excellent student, she was on the honor roll with distinction from 2010-12. Chambers is also an accomplished pianist, completing Grade 9 of the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her parents are Brad and Robin Chambers and she has one younger brother, Carter.

Sammi Dunda
Eureka High School - Wildwood, Mo. 

Sammi joins the program as a defender after helping Eureka to its most successful run in school history which included both conference and district championships. Dunda currently plays for St. Louis Scott Gallagher of the Elite Clubs National League and was selected to ECNL’s Player Development Program. She is also a former member of the Missouri Olympic Development team. Sammi is the daughter of Mike and Mindy Dunda and has one older brother, Kyle. A member of the National Honor Society, Dunda also volunteered for Special Needs Soccer Association and was a team member for the Missouri Emergency Response Service, a large animal rescue service. She plans to major in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine at UW.

Anne Hinman
Capistrano Valley High School - Mission Viejo, Calif.

A forward, Anne joins the Cowgirls after leading her team to the 2012 Seaview League championship and So-Cal Excalibur Cup as a two-year letterman and captain. Hinman also played three years for the Laguna Hills Eclipse in the Southern California Development League and was a four-year letterman in track, earning a South Coast League title in the 300-meter hurdles and helping the 4x100 relay squad to a championship. Anne is the daughter of Chuck and Gretchen Hinman and has two older sisters. Sister, Katie, plays soccer for the University of New Mexico. She plans to major in kinesiology.

Mandy Meyer
Foothill High School - Tustin, Calif.

An assist specialist, Mandy joins the program as a midfielder after playing one year on the FHS varsity soccer team. Meyer was also a member of the Elite Clubs National League for four years, spending one season with the Irvine Strikers and three years with West Coast FC. Compiling more than 50 assists during her ECNL career, Mandy captained West Coast FC to the 2012 West Coast Futbol Classic championship and the 2012 Surf Cup final. She plans to major in nursing at UW.

Laurel Ramer
Kasson-Mantorville High School - Kasson, Minn.

A forward, Laurel comes to UW after being named Minnesota Class-A Player of the Year last season and is a two-time first team all-state selection. After a breakout senior season, Ramer was named the 2012 Rochester Area Female Athlete of the Year and listed to the all-state tournament team. She holds the school record in career points, goals and assists and single-season records in points, goals and assists. Laurel played for the St. Croix Academy club team that won the Midwest Regional League in 2012 and was a member of the Minnesota Olympic Development Team in 2011. An all-around athlete, Ramer was a four-year all-conference track and field selection and helped her 4x800-meter relay foursome to two state championships and multiple section championships. Laurel is the daughter of Carroll and Amy Ramer and has one brother, Logan. She served as her school’s class president, vice president of the student council and was a member of the National Honor Society on top of serving as a volunteer at a senior living center. She plans to major in pharmacy at UW.

Shelby Shorb
Stevens High School - Hermosa, S.D.

A defender, Shelby helped the Raiders to two state championships as a team captain and was a two-time selection to the all-state team. Shorb also played for the Rushmore Soccer Club out of Rapid City, S.D., helping the team to three State Cup championships. A four-year letterwinner for the basketball team, she was also an honor roll student and National Honor Society member all four years. Shelby is the daughter of Wade and Bridget Shorb and has three sisters. She plans to major in pharmacy at UW.