SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Elise Urkov signed with the Army West Point soccer program in November and will play for the Black Knights and attend the United States Military Academy in the fall.
"It is something I am really looking forward to," said Urkov. "I am really into leadership and it is a big part of what the Army is all about. They graduate you as an officer. You commit to a five-year commitment. You have three choices and on Branch night senior year you find out where you are going. It is pretty exciting for me."
Urkov was recruited by the Army West Point staff at an ECNL event in New Jersey with her club team. She went on an official visit and eventually made the commitment to the program. But attending the United States Military Academy requires more than just being recruited or applying. Student-athletes must receive a Congressional nomination, a process Urkov participated in with the offices of Senator Feinstein and Congresswomen Matsui.
"You have to really want to do this," said Urkov. "It is not as easy as fill out the application and you are in. I have been working on the application since July."
She received nominations from both and officially received her Letter of Appointment over the winter break, solidifying her spot in the upcoming class at the USMA.
Urkov will join a soccer program coached by Adrian Blewitt, who took over the Black Knights in 2017. In 21 years as a head coach, Blewitt led his teams to appearances in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and six conference championships, and he has won four conference or region Coach of the Year honors. On three separate occasions, Blewitt's teams have finished the year ranked in the top-10 nationally.
"As a student-athlete at the Academy, it is not your job to be on the team like it is at a lot of schools," said Urkov. "People are there because they love it and it is not a burden for them. I really appreciate that the coaches recognize that and it such a big family because it is a small community. They have a great understanding of each other and the coaches are really looking out the best interests of the players all the time."
Urkov plans to study engineering at the United States Military Academy, one of the most prestigious school in the country for that area of study.
Urkov, who serves as the Vice President of Key Club and participates in a service club with Kiwanis Family House, was not always sure college soccer was in her future.
"I always told myself I was not going beat myself over it if it did not happen," recalled Urkov. "There is a lot that can happen. I realized if I was not playing I would be really sad. Soccer has always been the best part of my day and helped build my character and me as a person. Without it I would have been really sad in college. I am grateful it all worked out with the perfect program for my personality."
Urkov, who has also participated in swimming and is a Campus Service Leader, is in her third season on the St. Francis varsity team, scoring eight career goals and recording 11 assists in her 49 games.
"She is such a worker," said Head Coach Maryclaire Robinson. "Her work rate makes her interesting and her work rate with her speed makes her special. They will love that. She is disciplined and high achieving. She is a classic Army kid. She will run for you and run some more. You can count on it and it is the intensity and effort is not what you see in a typical high school kid. She creates problems. We are fortunate to have her."
Urkov and her teammates enter the final two weeks of the regular season with a 13-2-3 record and second overall in the Delta League with a 6-1 mark. They take on Elk Grove on Wednesday and host Davis on Friday at Cristo Rey High School. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
