USL ACADEMY SIGNING: CADE MARTIN
In advance of the 2021-2022 season, FC Wichita has signed Cade Martin to the Academy, permitting him to represent the first team in the USL League 2 roster. All USL League 2 players preserve amateur status and NCAA eligibility.
Joining Cade and the boys in Red for the upcoming season, pending league approval are forwards Ivan Quezada, Lalo Derath and Uriel Aguilera; midfielder Dominic Zuniga and Seth Lewis; defenders Caden Miller and Carlos Vidrio; as well as goalkeeper Luke Dixon.
“These academy signings are another step for our club in creating a true pathway for our elite youth players to reach their potential,” said head coach and technical director, Bryan Perez. “We have already had several others in training with us during this preseason. We will continue to integrate them with the first team and look forward to seeing them develop as both players and people.”
In addition to any first team duties, all eight players are expected to see time for the ECNL Academy League U19 side (03/04) launching later this year. The Academy League bridges clubs’ youth programs and their professional clubs, creating a clearer trajectory to pro careers.
The academy schedule is still to be released. FC Wichita will plan meanwhile to compete players in supplemental programs through the clubs current youth National League set up including the ECNL and the EA, among others.
“This is an exciting time for our city, the academy and in particular these players,” said FC Wichita CEO Blake Shumaker. “Each of these young men have performed at a high level in training and in games, which has earned them the opportunity to continue along our pathway toward one day hopefully playing professional soccer.”
FC Wichita's youth academy, along with the program for girls, ranges in age up to the U-19 level. Players compete at various local, regional, and national levels throughout the pathway.