ROCK HILL, SC— Former Winthrop men’s soccer player John Gilkerson has signed a contract with the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

 

Gilkerson was drafted by New York on Jan. 24 and has been with the team since then. The team just got back from training in Austria for two weeks and is currently in Charleston, SC for the Carolina Cup at Blackbaud Stadium. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed. He also becomes the second Winthrop player to sign an MLS contract as Marco Reda played for Toronto FC last season.

 

“We are so pleased for John,” said head coach Rich Posipanko. “He was so excited when he called me on Friday night and said the New York Red Bulls offered him a contract. It is every players dream to play in the major league of their particular sport. This is our second player from Winthrop in the last three years to sign a contract with MLS so as a program and University we are thrilled. As for John, he has been the best athlete I have ever coached, but he has certainly put in the effort and dedication needed to get this opportunity and make it onto a MLS roster. He will need to continue with this work ethic in order to stay in the league.”

 

Gilkerson, from Winchester, VA, was a three-time All-Big South selection and helped anchor a defense that finished ranked among the nation’s best in 2006 and 2007. In 2006 and 2007 he was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Atlantic Region Team. During the summer of 2006 and 2007 he played for the Hampton Roads Piranhas of the PDL and was a two-time PDL Team of the Week selection. He was also named to the Eastern Conference All-Conference Team.