Wes Feighner, a kinesiology senior, sat in his Exercise Physiology class Tuesday when he received a barrage of text messages from family and friends. Instantly, he knew it could only mean one thing: a Major League Soccer (MLS) squad wanted him.
“My first thought was, ‘Do I still need to keep taking notes?'” he said. “I didn’t really know what to do.”
A dislocated kneecap prevented the senior left back from playing in the final six games of his Cal Poly career and from any professional combines, but he was selected in the forth round of the MLS Supplemental Draft on Tuesday afternoon by Seattle Sounders FC.
Feighner — awarded 2011 Big West Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year and maintains a GPA above 3.9, — decided to stay and finish out his class. Soon after, he was contacted by Sounders representatives and local media outlets, which left only a brief moment to speak with his parents before attending his next class.
According to Feighner, the news and proceeding whirlwind of phone calls and interview requests took him by storm.
“I knew it was a possibility, but I figured it was a long shot,” he said. “After I got hurt, I pretty much stopped talking to pro teams; it’s the nature of the business.”
Feighner will report to Seattle for training camp later this month to play with the Sounders’ first team. Based on his performance, he could be offered a contract and begin playing for the team as early as March when the MLS season kicks off.
With only a few quarters left until graduation, Feighner is faced with a difficult decision regarding his future as a Cal Poly student.
“If I can find a fairly hassle-free way to squeeze out a degree and play that’d be great,” he said. “I’m just going to play it by ear and see what’s realistic.”
Soccer head coach Paul Holocher expects Feighner will succeed no matter what path he chooses to take.
“(Feighner) is going to be able to do whatever he wants to do in life,” Holocher said. “He’s just a top quality young man and a hard worker with good character.”
Prior to the draft, which began last Thursday with a primary two-round selection, senior center back Patrick Sigler was projected by many to represent the Mustangs in the MLS. Even Feighner said he primarily followed the draft results to see where his teammate would end up.
“I was really surprised; somebody will be able to pick (Sigler) up as an undrafted free agent,” Feighner said of his close friend and teammate of four years. “The dude can play; he’ll do just fine wherever he ends up.”
Sigler was disappointed about being passed up in the draft, but he said he couldn’t be happier for his fellow defender.
“It’s a big time for him, the school and the organization,” he said. “He’s a good friend and someone who I’ll stay in touch with the rest of my life.”
Sigler said he will continue to work hard on his game, and plans to contact professional teams for a potential tryout at a training camp.
Feighner originally came to Cal Poly as a forward, but moved to defense, where he started 67 matches for the Mustangs. He is the second Mustang in many years to be taken in the MLS Supplemental Draft, following Junior Burgos who was selected by Toronto FC last year.
Video produced by Jeremy Jauregui/CPTV