Trey Burnett
LIBERAL, Kan. – Five members of the 2025-26 Seward County women’s soccer team will move on to four-year universities to continue their academic and athletic careers next season.
Meredith Rosas, Eduarda Martins, Ericka Castillo, Giuliana Granada and Jairely Ibarra all signed with friends, teammates and SCCC staff in attendance in the Hall of Saints Room on Monday afternoon.
“This sophomore class meant more to this program than words can really explain,” said first year head coach Marcela Bueno. “They brought so much heart to this team every single day, with commitment, resilience, leadership and a mentality that helped shape the culture of this program far beyond the field. Players like them are hard to replace, not just because of their quality, but because of who they are as people.”
The 2025 Saints finished 5-10-1 overall and 4-9-1 in conference play. It marked a three-game improvement in both overall and conference wins from the 2024 season, as Bueno, in her first year, introduced a new style of play alongside a sophomore class that provided key leadership.
“This group also had a huge impact on me as a head coach,” said Bueno. “They challenged me, taught me, and helped shape me for future challenges in ways they probably don’t even realize. I’ll always be grateful for everything I learned from them throughout this season. I know they are going to shine wherever they go.”
Meredith Rosas – Missouri Valley College
Rosas, a two-time All-KJCCC selection as a defender, will compete at the NAIA level in the Heart of America Conference for Missouri Valley. MVC finished 18-1-4 last season, winning the Heart of America regular season and tournament championships while also making a run in the national tournament.
Eduarda Martins – Wayland Baptist University
Martins, a defender, was an honorable mention All-KJCCC selection in 2025. She scored two goals and started all 16 games for the Saints. She will attend WBU in Plainview, Texas, competing at the NAIA level in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Wayland finished 7-11-3 in 2025.
Ericka Castillo – Williams Baptist University
Castillo, a defender, tallied four points for the Saints in her sophomore campaign. She will attend Williams Baptist in Arkansas and compete at the NAIA level in the American Midwest Conference. WBU went 12-5 in 2025 and advanced to the AMC Tournament semifinals.
Giuliana Granada – Williams Baptist University
Granada, the lone non-defender among the signees, will join Castillo at Williams Baptist. A sophomore forward, Granada started all 16 games for Seward, finishing with four points and two assists.
Jairely Ibarra – Carolina University
Ibarra, a sophomore defender from Venezuela, will play at Carolina University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Bruins compete at the NAIA level and went 4-11-3 in 2025. Ibarra appeared in one game for the Saints in 2025 due to injury but started 14 games in 2024, scoring two goals and adding an assist.
