Starkus signs with men’s soccer for 2015
Forward Jonas Starkus (Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West HS) signs with Bellevue
BELLEVUE, Neb. - The Bellevue University men's soccer program, under the direction of 2014 MCAC Coach of the Year Matt Briggs, has announced the signing of Jonas Starkus (Omaha, Neb./Bellevue West HS) to a letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic careers at Bellevue beginning in the fall of 2015.
The son of Pete and Danielle, Starkus was coached by current Bruin assistant Tom White at Bellevue West High School where he was a team captain. He was also a pitcher for the Bellevue West baseball team, helping the club to a seventh place finish at the state tournament this past season.
As a senior Starkus, a forward, scored nine goals and added three assists. Starkus was also a member of the honor roll in each of his four years at Bellevue West and plans to major in business administration at Bellevue.
Briggs is excited about the signing, saying, "We couldn't be happier to have signed a player like Jonas who will bring us plenty of quality in all attacking areas."
Starkus joins earlier signees Austin Obermeyer (Gretna, Neb./Gretna HS), Matthew Robbins (Omaha, Neb./Omaha Burke HS), and Jacob Krug (Plattsmouth, Neb./Plattsmouth HS) in the 2015 recruiting class.
He is the fourth player to sign with the Bruins from club team 402 Evolution, coached by current Bruins' head coach Matt Briggs who says that Starkus, "has the ability to play wide or straight down the middle, has great pace, is creative and hardworking, all the qualities we look for in an attacking player."
Having played previously for Briggs, the addition of Starkus continues Bellevue's commitment to signing the best local players to build a team around. "Jonas will be a brilliant player for us over his four year but we would look for him to pressure Rob Jackson and David Goolsby for playing time right away."
Bellevue posted a 15-3-2 record this past season and finished the year ranked No. 11 in the postseason NAIA Coaches' Poll. The Bruins won both the MCAC Regular Season and Tournament championships this past season on their way to their winningest season since 2006 (15-6-0). They defeated Hastings College in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round and advanced to the final site for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in school history.