Genaro Hurtado, a two-time All-Tri-Valley League and All-CIF central defender from Carpinteria High, is part of a six-player recruiting group for the Westmont men’s soccer team.
Hurtado will be joined by Rodrigo Diaz-Valdes, an attacking midfielder from Campolindo High in Moraga; forward Austin Lack of Santa Ana-Calvary Chapel; midfielder Matt Lariviere of Camarillo; center-midfielder Wilton Quintero of L.A. Cathedral High and Jonathan Hernandez, a versatile player from L.A. Mission JC.
“This 2013 class will have an important impact on the program over the next four years,” Westmont head coach Dave Wolf said. “I think the greatest attribute that this class brings to Westmont is that each of the players fit the culture of our program very well. They are all excellent students, a vital ingredient to our program.
“They are also talented players that have distinguished themselves among the several hundred recruits we look at each year for an incoming class,”
Hurtado helped Carpinteria reach the CIF playoffs three straight years. He was named All-CIF as a sophomore when the Warriors reached the finals.
“Genaro has the special quality of calmness amidst the storm,” said Wolf. “He is a great decision maker, a great defender, and a great leader. I am extremely proud of Genaro and the mature, humble man that he already is. We are grateful to have him choose to come to Westmont and are excited to watch him grow and develop in the upcoming years.”
Hurtado said Westmont was a perfect fit for him.
“It’s a dream come true and I feel like this is where I was meant to be. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me at Westmont,” said Hurtado.
Diaz-Valdes brings creativity and a nose for the goal to the offensive core.
“Rodrigo came to our ID camp this spring as an undecided senior, and stood out in his play,” Wolf said. “Rodrigo is a crafty attacking player who has a knack for creating scoring chances anywhere in the box.
Lack is a crafty goal scorer who creates havoc for defenders.
“I have had the opportunity to watch Austin several times in the past few years, and appreciate the intelligence and sophistication he brings to the forward position. I am confident that Austin will emerge as one of the leaders of our team in the years to come.”
Lariviere brings exceptional speed and hustle to the midfield.
“Matt Lariviere has demonstrated to me that he has a motor and work rate that is hard to find in any high school player,” said Wolf. “Matt loves to attack and go one-on-one, qualities that we highly value in our system of play.”
Quintero is a gifted central player that brings vision, intelligence, and technical skill to the midfield.
“Wilton has stood out to us from the first day we met him in the recruiting process, and I am humbled to think that he will now be a part of Westmont soccer,” said Wolf.
Hernandez will bring size, physical prowess, and college experience to the Warriors.
“Jonathan Hernandez is a special story to me,” noted Wolf. “He has lobbied and worked for months to create this opportunity to come to Westmont and he deserves all the credit in the world for his persistence. Jonathan will immediately add leadership to our team as one of the oldest players in our program.”
The Warriors begin their 2013 campaign with a scrimmage at UCLA on Aug. 17 and an exhibition game at UC Santa Barbara on Aug. 24. The season begins officially on Aug. 31 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Thorrington Field.
