Birkelbach signs three Flying Eagle standouts

By Dan Stillwell
Register-Herald Sports Writer

Eric Randall, Alex Cottle and Chaz Turner liked playing travel soccer for John Birkelbach last summer.

So where else would the talented Woodrow Wilson High School trio want to continue their careers but for Birkelbach at Mountain State University?

“It was pretty much because of John,” Randall said of his decision. “Bluefield College and Potomac State made offers, but John is a good guy and a good coach.”

Cottle and Turner echoed the Flying Eagles’ sweeper.

“I talked a little bit to other schools, but I knew I wanted to go to MSU a long time ago,” said Cottle, who earned all-state honors at midfielder last fall. “Coach can teach me a lot and he’s a really nice guy.”

Turner, steady as a rock at sweeper for Woodrow, state runner-up with a 19-3-3 record, had offers from Potomac State and Marietta College.

But MSU was a no-brainer

“I really wanted to play here,” he said. “I liked playing on John’s travel team, so I figured he’d be a good college coach too.”

For his part, Birkelbach was delighted to add the three local standouts to the Cougars’ roster.

“They’re all three good, young men, and they win,” he said. “They proved it last fall. They’re the type of kids I want with the program.”

Always great at setting up attackers with a perfect pass to their feet, Cottle worked on improving his speed last summer and became an offensive threat of his own his senior year at Woodrow.

He bent a long free kick into the upper right corner of the goal in the Flying Eagle’ 2-1 victory over Greenbrier East in the Region 3 championship game in Bluefield.

“‘Curve it like Cottle,’” Birkelbach said, paraphrasing “Bend it like Beckham.”

“We’re definitely expecting a lot out of him. He’s the type of player who has everything to be a great player — great footskills, amazing vision and a unique ability to score goals.”

Cottle can play midfielder or forward, but says he’s best in the middle.

“We have good strikers, and I like to be a playmaker and a scorer second,” he said. “But if I have the ball at my feet, I’m not afraid to take the shot.”

Birkelbach, who debuted MSU’s program last season and led the Cougars to a 5-11 record, now has an interesting problem.

Who’s going to do free kicks — Cottle or returning standout Ali Katrib?

“I get to make the decision,” Birkelbach said. “Lucky me.”

Turner, steady at sweeper for Woodrow, can’t wait to hit the pitch for the Cougars.

“I’m pretty stoked about it,” he said. “I feel this team can go somewhere.”

Turner has been lifting weights, hoping to get stronger for the more physical college style of play.

“Chaz wants to get better and will improve every year,” Birkelbach said. “He’s a good sweeper and that’s what I need. He did a great job running the defense for Woodrow.”

Randall brings a physical presence to the Cougars.

“Eric wants to make a hard tackle, and that’s what you need — defenders who forwards are scared to come around,” Birkelbach said.

Contact is what Randall likes.

“I like to get physical. It’s hard to make a clean, hard tackle,” he said. “I just act like I’m going for the ball. If you get a piece of the guy’s leg, it happens.”

Mountain State will compete in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference next season, opening its campaign with two games at the Kentucky Christian Classic Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.