Watkins-Banks inks with Women’s Soccer

MARS HILL, N.C. - Catherine Watkins-Banks has committed to play for the Mars Hill women's soccer team in the fall of 2011, head coach Ken Miller announced. She joins Rachel Weber, Haley Peterson, McKay Sharpe, Grace Lancaster and Lindsey Ingwersen in the Class of 2011.

Watkins-Banks attends IMG Pendleton College Prep School in Bradenton Fla., but is originally from Teaneck, N.J., and attended Dwight-Englewood School in 2007-08. She started for two seasons at Dwight-Englewood School and reached the Final Four of the Florida State Cup with IMG Pendleton College Prep School in 2010.

Watkins-Banks has played club soccer for the IMG Soccer Academy since 2009. She played club soccer for the New Jersey Pasco Soccer Club in 2007-08.

"We are excited about Catherine's potential and ability to help Mars Hill women's soccer achieve our program goals," Miller said. "Cat is an athletic player who has the ability and understanding to play in a variety of positions: forward, center mid or center back. She has great technical ability and tactical understanding of the game. Her vision on the field makes her a great passer of the ball. Cat's ambitions and personal goals are a great fit for our program and complement our team goals and ambitions. We look for Cat to come in and compete for playing time as a forward and midfielder."

Off the field, Watkins-Banks is a member of the Student Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters and in 2009 was voted Vice President of the Dwight-Englewood School Chapter of Junior Statesmen of America.