Eleven outstanding high school seniors signed letters of intent to play soccer at Bellevue College, Coach Tao Shen announced.
All recruits are from the state of Washington, including five local players from the greater Seattle area: Bryan Forbes, a forward from Redmond HS and Demetre Skepetaris Jr, a goalkeeper from Bishop Blanchet HS played competitively with Crossfire Premier. Defenders Conner Hall from Hazen HS and Alex Kramer from Archbishop Murphy HS both played with Regional Club League for Greater Renton FC and FC Alliance respectively. The last local player is Sammy Banda-Gonzalez from Sammamish HS. The Bulldogs’ recruiting class also features Garrett Wilder, a 6’3” natural forward (North Kitsap HS) and Juan Ramirez, a defender from Kingston HS. Both played for NK Explosion.
From the south end, 2012 Washington State Boys Champion (Washington Premier FC) Bryant Maxey, a winger from Bonney Lake HS and goalkeeper Nick Brown (Tahoma HS / Highline Premier FC) have been added.
The last two recruits are teammates at Portland City United SC. They are Michael Koceja, who helped lead Camas HS to the 2011 state 3A championship, and Brandon Brooks from Mountain View HS. “We are excited to include these quality young student-athletes to our Bellevue athletic family,” said Shen. “This is a well-balanced and talented class with three forwards, one center midfielder, two wingers, two defenders, and two goal-keepers. Their academic and athletic accomplishments speak for themselves. Everyone will bring a level of quality and will be a great addition to our program.”
2012 Bellevue College Men’s Soccer Recruiting Class:
Samuel Banda-Gonzalez, FWD, Bellevue, WA (Sammamish / Lake Hills SC)
Brandon Brooks, Mid, Vancouver, WA (Mt View / PCU Gunners)
Nicholas Brown, GK, Maple Valley, WA (Tahoma / HPFC)
Bryan Forbes, F, Redmond, WA (Redmond / Crossfire SC)
Conner Hall, D, Renton, WA (Hazen / GRFC)
Michael Koceja, M, Camas, WA (Camas / PCU Gunners)
Alex Kramer, D, Woodinville, WA (Archbishop Murphy / FC Alliance)
Bryant Maxey, Winger, Bonney Lake, WA (Bonney Lake / WPFC)
Juan Ramirez, D, Kingston, WA (Kingston / NK Explosion)
Demetre Skepetaris, Jr., GK, Seattle, WA (Bishop Blanchet / Crossfire SC)
Garrett Wilder, F, Suquamish, WA (North Kitsap / NK Explosion)
Samuel Banda-Gonzalez, FWD
Bellevue, WA (Sammamish / Eastside FC / Crossfire SC / Lake Hills SC)
Samuel Banda-Gonzalez lettered 4 years at Sammamish HS where he helped the Totems to the 3A playoffs in 2010. He was voted All-KingCo honorable mention as a sophomore and 2nd team as junior and had a season-ending injury during his senior year. He also played his youth soccer with various clubs such as Eastside FC, Crossfire SC, and Lake Hills SC.
Brandon Brooks, MID
Vancouver, WA (Mt View HS/Portland City United)
Brandon Brooks lettered all four years at Mountain View HS where he netted 11 goals and had 17 assists with 67 career starts going into his senior year. He led Mountain View as a co-captain to the 3A semi-finals and was voted 1st Team Greater St. Helens League (2012, 2011, 2010) and also earned all-state honorable mention in 2012. He started his youth development with FC Vancouver and finished off with Portland City United and participated in major tournaments such as
Showcase of Champions, San Diego Surf Cup, FC Portland Showcase. Brooks is also a USSF Certified Grade 8 Referee and excelled academically in high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.4.
Nick Brown, GK
Covington, WA (Tahoma Senior High School / GRFC/HPFC)
Brown has 3 years of varsity experience from Tahoma HS with 31 starts and 9 recorded shutouts, and was awarded 2nd team All South Puget Sound 4A South Goalkeeper. He also played P2 with GRFC and HPFC where he participated in the Nomads Tournament and Oregon College Showcases. Brown has spent time on missions in Africa running soccer camps for children. He also has experience assisting with coaching for U-5 through U-13 players.
