West Virginia University men’s soccer coach Marlon LeBlanc has announced today that Malcolm Manswell, a current member of the U-17 Trinidad & Tobago National Team, will join the Mountaineers this fall.
"We're pleased to add Malcolm to the 2009 recruiting class,” LeBlanc says. “He's another player with youth national team experience and we expect him to be able to help us immediately. We are looking forward to Malcolm playing a big part in our goal to achieve BIG EAST and NCAA success this year."
While attending River Hill High, Manswell was a two-year varsity letterwinner under coach Matt Shagogue. In 2008, Manswell was consistently in the national spotlight as he was named ESPN Rise Magazine Region Athlete of the Week on Oct. 4, and was named the publication’s national player of the week four days later. He concluded the season with a spot on the 2008 ESPN Rise Magazine All-America Team. In 2007, Manswell led his high school squad to county, regional and state titles.
Manswell also has earned numerous academic awards. He is a 2008-09 Gifted & Talented Independent Research program inductee. Two years ago, he was the 2007 regional Future Business Leaders of America champion in banking and financial systems. He took fourth place in the state competition.
Manswell joins an already highly touted nine-member incoming class that was ranked No. 12 nationally by Soccer America.
The Mountaineers’ 2009 campaign begins with a home exhibition match against Big Ten squad Michigan on Aug. 23. Kickoff at Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.