SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After qualifying for the program's second-ever NCAA tournament last season, the Converse University men's soccer team announced the addition of 25 student-athletes to the roster.
"We have a large incoming class with a mix of freshmen and transfers," stated Converse University men's soccer head coach Rob Miller. "We graduated 14 players, so there will be a lot of competition for starting spots. We are looking forward to what this new group of players can bring to the table. A bunch of quality guys are coming in from good programs. We are looking forward to the season."
Rabiu Agbaje joins the Valkyries after spending three years at Mercer University. He appeared in the team's 5-1 victory over VMI on September 30, 2023. Agbaje was a part of Mercer's 2023 SOCON Tournament Championship squad that appeared in the first round of the national tournament against FIU. Prior to his time at Mercer, Agbaje played high school soccer for McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia.
Gustavo Almeida comes to the Valkyries from Woodstock, Georgia. He was a four-year letter winner at River Ridge High School. He tallied 21 career goals and 18 assists during his career with the Knights. He was named the team's MVP following his senior year and a 5A state team selection. During his career, he was also named a 6A honorable mention and a 5A first team selection. Almeida also scored 24 goals and 37 assists between U12 and U19 with his club team, NASA.
Andy Alvarenga comes to Spartanburg from Melissa, Texas, where he competed for the McKinney North High School soccer team. Alvarenga was named first team all-district following his junior year and was the District Midfielder of the Year following his senior year. He also earned all-state honorable mention honors. He also played with FC Dallas, with whom he was an ECNL Texas All-Conference honoree. Off the pitch, Alvarenga was a member of the Hispanic Culture Club, Interact Club and the National Honor Society.
Alec Antista comes to Converse from Charlotte, North Carolina, where he competed for the Ardrey Kell High School soccer team. He was named the team's MVP and an all-conference selection. Antista helped lead the Knights to a conference championship. During the 2024-25 season, Antista netted seven goals and assisted on 19 goals. He also competed with the Charlotte Soccer Academy, with whom he scored nine goals and assisted on 11 goals.
Henrik Balzer hails from Wiesbaden, Germany, and competed for Oranienschule Gymnasium. He served as a team captain for the club. He also competed for TSV Schott Mainz of the U19 Bundesliga. Balzer helped the club acquire a lot of hardware and retain their position in their league, including: 2023-24 regional league championship, U19 Bundesliga class retention in 2024-25, regional cup championship in 2020-21 and regional league winners in 2020-21. Off the pitch, Balzer was a member of the orchestra.
Jacob Bandel joins the Valkyries from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina. He competed for Bandys High School, where he was a two-time all-conference selection following his freshman and sophomore years and a one-time all-region selection following his junior year. Bandel also competed for the Charlotte Soccer Academy, where he was a U18/19 ECNL Mid-Atlantic All-Conference selection and helped the club claim the ECNL Conference Cup.
Levi Bankirer comes to Spartanburg from Mooresville, North Carolina, where he was a four-year letter winner at Mooresville Senior High School. He was a two-time team MVP, a two-time all-region selection and a one-time all-conference and all-state selection. He also competed for CSA National Academy. Off of the pitch, Bankirer was a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and MASD.
Victor Bibiano-Morales originally hails from Guerrero, Mexico. He played high school soccer for Dorman High School. He managed one goal despite playing defense and was named a 5A all-region selection. He also competed for CESA Pachuca in 2024 with whom he netted three goals. He will become a first-generation college athlete when he joins the Valkyries in August.
Omar Brahim comes to Converse from West Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During his time with the Titans, he was selected as the Central Piedmont Conference Defensive Player of the Year and received first-team all-state honors. He also competed with Piedmont Triad Soccer Club, NC Fusion and Salem City.
Bennett Camargo joins the Valkyries from McKinney, Texas where he competed for the Heritage High School soccer team for three seasons. He was once selected second team all-district and earned TASCO academic all-district and all-state honors. When not playing for the Coyotes, Camargo competed for Solar Soccer Club, helping them to a third-place finish in the ECNL-RL U19 league in 2024. His brother, Blair, plays soccer at Army West Point.
Sam Da Silva - Ruiz comes to the Hub City from Mount Pleasant, where he played for Oceanside Collegiate Academy. When not playing with the Landsharks, he played for SC Surf Soccer Club.
Matthew Garrett joins the Valkyries as a transfer from Frostburg State University. Last playing as a sophomore in 2022, he appeared and started in 21 games for the Bobcats across two seasons. He played and started in 15 games during his freshman campaign, netting one goal and one assist. He was named third team all-conference by the Mountain East Conference. Prior to his time at Frostburg State, Garrett, originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, attended A.N. Myer Secondary School.
