On the special event known as National Signing Day, the Simon Fraser University Clan football team unveiled its first recruits of the winter.
With an eye on improving on last year’s dreadful 0-10 season, the Clan coaching staff added an impressive list of 16 newcomers to the program that address both sides of the ball.
“I think today, we added players that will continue to build the base of our program,” said SFU head coach Kelly Bates. “Today is the start of our signing period, which will continue to play out over the weeks ahead, but the guys that have committed today are going to be huge pieces of moving this program in the direction that we want.”
Among the incoming who will battle for roles in 2017 are Burnaby natives Lorenzo DelGiglio, Mauro Glammaria and Matteo Montagliani, each making the jump to Div. 2 after stellar high school careers.
DelGiglio, who like Glammaria is a product of Notre Dame Secondary, is one of four offensive linemen added to the roll call trying to replace the likes of Burnaby’s Felix Gacusana Jr., who wrapped up a four-year career as a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference’s second all-star team.
Glammaria joins a deep receiving corps, while Montagliani, of St. Thomas More, will compete for defensive back minutes alongside returnees Jaryn Bailey and Adam Turrin, both Burnaby natives.
Meanwhile, the SFU men’s soccer team launched its recruiting season by inking four players to national letters of intent.
Among the four are Burnaby Central grads Connor Glennon and Christopher Guerreiro.
Glennon, a midfielder, and Guerreiro, a fullback, have been groomed through the Whitecaps FC Residency program for the past four years.
“All four of them can play right away and will really add to the present competitive culture we have in place for our program,” said SFU coach Clint Schneider, who has led the Clan to an 18-3-5 record over two seasons. “Every player is an outstanding student and they have all of the ingredients to be successful at Canada’s top comprehensive university.”
