COC UPDATE: AREA SOCCER PLAYERS TAKE A LIKING TO KANSAS.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

They collectively elevated the level of girls' high school soccer in the Santa Clarita Valley during their years at Canyon, Hart, Saugus and Valencia.

They put aside their Foothill League rivalries to build a successful foundation that helped the College of the Canyons women's soccer team return to prominence in the Western State Conference South Division.

The bond among Kelly Holloway, Whitney Johnson, Jessica Resendez, Jennifer Sager and Christina Sanchez only got stronger Wednesday, as the quintet was among eight COC soccer players that signed with Kansas Wesleyan University, coached by former Palmdale High standout Mike Dibbini.

Dibbini played on the first Kansas Wesleyan men's soccer team in 1996. He took over as head coach of the men's and women's teams in December at the NAIA school, which is located in Salina, Kan.

Holloway (Valencia), Johnson (Canyon), Sanchez (Hart), and Resendez and Sager (Saugus) were instrumental in COC winning its fourth conference championship last fall. Dibbini believes signing the five, along with

signing six Antelope Valley-area players Tuesday, will pay immediate dividends with his improving women's program.

``There's a lot of hidden talent out here,'' said Dibbini, who also signed Canyon graduates Wayne Johnson and Nick Rowin and Lancaster alumnus Joel Gunterman for his men's team. ``My No. 1 goal when I came back out here was to get kids from the (Antelope and Santa Clarita) valleys. This is a historic day for this area, the same way it was (Tuesday) in the Antelope Valley (signing 12 players from that area).

``It's a great opportunity for these kids, and I really think with this group coming in, the women are going to win conference.''

COC men's and women's coach Phil Marcellin acted like a proud father after watching his largest group of sophomores in one season move on to four-year schools. Seven of his players attended the signing ceremony, as Wayne Johnson, Whitney's brother, was in Costa Rica.

``This is a great day for our program, and it's a great day for these kids,'' Marcellin said. ``This group of girls brought back a conference championship for us, and to have three signings from our men's program is a testament to what they've accomplished in just a few years.''

Whitney Johnson, selected WSC Player of the Year last season, didn't initially plan to continue her career after playing at COC. When she learned of the opportunity for her and her brother to play two more years, she couldn't pass up the chance.

``It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That's why I wouldn't pass it up,'' Whitney Johnson said. ``It's very comforting to have Wayne there, but me and these girls all get along so well. We wanted a championship at COC, and we got it. Now we want to do the same thing there.''

Said Holloway, a two-time all-conference selection: ``We're more than just teammates, we're like sisters. We love each other's company. We know how we play and about (the importance of) team chemistry, and we hope to build new chemistry with the girls from the Antelope Valley and the players who are already there.''

Gunterman and Rowin were so excited to start their new careers with the Coyotes' program that they donned their purple-and-white jerseys before they left the foyer area of the COC gymnasium, where the ceremony was held.

``More than anything, I'm excited,'' Dibbini said. ``I wanted to prove that I could come back to this area and get kids (from the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys) to come and be a part of something exciting.''

Erik Boal, [phone]

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

COC soccer players Nick Rowin, left, Jessica Resendez, Jennifer Sager and Whitney Johnson sign letters of intent to play for Kansas Wesleyan University.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer