Posted: May 02, 2022

Women’s soccer announces 2022 incoming class

INDIANOLA, IOWA – The Simpson College women's soccer team and Head Coach Jeremy Reinert has officially announced the incoming class of 2026.

The 11 incoming players make their way to Indianola from four different states. Eight of the recruits are from Iowa, while the remaining three will make their way to campus from Texas, Missouri and Colorado.

Elani Mears and Sarai Ruiz are two additions at the goalkeeper position. Mears is entering her fourth season of college soccer after spending two years at Indian Hills Community College and another at Columbia College. She garnered All-American honors during her second season with the Warriors and will spend her two remaining seasons of eligibility at Simpson. Ruiz, an all-district goalkeeper, will have the farthest commute of the incoming class as she joins the Storm from San Antonio, Texas.

Defense was a point of emphasis for Coach Reinert in this class. He responded by inking five newcomers to bolster a Storm squad that finished tied for first in the American Rivers Conference with five shutouts and third with a .89 goals against average in league play.

"We knew we needed to add depth and talent to our goalkeeping and defensive units in this class," said Reinert. "We have seen some success in this part of the field, but wanted to continue to strengthen our program and be prepared to overcome injury at any position."

Cami Graves, Avery Plathe, Vivan Sinclair, Elle Street and Sally Werth will all enter as first-year defenders this fall. Graves, a product of Sioux City East High School, currently anchors a perennial power on the west side of the state. Plathe joins the Storm from Eastern Iowa, playing club soccer for Cedar Rivers Soccer Association and high school soccer for Mount Vernon. Sinclair is a Jefferson Academy High School and Westminster Soccer Club product from Westminster, Colo.

Street has family ties to the Indianola area despite prepping at Ankeny Centennial. She hopes to help lead the Jaguars in another trip to the state tournament and improve upon their semifinal finish in 2021. Werth rounds out the group of defenders for this class. She looks to wrap up a strong high school soccer season with St. Charles this spring before taking one last trip to Youth Soccer Regionals with Lou Fusz Soccer Club this summer.

In the midfield, Reinert has added Anna Sharp from Southeast Polk High School and Savannah Skaggs from Nevada High School. Sharp has experience with GPS soccer club in Altoona, Iowa, while Skaggs plays her club ball for Ames Soccer Club. Both midfielders are serving as captains for their high school teams this spring.

At forward, Brissa Valadez and Emma Smallcomb cap off a robust and balanced incoming class. Valadez, a product of Sporting Iowa and Des Moines Lincoln High School, represents versatility to play in a number of attacking roles. Smallcomb typically finds herself as a center forward for both Sioux City West High School and Interstate Soccer Club.

"The players we are adding to our midfield and forward groups are really going to fit in nicely with our returning players," Reinert said. "We believe we have the best nucleus of offensive talent in the conference. Even so, I expect a couple of these girls to come in and compete for playing time immediately. It's going to be a fun August coming together as a team and preparing to be at our best in November."

The 2022 recruiting class is Coach Reinert's fourth since arriving at Simpson in 2018. After three consecutive third-place finishes in the A-R-C, Reinert has the group ready to reach new heights.

"Our returning group of players have put us in a spot to compete for a championship," Reinert said. "We know we are just as capable as any team in our league this year. I believe we return the strongest group, and that we've added the strongest group. Now it's time to put the pieces together, do the work, and see what we are truly capable of."

Cami Graves: Defender
East High School/Tri-State Revolution Soccer Club

Honorable Mention All-Conference – 2020
Sioux City East High School Athletic Award – 2018

"Cami and I go back a few years to when I coached her 10U Tristate Revolution team in Sioux City," said Reinert. "She is hard-nosed, competitive and organized - traits we believe make her a really strong central defender. Coming from a strong high school team where she leads the defensive unit gives us some enthusiasm about her ability to come in and bolster ours."

Lani Mears: Goalkeeper
Burlington Notre Dame High School/Indian Hills Community College/Columbia College

NJCCAA All-American Honorable Mention – 2020
2x NJCCAA Player of the Week
All-Hawkeye Conference Player of the Year – 2019

"Lani is a battle-tested goalkeeper who has already proved she has the ability to succeed at the collegiate level," said Reinert. "We are elated to have added someone with her experience and ability to make plays, communicate and lead from the back. Her ability to play with her feet will allow us to utilize her as an 11th field player and create overloads out of the build-up phase."

