Men's Soccer Signs Nine for 2003 Season

May 29, 2003

Winston-Salem, N.C. -- The Wake Forest men's soccer team announced its nine-member freshman class for the 2003 season. The talented group features two Parade All-Americans. Overall, there are six student-athletes from North Carolina, two from Pennsylvania and one from Louisiana.

The Deacons return ten starters from their 15-2-4 team last year that completed an undefeated regular season. Wake Forest, led by 10th year head coach Jay Vidovich, will open its regular season with the Wake Forest adidas Classic at Spry Stadium, a round-robin event that features perennial national powers Connecticut, St. John's and North Carolina.

The Incoming Freshmen:

Chris Bastidas
Forward / 5-7 / 150 / Catasauqua, Pa.

The younger brother of Deacon midfielder Vicente Bastidas... played for FC Delco for four years, the same program that produced older brother Vicente, Deacon All-Americans Jeremiah White and Aaron Thomas plus classmate Bobby Davis... a Wendy's High School Heisman candidate... named the Player of the Year by the Allentown Morning Call... a regional All-American in 2001 and 2002... an All-Pennsylvania selection in 2001 and 2002... a three-time pick for All-Area and All-League... All-Area newcomer of the year in 1999... a team captain as a junior and senior at Catasauqua High School... led the Rough Riders to a district championship in 2001 and a league championship in 1999... a Region I Pool member from 1998-2003... a member of the EPPSA State team from 1998-2003... a member of the National Honor Society and Vice President of his graduating class.

Steven Curfman
Midfield/Defender / 5-11 / 150 / Raleigh, N.C.
A Parade All-America and member of the United States Under-17 National Team... helped the Americans capture a CONCACAF championship in Guatemala... comes to Wake Forest from the Edison Academic Center in Bradenton, Florida... a 2003 McDonald's All-American... named to the All-State team in 2002... played for the CASL (Capital Area Soccer League) Elite team, the three-time North Carolina state champions... regional champions and national finalists... led his team to a 2000 Youth League National Championship and was named most valuable player... played two years at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh before moving to Bradenton, Fla., where he was in residency with the Under-17 National Team under coach John Ellinger and assistant John Hackworth, a former Wake Forest player and assistant coach... an outstanding student who scored a perfect 800 on the math portion of the SAT when he was 15 years old.

Bobby Davis
Midfield/Defender / 6-3 / 200 / Ephrata, Pa.
Member of the Eastern Penn ODP team for six years... member of the eastern Pennsylvania ODP U-17 National Championship team... spent a year with the Region I ODP team... member of the FC Delco club team with classmate Chris Bastidas... trained with and competed against Barcelona FC youth teams in Spain in 2002... a four-year starter at Ephrata High School under coach Chris Jahnke... a first team league all-star as a junior and senior... led the Mountaineers to the state playoffs for the first time in school history... named captain and co-MVP as a senior... holds the school record for most goals in a single game (five).

Brian Edwards
Goalkeeper / 6-3 / 190 / Charlotte, N.C.
Named All-State, All-Region and All-Conference in 2002 at Providence High School in Charlotte under coach Bob Bowen... led the Panthers to a North Carolina 4A State Championship in 2000 and conference championships in 2000 and 2002... a member of the Charlotte Soccer Club and the 84 Blue team from 2000-03... a team captain in 2002 and 2003... coached by Sean Bubb and Scott Schwietzer... father, Mark, was a goalkeeper at Lafayette College.

Mark Ellington
Forward / 6-0 / 175 / Swansboro, N.C.
A three-year member of the Region III ODP team and competed with that squad in Brazil, France, Trinidad and Tobago... played five years on the 85 North Carolina State team and led that team to four regional championships and a national ODP Runner-Up in 2001... a club teammate of Wake Forest classmate Ryan Solle and David Worthen... a two-time All-State and conference player of the year at Swansboro High School for coach Bob Vroom... a three-time all-conference selection for the Pirates... led Swansboro to three state championships... chosen to play in the East-West Senior Showcase... twice named the Jacksonville Daily News offensive player of the year... brother Joseph plays soccer at East Carolina.

Paul Slocum
Goalkeeper / 6-1 / 180 / Slidell, La.
A five-year member of the New Orleans Soccer Academy... led that team to three state championships and a run to the Region III semifinals... a finalist for the Jefferson Cup and the Capital Cup... led Slidell High School to two district championships... a two-year captain of the Tigers for coach Greg Varnado... was named All-District three times... named Defensive Most Valuable Player... a WWL-TV A+ Athlete Selection... president of Mu Alpha Theta, participated in Louisiana Boys State, the National Honor Society, National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine... a Literary Rally Winner in geometry... a pre-med major.

Ryan Solle
Midfielder / 5-8 / 160 / Sanford, N.C.
A Parade All-American and member of the United States Under-18 National Team... captained the Fayetteville Force club team and played alongside a Wake Forest classmates Mark Ellington and David Worthen on their way to three state championships... three-year member of the Region III ODP team and competed with that squad in Brazil, France, Trinidad and Tobago... played five years on the '85 North Carolina State team and led that team to four regional championships and a national ODP Runner-Up in 2001... attended Lee County High School in Sanford, the same school as Wake Forest men's basketball signee Todd Hendley.

Wells Thompson
Midfielder / 5-10 / 155 / Winston-Salem, N.C.
An All-North Carolina first team selection as a junior and senior at Forsyth Country Day in Lewisville under coach Chris Turner... an all-conference and all-region selection... led the 1983 Winston-Salem Twins Club Team to a U-18 championship at the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl international tournament... the tournament's leading scorer and was selected most valuable player... a multi-year team co-captain and original team member of the '83 Twins Premier team for seven years.

David Worthen
Defender / 5-9 / 156 / Morehead City, N.C.
A U-16 and U-18 adidas All-American... a member of the U-16 National team... played for the '85 regional team and the '85 North Carolina State team and led that team to four regional championships and a national ODP Runner-Up in 2001... a club teammate of Wake Forest classmates Mark Ellington and Ryan Solle.

Wake Forest Athletics

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