Gibson Announces 2013 Signees

POCATELLO, Idaho – Reigning Big Sky Coach of the Year Allison Gibson has announced that three future Bengals signed National Letters of Intent Wednesday. The signees are Jessica Sanchez, Shelby Hilton and Katherine Roberts.
 
The first signee, Katherine Roberts, is a hometown native born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho and a senior at Century High School. The 5-10 midfielder is a four-year letterwinner and has helped her team win four straight district championships. She was also named first team all-area by the Idaho State Journal in 2012.
 
Her club team, FLY, won the Soccer State Cup Championship in 2011 and her high school team finished second at state in 2012.
 
"With Katherine being a local product of Pocatello, I have had the pleasure of watching her grow as a player over the past few years,” ISU Head Coach Allison Gibson said. “She has been a regular at our Elite Camp and has competed head-to-head with many of our current Bengals, who have come to respect her immensely.  Katherine has the size and strength, along with a dominating in-the-air game that will be a big advantage as she takes this next step into the college game.  We are very excited to be keeping one of Pocatello's finest athletes close to home for the next four years."
 
Roberts maintains a 3.9 GPA and her high school team was named Academic State Champion. She is the daughter of Shawn and Mary Roberts. She has one brother, Greg.
 
The second signee, Jessica Sanchez, is a 5-4 forward from Silverdale, Wash. She currently is a student at Central Kitsap High School and has been a member of the varsity soccer squad for the past three seasons. In her senior season, Sanchez served as a team captain and was named Offensive MVP, First Team All-Narrows League and All-Area by her hometown paper, the Kitsap Sun.
 
Sanchez is also a member of the FC Crush Academy and during her three years of competition, her club team has won championships at the Kent Cornucopia Cup (2009), Starfire XTreme Cup (2009), Beaverton Cup (2009), Oswego Nike Cup (2009) and the Rimland Cup (2012). The FC Crush Academy was also a semi-finalist at the Washington State Cup in 2011 as well as the Pacific Coast Super Cup in 2012. The team was also a runner-up at the PSPL Super League in 2012.
 
"Jessica possesses a natural attacking mentality which is a hard thing to teach and when you have it, it is a gift,” Gibson said. “She came to our Elite Camp this past summer and showed us the type of competitor she is in every aspect of the game.  We are very excited to have Jessica joining our Bengal Family.”
 
Sanchez excels both on and off the field as she maintains a 3.7 GPA and is a three-time WIAA Distinguished Scholar Award recipient. She is the daughter of Rick and Jerri Sanchez and has two brothers, Johnathan and Joseph.
 
The third signee, Shelby Hilton, hails from Cedar Hills, Utah and is a senior at Pleasant Grove High School. The 5-5 defender is a four-year letterwinner and has been named Defensive MVP each season of her career. In her senior season, she was named all-region honorable mention.
 
Hilton has played for the Avalanche, Celtic Storm and La Roca club premier soccer teams. She served as the team captain for the Celtic Storm from 2008-2012. Her La Roca 95 Premier team is ranked 194^th in the country and fifth in the state of Utah. Her club teams have won the 2012 La Roca Cup Tournament (La Roca 95 Premier) and the 2012 Ice Breaker Tournament (Celtic Storm).
 
"Shelby is a fierce and dynamic outside back,” Gibson said. “She reminds me a lot of current Bengal, Vanessa Cabilan, in the sense that she has a knack for reading the play of an attacker.  She is tough and pops right back up after tackles which will serve her well at the collegiate level.  We are looking forward to having Shelby join our strong group of defenders.”
 
Hilton is a competitor on the field and in the classroom as she sports a 3.85 GPA and has been on the honor roll all four years of high school. She was also a Viking Scholar Award recipient in 2010. She is the daughter of Craig and Sharon Hilton and has three sisters, Jordan, Micall and Hadley.
 
The three signees will join the defending Big Sky Championship squad that features 18 returners including Big Sky Offensive MVP Amanda Ellsworth and Big Sky Tournament MVP Sheridan Hapsic.