BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Head Women's Soccer Coach Mike Varga announced the addition of five signees on Wednesday morning.

Grace Kester, Tia Wynn, Ebba Jarvensivu, Abigail Williams, and Mackenzie Farr will join the 'Dogs for the upcoming season as they look to build off of a run at the Big South Championship.
 
Grace Kester, a center back from Milton, Georgia, will help anchor a Gardner-Webb defense that shut out four opponents last season. At King's Ridge Christian School, Kester made all-region first team and was on the honor roll all four years. Her club coach at the Concorde Fire described her as tenacious and destined for greatness. He mentioned how special it was to have absolute confidence in a player like Kester. The 3-star top drawer recruit intends to major in Exercise Science/Kinesiology in her time at GWU. "Grace has all the tools to be successful for us," said head coach Mike Varga. "She has a keen understanding of the game and possesses the physical tools to be a dominant center back.  She is not afraid of the physical battles and has the technical ability and composure on the ball to help us keep possession."
 
Tia Wynn, a holding midfielder and center back out of Winter Garden, Florida, will also look to contribute to the Runnin' Bulldogs' defense. "Tia is a technically gifted player that will help us in possession," said Varga. "She also is not afraid to do the work to win the ball back and has a very bright future for us with the GWU women's soccer program." Wynn had a much-decorated career at West Orange Highschool, being named MVP her sophomore year, was named ECNL Player to Watch for two years and captained her team for two seasons. She was also honored as First Team All-District and Metro for two consecutive years and named to the United Soccer First team in Florida. Wynn represented the south region ODP team on two separate occasions. She played club with the Orlando City Lake Nona where her coach, Juan Uribe, said "Tia is a proven leader and fighter that gives it her all at all times." Wynn intends to study Sport Management at Gardner-Webb and mentioned her walk with God as one of her proudest achievements.
 
Joining the program all the way from Bromolla, Sweden, will be Ebba Jarvensivu. Ebba played high school soccer for Furulundskolan and club ball for Ifo Bromolla If. The forward will join the Runnin' Bulldogs offense coming off 21 goals in 21 games during her time in Sweden. "In Ebba you will get a hardworking, easy going, caring, and loyal football player with tons of upside," said her club coach. "Her foremost asset is her determination to give it all in every situation on and off the pitch. She is technically sound with the ball and has a thing for sniffing up goal opportunities." Ebba played for the local women's team (3rd tier in Sweden) at the age of 14 and was a vital part of the team that made it to the Elitettan (2nd tier in Sweden) in 2021. "Ebba has a knack to score goals," said Varga. "She has the ability to take players on and create chances for herself along with the confidence and composure in front of goal to be a handful for opposing defenders.  Ebba has played at a very high level in Sweden with success and will make an immediate impact for us in our attack next fall."
 
A defender out of Burlington, North Carolina, Abigail Williams will be coming to Gardner-Webb with the intent to study Studio Art. Williams played at Burlington Christian Academy where she started since 8^th grade, co-captained her team, and won defensive MVP honors. "Abby will not be outworked," said Varga. She takes pride in her individual defending and will make the match difficult for any attacking player that is matches up against her. She has the pace to keep up with the pacey attacking players she will be matched up against and she is not afraid of the physical part of the game." During her time at BCA, she was named All-Conference and All-State. Williams was a starter for the 04 North Carolina Football Club Elite team that went undefeated in the National League Piedmont Conference and will play in the USYS Southern Regional Championship in June. She made the North Carolina ODP Team, South Region Invitational, and South Region Camp in 2021, her only year with the program. "Abby is an athletic, physical defender who never lets anyone outwork her," said Dave Arensdorf, her club coach at North Carolina FC. She was part of student council 9^th and 10^th grade, National Honors Society in 11^th and 12^th, and was awarded the John Michael Martin Fine Arts Scholarship at BCA.
 
Mackenzie Farr, a winger and attacking midfielder out of Wilmington, North Carolina, will join Gardner-Webb after a decorated career at Eugene Ashley Highschool. "Kenzie has the pace and work rate to create problems for opposing defenders," said Varga. She can unbalance defenders and can create goal scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.  Kenzie along with the rest of the class is not only a quality soccer player but incredible student and person and will be a leader within our program." Farr was Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2021, All-Conference and All-Region in 2022. She was named captain her junior and senior seasons and ran varsity track and cross-country during soccer off-seasons. She played club for the Wilmington Hammerheads and won Player of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. She was also captain and led that team in goals and assists. "I believe she will be a great addition to the Gardner-Webb family due to her effort, values, and commitment," said her club coach, Will Heaney. Farr carried a 4.6 GPA at Ashley and was ranked 4^th out 451 students academically. She was a member of the National Honors Society, Key Club, Beta Club, and was chosen to represent the region on NCHSAAC. Her intended major is Biology.
 
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