DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's soccer program has added three student-athletes for the 2018 season, head coach Gareth Smith announced. Joining the Bulldogs next season are Matt Lindberg (Edina, Minn.), Jackson Meyer (Iowa City, Iowa) and Curt Whigham (Overland Park, Kan.).
"At Drake, our goal is to identify student-athletes who have the ability, ambition and application to pursue academic and athletic excellence," Smith said. "With our young returning group, we looked to bring only a select few. We are thrilled about our new additions to our Bulldog family. We worked hard to identify the right people and talent to help complement the existing young group we have in the program. As a class, they bring a number of different qualities as well positional versatility, but the most importantly ingredient is that they have a deep desire to be the best they can be. They all have very bright futures at Drake and we are excited about the opportunity to coach them."
Lindberg is a forward from Edina, Minn., who lettered four years for Edina High School. As a senior, he helped lead a Hornets team that was ranked in the top 10 of the Minnesota Class 2A Coaches' poll all season. Lindberg scored 14 goals and handed out 10 assists as the team earned the top seed in the section 2 state tournament. A two-time all-state selection, Lindberg was also named 2017 Mr. Soccer Minnesota in Class 2A, the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year and to the United Soccer Coaches All-American team. He is a member of the Minnesota United.
"Matt is a promising and dynamic talent," Smith said. "He is an intelligent attacking player who excels in the attacking third. He is quick, agile and dynamic in-and-around the penalty area, has good link-up play and has a real scoring touch. We are excited to add Matt's talent and to see the impact he is going to have on our attack."
Meyer is an in-state addition from Iowa City, Iowa, who has lettered three seasons for Iowa City High School with his senior season set for this spring. A defender and midfielder for the Hawks, he has helped the team qualify for state all three seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2016. Meyer has started 44 career matches, scored 12 goals and twice been named all-conference. He is a member of the Iowa Soccer.
"Jackson is another exciting addition to our program as he has shown the ability to compete, excel and win at the state and regional level through his involvement at club and Olympic development programs (ODP)," Smith said. "He is a very intelligent and technically gifted soccer player who shows great composure in possession and knows how to solve problems on the field. We are eager to see his impact on the team and program."
The final member of the 2018 class is a familiar name to the program. Whigham is from Overland Park, Kan., and is the younger brother of former Drake standout, Kyle Whigham, who played from 2011-15. Curt Whigham played for Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and was a member of four state-qualifying teams. Whigham was selected all-conference three times, scored 11 career goals and handed out 20 assists and capped his career with a first-team all-state selection as a senior. He is a member of Sporting KC BV Pre-Academy.
"Curt is an exciting and creative midfield player who will continue the rich tradition of the Whigham family in our program," Smith said. "He is an intelligent midfielder who values possession and constructing attacks from central areas. He has good versatility from a position perspective and as a result will help provide us with a new dimension to our midfield."
"We have a talented and dynamic class who will push our program to new heights, on-and-off the field," Smith said. "They all come from strong and successful soccer environments that have helped prepare them for this transition and we look forward to developing them as young men and athletes over the next four years."
