UMC Women's Basketball Signs NCE/U-H Guard Sirjord

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball team rounded out their 2018-19 recruiting class by signing Kayla Sirjord (G, 5-6, Ulen, Minn./Ulen-Hitterdal H.S.) to a National Letter of Intent. Sirjord joins Mary Burke (F, 5-11, Virginia, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl H.S.), Paige Cornale (G, 5-10, Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek H.S.), Bren Fox (C, 6-3, Norwood Young America, Minn./Norwood Young America H.S), Julia Peplinski (F, 5-10, Hustisford, Wis./Hustisford H.S.) and Kylie Post (G, 5-7, Corcoran, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy).

“Kayla can score the ball anywhere on the court,” said Head Coach Mike Roysland. “She has a very quick release on her shot. In addition, her speed is very deceptively quick. We are always excited when we can sign area kids and Kayla is one we are very excited to get here to Minnesota Crookston. We can’t wait to see what she can do as a member of the Golden Eagle family.”

The Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball signing class addresses key areas for the Golden Eagles as they added three guards and three post players in this recruiting cycle. The six signees give Minnesota Crookston added competition, depth and versatility at all five positions heading into the 2018-19 season. The Golden Eagles are slated to lose only two players from this season's roster, but two crucial cogs in the program with Micaela Noga (Sr., G, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) and Emily Gruber (Sr., F, Monticello, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston is slated to return 10 players to the fray for the 2018-19 season.

Sirjord joins a squad that has been to three-consecutive NSIC/Sanford Health quarterfinals. The Golden Eagles have accumulated a program high of 40 wins in the last three years, including a school-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Head Coach Mike Roysland is in his 12th season leading the squad. Roysland was the NSIC Coach of the Year following the 2014-15 season. 

Sirjord gives the Golden Eagles a player who can shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. She will also add speed to the guard court for Minnesota Crookston. She joins Cornale and Post as guard recruits. All three will add different qualities to the back court for the 2018-19 season.

Kayla Sirjord (G, 5-6, Ulen, Minn./Ulen-Hitterdal H.S.)

Sirjord plays basketball for Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal. She helped lead her team to a 10-14 mark and a 9-5 record in the Pine to Prairie Conference as a junior. Sirjord was a 2017 Courts Plus Summer League All Star. She averaged 17.6 points and was second in league history with three-pointers made. Sirjord was also a 2015 Courts Plus Summer League All-Star after tallying 19.9 points per game. She is a six-time KRJB-KRJM Star of the Game. She also ran track in high school, making it to section finals in 100m hurdles two years in a row. She was first in subsection in 100m hurdles in 2017. Sirjord played AAU basketball for the MN Comets.

Sirjord is the daughter of Jerome and Angie Sirjord. She was born Dec. 4, 1999. Sirjord plans to major in Health Sciences (Pre-Med). Her father Jerome played football at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Her mom Angie competed in gymnastics at the University of Wisconsin-Las Crosse. Her brother Brady plays football at Concordia College (Minn.). She was been a member of the National Honor Society and Minnesota Honor Society, along with A Honor Roll.

All signees are contingent upon admission to UMC and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Everyone released today has signed their National Letter of Intent prior to release of information.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
(via UMC SID)