Landon Hall comes to the Valkyries after spending his previous two seasons at Limestone. After utilizing a medical redshirt his freshman season, Hall appeared in one game for the Saints his redshirt freshman season. He was a member of the 2023 and 2024 South Atlantic Conference Championship teams, helping the teams make runs to the Elite Eight and the Sweet Sixteen respectively. Prior to his time at Limestone, Hall was a standout at Cleveland High School, helping the team to four consecutive Greater Neuese River Conference Championships from 2021 to 2024. He was twice named to the all-conference team, earning the distinction in 2021 and 2022. Off the pitch, he was a member of the National Honor Society and the First Priority club.
Brock Haslett comes to the Valkyries from Ravenel. He was a three-year letter winner at West Ashley High School. Haslett was a two-time all-region honoree and a two-time all-tournament team selection. When not playing with the Wildcats, he competed for Cainhoy, GPS, CSC, Surf and Charleston United.
Anton Hillgruber comes to the Hub City all the way from Hamburg, Germany. He competed as a multi-sport athlete in soccer and tennis at Gymnasium Buckhorn. When not competing with the gymnasium, he played for Walddörfer SV, starting all 30 games in which he appeared, netting eight goals and assisting on 11.
Paul Legai comes to Converse from Tournai, France. He attended LOSC Lille and also played for multiple clubs, including: Iris Club de Croix, LOSC and Royal Football Club de Tournai. During the 2024-25 season, he appeared in 60 matches and netted five goals and two assists. He was named to the club's team of the week five times.
Sawyer Lester hails from Greensboro, North Carolina. He played soccer at Grimsley High School.
Yosemir Morales comes to the Valkyries from Beaufort where he was the captain of the Battery Creek High School soccer team. Morales was named a top-20 all-region player following the 2023-24 season. When not competing for the Dolphins, he played with Club Beaufort De Futbol. Morales is a first-generation college student and first-generation college athlete.
Jose Navarrete joins the Valkyries from Atlanta, Georgia, and Lakeside High School where he was a four-year varsity letter winner. Navarrete served as a two-year captain for the Vikings. He helped guide the team to a region championship. Navarrete earned the best midfielder award three times during his career and was named to the all-region team. He also competed with Inter Atlanta, DDY and Concorde Fire. Off the pitch, Navarrete graduated with honors in French and his AP classes. He is also a first-generation college student.
Owen Nero hails from McKinney, Texas where he attended McKinney North High School. He was named TASCO first team all-state, was a first team selection by the Dallas Morning News, the District Defensive MVP, and a TASCO all-star selection. Nero also computed with Solar Soccer Club, earning ECNL-RL all-star honors with the club.Off the pitch, Nero was a member of the National Honor Society and was selected to the THSCA academic all-state second team.
Carlo Ruiz joins the Valkyries from Dorman High School in Roebuck. He was a three-year letter winner for the Cavaliers. He also played with CESA Pachuca, netting them five goals and five assists. Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, he is the brother of Fernando and rising-junior midfielder Marlon.
Fernando Ruiz originally hails from San Pedro Sula, Honduras. He played soccer for Dorman High School in Roebuck where he averaged five goals and four assists per season. He also competed for CESA, helping them to a state championship. He is the brother of Carlo and rising-junior midfielder Marlon.
Thomas Sanders comes to the Valkyries from Charleston and was a four-year letter winner at First Baptist School. He was named first team all-region in 2023 and 2024 and first team all-state in 2024. Serving as a team captain, Sanders helped lead the Hurricanes to a state runner-up finish in 2024 and was the team's MVP that year. He also competed with the Charleston United Soccer Club, allowing a 0.765 goals against average over three seasons. He helped lead the club to two state championships, one NL Piedmont Championship, one UPSL Promotion Playoff Championship and the team was named as the top defense in the NL Piedmont for three consecutive years. Off of the pitch, Sanders was a member of the National Honor Society and received the First Baptist Fine Arts Distinction.
Jesper Schierholz comes to Converse as a transfer from Coker University. He appeared in 34 games across two seasons for the Cobras, making five starts. He scored three career goals for a total of six points. He aided the Cobras in making a run to the Division II National Tournament Sweet Sixteen where they were bested by eventual-national-champion Lynn. Originally hailing from Walsrode, Germany, Schierholz spent time with Gynasium Walsrode prior to coming stateside.
Kade Smith comes to the Hub City after spending two seasons with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He appeared in 34 games, making 33 starts. Smith netted 20 goals and nine assists during his time with the Bulldogs. He aided the team to a conference championship during his freshman season. Smith earned NJCAA all-region first team honors and was named to the MACCC first team. Prior to his time in Mississippi, Smith, who hails from Harrow, London, England, attended Whitmore High School and played for Harrow Stars, Uxbridge FC and Hillingdon Borough.
The 2025 Valkyries kick off the season on Thursday, Sept. 4 as they host the Anderson Trojans at Fulp Field. The game is set to begin at 7 P.M. More details can be found at GoValkyries.com/sports/mens-soccer.
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