USAO men’s soccer celebrates local legacy signees
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma men’s soccer program is excited to welcome three new, but familiar, faces to the pitch: Cade Rayburn, Nathan Troub and Blayden Fewell. All three recruits are legacy students with notable careers with the Chickasha High School soccer program.
“I am really excited for our program to add quality young men from a high school program that is as successful as Chickasha High School’s,” said head men’s coach Jimmy Hampton. “It’s great to see our local kids receiving the opportunity to pursue their athletic and academic careers at the next level. We are even more excited that these three players are coming to us from our hometown.”
Rayburn, Troub and Fewell join a dynamic roster with two other Chickasha High alums, Quentin Mantooth and Zane Zhidov. The newest additions bring the total of hometown players to five, a nostalgic throwback to the humble beginnings of the program. Each recruit has deep roots within the local community that grow even deeper and greener here on campus.
“The connection between USAO soccer and the Chickasha community runs deep, as all three incoming players are legacy students,” said assistant men’s coach Tony Orsi. “Blayden, Cade and Nathan are fantastic additions to our roster. We are excited to welcome them to the Drover family and hope the local community will come out to support them on the field this fall.”
Rayburn’s grandmother, Kristy Terry, graduated from USAO. While Terry did not participate in athletics during her time as a Drover, Rayburn’s father produced an illustrious professional career that has motivated him to continue developing his athletic abilities at the next level. His father, Sam Rayburn, played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Miami Dolphins. As a two-sport athlete, Rayburn earned the 2024 football Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year, received All-District honors in soccer for three years and made the All-State soccer team during his senior year at CHS. He was also a class valedictorian. Rayburn is a forward and plans to major in business at USAO.
“I chose USAO for college soccer because it feels like home,” said Rayburn. “With friends from high school already on the team and others joining, the sense of community is strong. I really like the coaches and their approach to the game and the campus is close to home allowing me to stay connected with my family.”
Fewell also follows familiar footsteps. His mother, Rachel Nicole Fewell, graduated from USAO. Throughout his high school career, he was a member of the 2022 State Championship Finalist team and helped lead his teammates to the state playoffs in three of his four seasons. Fewell is a forward and plans to major in business at USAO.
“Selecting a college isn’t just about athletics, it’s about investing in my future,” said Fewell. “USAO will provide me exactly what I will need in the future as an adult, and I couldn’t be more excited to attend.”
While both Rayburn and Fewell were drawn to USAO by a singular family member, Troub follows behind a whole herd of familial Drovers. His connection to campus is expansive, encompassing four relatives. His mother, Jennifer Troub; aunt, Jessica Williams; uncle, Gary Williams; and grandmother, Kathy Plummer all graduated from USAO. During his time as a Chick, he played alongside Fewell accomplishing three deep post-season runs. Troub is a defender and plans to major in biology at USAO.
“I chose to play at USAO because of the community surrounding the school,” said Troub. “It has been amazing to see the incredible support from everyone in Chickasha, whether it be athletics, community outreach events or academic accomplishments by students. This amazing support base helped me know this was the place for me.”
Beyond their legacy connections, the three players have a bond that can only be fostered on the playing field. Rayburn, Troub and Fewell have played soccer together since sixth grade, so their unique relationships bring an invaluable asset to the Drover roster.
“As coaches we try to build as much chemistry and team unity as possible throughout the year, because we feel it’s a very important factor in a team’s success,” said Orsi. “Having three incoming players who have been playing together that long will be a tremendous benefit to us in the upcoming season. We have 34 returning players and to add three new recruits who have been playing together for seven years will definitely accelerate the process of everyone getting on the same page.”
The signing of these legacy students fully embraces the mission of Drover soccer and draws the campus and community closer. Since the program’s inception in the 1990s, Chickasha remains a prime location for Drover recruitment. The Chickasha community can stay up to date on the men’s soccer news at usaoathletics.com.
“Having community involvement not only helps our team perform on the field but can also strengthen the relationship between USAO and the community itself,” said Orsi. “Home field advantage is a tremendous factor and can sometimes decide games. Teams play all year long with the goal to have a great record, because that determines who gets to host their playoff games at home. So, campus and community support throughout the season is instrumental in our team’s success.”
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.