Avery Plathe: Defender
Mount Vernon High School/Cedar River Soccer Association

Second Team All-Conference – 2021
Honorable Mention All-Conference – 2019
2x Club Soccer State Cup Champion

"Avery is a relentless defender that impressed our staff with the seriousness that she took throughout her college search and the recruiting process," said Reinert. "She is a strong student and a dedicated player who we think is a perfect fit here at Simpson. Avery's fire will impact the team early on as she works to compete for a role in our defensive unit."

Sarai Ruiz: Goalkeeper
Oliver Wendell Holmes High School/Urban Champions Academy

First Team All-District Goalkeeper – 2021

"We can't wait to have Sarai on campus to begin working with assistant coach Joe Waithanji and our current goalkeeping unit," said Reinert. "Sarai brings a good frame and passion for the goalkeeping position. She is a devoted leader who has had to fight and claw for her own development opportunities. That work rate is going to serve her and our team well these next four years."

Anna Sharp: Attacking Midfielder
Southeast Polk High School/GPS Soccer Club

Honorable Mention All-Conference – 2021
Team Offensive MVP – 2021
Four-year letterwinner

"We are really excited about Anna. She was the first commit for this '22 class and instantly laid a foundation of passion, leadership and competitiveness for this group," said Reinert. "We like her as an attacking mid, but with her soccer IQ, she is capable of playing in several spots. Her leadership with her club and high school team is undeniable. We are looking forward to her bringing that same passion to our group these next four years."

Savannah Skaggs: Defensive Midfielder/Defender
Nevada High School/Ames Soccer Club

Second Team All-State – 2021
First Team All-District – 2021
First Team All-Conference – 2021
Second Team All-Conference – 2019
Four-year varsity letterwinner

"Savannah is someone who had been on our radar for a while," said Reinert. "She comes from a good high school program and was promoted to us as one of the most committed players they have ever had. She had an incredible camp last summer where she got to show off her positional versatility. She'll add stability to our holding mid position and defensive unit this fall."

Vivian Sinclair: Defender
Jefferson Academy High School/Westminster Soccer Club

Three-year varsity letterwinner

"Vivian's tenacity and passion totally jumped off the field when we saw her on the recruiting trail," said Reinert. "Coming from a strong club background in Colorado, Vivian was the leader and puppet master for her team at center-back and holding mid. She is a natural soccer player and will be able to adapt to the college game in multiple positions if needed."

Emma Smallcomb: Forward
West High School/Interstate Soccer Club

First Team All-Conference – 2021
Four-year varsity letterwinner

"Emma is a true target forward. She has the frame and technical ability, and is a proven finisher in both club and high school settings," said Reinert. "I have known Emma since I coached her 10U Tristate Revolution club team in Sioux City. In the last few years, she has really taken a leap and will be an excellent addition to our team. Her style is really similar to current senior Megan Roberts. I'm excited to get them working together."

Elle Street: Defender
Ankeny Centennial High School/Sporting Iowa ECNL-RL

Second Team All-Conference – 2021
IGHSAU State Semifinalist – 2021
All-Regional Team Best XI – MRL Midwest Conference – 2020

"Elle is a lengthy defender with fantastic athleticism," said Reinert. "Coming from a strong club and high school experience at Sporting Iowa and Ankeny Centennial, Elle will be able to adjust quickly to the speed, physicality and tactics of the college game and be an impact player for us this fall. She'll be a great teammate and someone our group enjoys having here at Simpson."

Sally Werth: Defender
St. Charles High School/Lou Fusz Soccer Club

Second Team All-State – 2021
First Team All-Region – 2021
Second Team All-Conference – 2021

"Sally's personality is going to fit in almost too well with our group," said Reinert. "Not only is she a very talented and versatile player, but her empathy and compassion for others is a perfect fit for our team-first culture. She's strong on the ball, has an impressive work rate and has experience both as a defender for a top-notch club and as an attacking player for her high school team."

Brissa Valadez: Forward/Attacking Midfielder
Lincoln High School/Sporting Iowa ECNL-RL

Second Team All-State
First Team All-District
High School Record Holder for goals and points
Three-year letterwinner

"Brissa will immediately impact our ability to score goals," said Reinert. "She was one goal away from leading Class 3A in goals last spring, so we knew we were getting someone comfortable in and around the box. Getting to know Brissa over the last year, she is a tremendous human and incredibly selfless soccer player. Her ability to create for others is something our returning attacking players are really going to enjoy."