PARKVILLE, MO- Quinton Purviance, a 1999 graduate of North Kansas City High School, and Chris Leyva, a Lenexa, Kan., native who will transfer from State Fair Community College are among eleven players who have signed Letters of Intent to play men's soccer at Park College in 1999-2000.
Purviance, a freshman defender, was named All-Conference in 1997 and 1998. He was also named All-Northland, All-District, and All-Metro in 1998. "We are very happy to have signed Quinton," said Park College head men's soccer coach Roger Bongaerts.
"He is one of the top defenders in the Metro area, with great ability and vision. We are looking for Quinton to contribute right away to our young team. We are excited to have signed one of Kansas City's best."
Leyva, a junior midfielder, was honored as All-Sunflower, All-Johnson County, and as a Kansas Senior All-Star while at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. In 1996 and 1997, Leyva competed for State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo. In both seasons with the Roadrunners, Leyva was named to the NJCAA All-Region First Team and NJCAA All-Midwest Team. According to Bongaerts,
"Chris is a very talented player that brings a lot to the table. He is very creative, explosive and attack-minded. He has tremendous experience that our young team will benefit from. Chris will add flair to our midfield and creativity to our attack."
Other Park College men's soccer signees include: Louis Fuenmayor is a junior goalkeeper transferring from Clark College, Wash. Fuenmayor played in the Junior World Cup for Columbia. He also played for the National Club Champions in Columbia, and in 1991, was named the Best National Goalkeeper.
Hakim Bakhti is a junior defender transferring from Yavapai College, Ariz. Bakhti played for the Under-17 and Under-20 Moroccan national teams. In 1997, he was a member of the team that won the Under-20 World Cup in Malaysia. Bakhti was honored as the best sweeper at the St. Michael Tournament in France. He was a member of the 1997 NJCAA National Champions with Yavapai College.
Baris Johnson transfers to Park from Lindsey Wilson College, Ky. The sophomore defender hails from Jamaica where he was the captain of the Under-23 Jamaican National Team.
Wayne Smith is a freshman defender from Southamton, England. Smith played for the Peterborough United Under-18 Division 2 and at the Youth Pro-level. Smith also competed in the England Youth National team trials for Under-18.
Mike Heuze is freshman midfielder and teammate of Smith from Southampton, England. Heuze played for the England School Boys' Under-15 team and the Pe terborough United Under-18 Division 2. He also competed in the Scotland Youth National team trials for Under-17.
Simon De'ath is a freshman forward from Rownhams, England. De'ath played in the BAT Club semi-professional league. He played for Bournemouth FC, Southampton FC, Portmouth FC, and competed in the Regional Schoolboys' trials for Under-14.
Craig Scriven is a freshman defender from Winchester, England. Scriven played in the Bashley FC semi-professional league. He also played for Winchester FC and for the Youth Pro-league.
Scott Woods is a freshman goalkeeper from Andover, England. Woods played at the Youth Pro-level.
Gorka Garcia, a freshman forward from Hondarribia, Spain, played in the Spanish Primera Division Under-18 National Youth league.
The Park College men's soccer program, entering its seventeenth season with an overall record of 183-96-11 (.631), will begin play in late August with scrimmages against Avila College and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The Pirates begin their regular season Friday, September 3, at home against Grand View College from Des Moines, Iowa. In 1998, under head coach Roger Bongaerts, the team finished 23rd nationally with a record of 12-7-1.