Former San Jacinto College soccer defender Cyprian Hedrick was the 30th overall pick by Sporting Kansas City in the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on January 12. Photo credit: Andrea Vasquez, San Jacinto College marketing department.
San Jacinto College soccer alum drafted to Sporting Kansas City
Andrea Vasquez-- January 17, 2011
HOUSTON — Former San Jacinto College (SJC) soccer defender Cyprian Hedrick was the 30th overall pick by Sporting Kansas City in the 2012 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on January 12, 2012, at the Kansas City Convention Center.
“I was very, very shocked, but very, very excited,” said Hedrick, a Clear Brook High School graduate, SJC alumnus, and most recently a Coastal Carolina University (CCU) graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. “Most of the time, players tend not to put too much emphasis on perfecting the simple, everyday drills, but at San Jac, that’s one of the things we were taught to focus on, and it has definitely paid off. I’m a very hard-working player, and I’m going to get the job done. This is a childhood dream, and I hope to play as long as my body will let me.”
In 2008, Hedrick helped SJC become Mid-South District champions and win the Region XIV championship for fifth consecutive year. That same year, SJC ended the season as the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national runner up and ranked second by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) with an overall team record of 18–2–2.
“We’re all so proud of him here,” said Dr. David Santesteban, SJC head soccer coach. “I wish him all the best. The easy part is over, now the hard part begins. It’s all about consistent performance and work ethic which I know he’ll do well as he learned that here at San Jac, and it has served him very well ever since.”
Following his season at SJC in 2008, Hedrick signed with CCU to play midfield. In 2011, he was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year, honored as a 2011 NSCAA Men's Collegiate Scholar All-American first team selection, named to the Big South All-Academic team, and was selected to the First Team All-Big South.
Hedrick is the fourth CCU player to be drafted by an MLS club and the ninth SJC soccer player to go professional. Other SJC soccer alumni that have gone on to play professionally include Francisco Calvo (Costa Rica), Dane Richards (New York Red Bulls), Kieron Bernard (Orlando City), Carlos Villa (CSD Municipal), Mozesh Gyorio (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Ryan Maxwell (New England Revolution), Brandon Durden (River Plate Puerto Rico), and Ken Hoerner (Houston Dynamo reserves).
For more information about the San Jacinto College soccer program, visit www.sanjacsports.com.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.
For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.