Appalachian Men’s Soccer Signs Four For The 2007 Season
Pensacola's Schneck Headed to Boone
by Appalachian Sports Information

February 9, 2007 - BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University head men’s soccer coach Paul Stahlschmidt has announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The four newcomers include two native North Carolinians and players from Alabama and Florida.

Joining the Mountaineers on the pitch next fall will be Tony Crocker (Birmingham, Ala.), Draegen Scarborough (McLeansville, N.C.), Mike Schenck (Pensacola, Fla.) and Steven Sassano (Gastonia, N.C.). The incoming class will join 24 returning players from last year’s team that went 10-7-2 and advanced to the SoCon Tournament semifinals.

“I am thrilled to welcome these student-athletes to Appalachian,” said Stahlschmidt. “They all have unique qualities that will enhance our team immediately. We are looking forward to seeing them in August.”

Tony Crocker is a 5-10 140-pound left-footed player that has played primarily defense and midfield at Mountain Brook High School near Birmingham, Ala. In 2006 he was named to the Birmingham News all-Metro team and was selected to the state high school all-star team. He also led the Spartans to a No. 4 ranking and the state quarterfinals last season. He was the captain of his club team, the Birmingham United Thunderbolts ‘89, for five seasons. The Thunderbolts won the 2006 Alabama Division I state champion after being a state finalist in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Crocker was also an Olympic Development Program (ODP) participant for five years. Tony is the son of Troy and Tina Crocker.

Draegen Scarborough is a 5-9, 160-pound midfielder that earned all-state honors at Greensboro’s Page High School in 2006. Scarborough also earned all-region, all-area and all-conference honors in both 2005 and 2006. Scarborough is a member of the Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) Elite Team and has been on the North Carolina ODP team for the past seven years. He also competed in the USL Super Y league and was named to the South Atlantic Regional Team in 2004 and 2005. Draegen is the son of Rusty and Dayna Scarborough. His father also played varsity soccer at Campbell University.

Mike Schenck is a 5-11, 172-pound forward that scored 33 goals with 13 assists at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola, Fla. He earned first-team all-region honors as a junior after being named to the second team his sophomore season. Schenck was also named his high school team’s most valuable forward last season and most valuable midfielder the season before that. Mike, who played for the Pensacola Futbol Club, is the son of George and Lucy Schenk.

Steven Sassano is a 5-11, 155-pound midfielder/forward that hails from just off the Mountain in Gastonia, N.C. Steven was an all-region and all-conference player at Forestview High School where he helped lead the Jaguars to Big South Conference championships in 2003 and 2005. His club team, 1989 Charlotte Soccer Club Blue, was the 2006 Premier League and 2004 Disney Showcase and Super Y National Champions. From 2003 to 2005 the club won eight regional events. Sassano is no stranger to Appalachian as he will join his older brother, Sean a rising senior at ASU, on the field next season. He is the son of Michael and Donna Sassano. The Sassano brother will give the Mountaineers three sets of brothers on the team, joining Aaron and Ramsey Ammar and Greg and Michael Walters.