SAN FRANCISCO – With the offseason in full swing and all attention turning to the Fall 2023 campaign, Academy of Art women's soccer has announced the first two additions to its recruiting class as joining the Urban Knights next season will be goalkeeper Kayla Hampton (Duvall, Wash./Cedarcrest High School) and defender Jorryn Echeverria (McKinney, Tex./McKinney Boyd High School). 

Kayla Hampton (Duvall, Wash. / Cedarcrest High School)
Hampton enters Academy of Art after most recently graduating from Cedarcrest High School where she was dual-sport athlete, playing varsity soccer her junior and senior seasons between the posts while also playing on the varsity basketball team during her junior year. In addition to her prep career, the Duvall, Wash. native also spent four seasons with Lake Washington Premier F.C., an Adidas-sponsored club soccer organization founded 17 years ago.

Born to an athletic family, her father Ryan Hampton ran track at Washington State University. Upon her arrival to ART U, Hampton will enroll in the School of Architecture with a future goal of one day becoming an architect. 

"I chose to go to Academy of Art because I was looking for a school where I would be able to study architecture and get the opportunity to play soccer as well," Hampton said. "After looking into the school and program I loved the hands-on style of learning, along with the environment of the team, so it was a no-brainer from then on."

Jorryn Echeverria (McKinney, Tex. / McKinney Boyd High School)
Echeverria also comes to ART U as a freshman after most recently graduating from McKinney Boyd High School in her hometown of McKinney, Tex., where she played varsity soccer all four years and was an 9-6A All-District Honorable Mention for her final three seasons. When not on the high school pitch, the defender/midfielder could also be found donning the kit of D'Feeters Kicks Soccer Club (DKSC), a non-profit soccer club that is aligned with US Youth Soccer and sponsored by Nike. 

Upon her arrival to Academy of Art, Echeverria will enroll in the School of Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media with the goal of one day becoming a music producer or supervisor. 

"I chose Academy of Art because when I visited in October I felt really welcomed by the team and coaches, and knew this was the type of environment I wanted to be a part of during my college experience," Echeverria said. "I am most excited to meet my teammates and make new friendships with them during the journey we will have together throughout college."