Brian Forbes, FWD
Redmond, WA (Redmond High School / Crossfire Premier)
Brian Forbes was a 3-year starting striker for Redmond HS where he tallied 14 goals and earned most improved player during both his sophomore and junior years. He played five years for Crossfire Premier; three of which were at the P1 level. Forbes played with Crossfire in the College Showcase, Crossfire Challenge, Bigfoot, and Portland Showcases. In addition to his athletic dedication, Forbes was President of the T.O.A.T club at Redmond HS and a 3-year volunteer at North Shore Youth and Family Center.
Conner Hall, DEF
Renton, WA (Hazen High School / Greater Renton Futbol Club)
Conner Hall was a 4-year varsity player for Hazen HS and 2-year captain. While at Hazen, Hall earned 1st team all-Seamount 3A honors and scholar-athlete awards three times. He was also named “most motivational” and was given the Hazen Pride award. Hall was a two-year captain for the regional champions, Greater Renton Futbol Club (P1) and played in the national tournament in Virginia. Along with soccer, Hall was a 4-year varsity cross country runner;He was a captain and earned all-state honors while maintaining a 3.5 GPA.
Michael Koceja, MID
Camas, WA (Camas High School / Portland City United)
Koceja brings two years of varsity and 13 years of premier experience to the squad. At Camas HS, he started 25 games and earned 1st Team All-Greater Saint Helens League and 2nd Team all-state honors. With Portland City United, he attended Nomads, Clash at the Border, HPFC Showcase, FC Portland Showcase, Crow City Classic (guest played in California), Beaverton Cup, Crossfire Challenge, and won the United Cup.
Alex Kramer, DEF
Woodinville, WA (Archbishop Murphy High School / FC Alliance)
Kramer finished his senior high school campaign earning All State 2A 1st team honors, and was named the Cascade Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Kramer led the team as a captain to a third-place finish in the class 2A state championship. Kramer also played for FC Alliance. With his 6-0 / 190 lb. athletic frame, he was also a running back for the Wildcats who finished in the finals in state during his senior year.
Juan Ramirez, DEF
Kingston, WA (Kingston High School / NK Explosion)
Ramirez is another 4-year letter winner at Kingston HS. He was voted to the All-Olympic 2A League 1st team during his sophomore and senior campaigns and 2nd team during his junior year after he suffered a season-ending injury. He played his club ball with NK Explosion for Darryl Wilder and was a solid defender for his club. “Juan is the best defender I have ever seen during my coaching career and I have never seen him get beaten one on one,” said Wilder in his recommendation.
Demetre Skepetaris, GK
Seattle, WA (Bishop Blanchet High School, GRFC / Crossfire Premier)
Skepetaris was a 3-year starting goalie for Bishop Blanchet HS where he earned 2nd team All-Metro 3A goalkeeper in 2011. Skepetaris played for GRFC (2003-2008) and Crossfire Premier (2009-2012). With GRFC, Skepetaris saw 18 tournament appearances; twelve of which his team went on to win. He also has significant experience in state tournament play, reaching the semi-finals in 2009 and quarter-finals in 2010-2012.
Bryant Maxey, DEF/MID
Bonney Lake, WA (Bonney Lake High School / Washington Premier FC/ Mt. Rainier FC)
Maxey was a 4-year varsity player, 3-year captain, and 2-time coaches’ award recipient at Bonney Lake HS. With Washington Premier, Maxey won the 2012 Champions Cup, 2011 Crossfire Challenge Cup, and will participate in the 2012 Western Regionals. With Mt. Rainier FC, Maxey was a champion at the 2010 challenge Cup and a semi-finalist in 2009. Outside of soccer he participates in Panther Crew – Senior Leadership Club for incoming freshmen, was Head Coach of a girls U-8 soccer team in fall of 2011, and received the Encore Super Star Award – Academic Accomplishment as well as the FISH Award for all-around academic, leadership, and community services.
Garrett Wilder, FWD
Suquamish, WA (North Kitsap HS / North Kitsap SC-NK Explosion)
Wilder is a 6’3” target forward and is a 4-year letterman from North Kitsap HS. He played seven years of club soccer at North Kitsap SC at the P1 level. He participated in major tournaments such as US Club Virginia National Cup, San Diego Surf Cup, Boise US Club Tournament, San Diego Nomads, FC Portland College Showcase. Wilder served as team captain for the last three years. He also volunteered with a local youth summer academy and with a community clean-up project.
Last Updated February 2, 2016
