2004-05 Recruits

Eric Fuerst, from Harrisonville High School in Missouri, has signed a letter of intent to play soccer for Graceland University’s Coach Ivan Joseph.

Fuerst is a six-foot-two-inch all-district and all-conference goalkeeper for Coach Chris Miller’s Wildcats. Eric is a scholar-athlete and is involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and youth group. He also plays tennis at Harrisonville High.

“Eric has great height and physique,” says Joseph. “He is hungry to improve and get better. Eric is willing to be coached in the goalkeeper position and that will make an immediate impact on his playing time.”

Eric is the son of Denise and the sister of Emily.

Graceland Men’s Soccer Coach Ivan Joseph is proud to announce the signing of Michael Shireman from Raytown High School to play soccer at Graceland University beginning in the fall of 2004.

Shireman played forward and mid-fielder for Coach Scott Moore at Raytown High School in Raytown, Mo. Shireman, a two-time second team all-conference player, scored 19 goals and had 14 assists for the Blue Jays, who were 12-12-3 this season.

Michael, the son of James and Connie and the brother to Christina and Jackie, is undecided in his course of study at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Head Coach Ivan Joseph is pleased to sign Matt Klaus as the first men’s soccer recruit for the fall 2004 season.

Klaus is an all-state player from Kearney, Mo., who will join his brother, Dan, on the Graceland University men’s soccer team in the fall.

“We are pleased to have a player of Matt’s caliber as a part of our program,” Coach Joseph commented. “Matt will add creativity, an immediate scoring threat and most importantly depth at the center of the park for us, which is needed for our competitive region.”

Matt skippered a talented Kearney squad that won district championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and finished as high as third in the state during his tenure with the Bulldogs. Klaus tallied a career high of 23 goals and 13 assists during his senior year.

Klaus joins a Graceland University Yellowjacket team that finished the 2003 season 12-6-2 and are consistently ranked among the top tier in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.