STEPHENVILLE – The newest addition to Tarleton’s first-ever Division I soccer recruiting class is official, as head coach Pete Cuadrado announced the signing of Lauren Grissom out of San Diego, California on Thursday.
A 5-7 forward, Grissom makes the move to the Lone Star State from Del Norte High School, where she has enjoyed a four-year varsity playing career. She has also competed on the club circuit for Slammers FC.
“I really found Tarleton State University to be a beautiful and connected community that really supported each other,” Grissom said. “From the academic to the athletic staff and students I know it will be a great experience for my educational and soccer future. I felt an instant connection to Coach Cuadrado and Coach Carrell and am excited to be a part of something special as the first year of the Tarleton Women’s Soccer season begins. I look forward to working towards earning my degree while representing Tarleton State on the soccer pitch.”
Grissom has exhibited a knack for finding the back of the net throughout her prep run. Ahead of her senior year, which is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30, Grissom has tallied 17 goals and 14 assists.
As a junior, Grissom scored eight goals and assisted on another eight to lead Del Norte to a third-place finish in the Palomar League and CIF Division I championship with a 12-5-3 overall record. Grissom helped Del Norte advance to the CIF Open Division quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019.
Grissom has accumulated numerous individual and team accolades on and off the pitch.
She was an individual selection to the ECNL Player Development Program as a sophomore in 2019. This year, she was a runner-up for the San Diego Surf Cup “Best of the Best” award. Following Del Norte’s record run this spring, Grissom was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Grissom also runs cross country, where she was named Team MVP her freshman year and served as a team captain this fall.
She is active in both the classroom and civic participation. Grissom has served as the secretary for “EcoFuture,” a student-run organization that promotes environmental awareness through community events and activities, since 2019. She also volunteers at local beach cleanups and food banks.
Grissom intends to major in psychology and earn a minor in kinesiology at Tarleton, with a desired career in sport psychology or physical therapy.
The addition of Grissom swells Tarleton’s 2022 recruiting class to 17 members. Grissom is the 16th prep player and fifth from the state of California. She is also the third player Cuadrado has tabbed from Slammers FC, joining defender Kaitlyn Flanagan and goalkeeper Mikayla Kendall.
Tarleton publicized the signings of 16 athletes on the Initial Signing Date on Nov. 10. Cuadrado and assistant coach Rex Carrell anticipate adding 6-7 more players in the coming months to round out their roster.
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