Bennett adds first signee to 2017 class

MITCHELL, S.D. – The first recruit of the class of 2017 for Paul Bennett, head men's soccer coach at DWU, hails from Brookings, S.D., as a dual-sport athlete. Reece Weber will join the Tiger men's soccer team in the fall of 2017 and join head coach Derik Fossum and the Tiger track and field team following the soccer season.

 "We are very excited to have Reece as the first official signee of our 2017 recruiting class," Bennett said. "He is a South Dakota talent, so we are excited he decided to stay in state by choosing DWU to continue his athletic and academic career."

 Weber looks to compete for playing time at the midfield position where he played for the Brookings High School Bobcats for four seasons. He started and lettered in soccer three times for the Bobcats. He finished his senior season as an All-ESD First Team member and team captain. In 2015, Weber helped the Bobcats become ESD Conference Champions following an 8-1-3 record during his junior season.

 "He is a very athletic and versatile player," Bennett said. "We look for him to come in and challenge for playing time right away."

 The 5-foot-10 midfielder played his club soccer for the Brookings Futbol Club and WTSA Select as he was a team captain for both teams. Between the two club teams, he participated in the Regionals in 2015 and various tournament championships.

 Following the soccer season, Weber will set his sights on the track and field season. He will run in the 400 and 800-meter events for the Tigers. His best finish in the 400-meter race was in a time of 52.5 seconds that placed fifth at the O'Gorman Meet. In the 800-meter run at the Watoma Meet, Weber finished with a personal best in 2:05 and took fifth.

 As a member of the 4x400-meter relay team, he helped take first place at the ESD Conference meet and eighth at the state meet. In the sprint medley, his team finished in second place at the ESD Conference meet and sixth at the state meet.

 The Brookings, S.D., native was named to the All-Conference team twice for his efforts on the track and was a two-time varsity letter recipient in track. As a student in the classroom, Weber was a Varsity Scholar Athlete three times.

 He is the son of Darin and Anita Weber and plans to major in sports management while at DWU.