Nishibun commits to Guilford College

Harper College standout Bree Nishibun has verbally committed to the women’s soccer program at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C.

The NCAA Division III school plays in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

Nishibun felt the school was a ”good fit.”

Having a junior college transfer on the roster will be nothing new to Guilford coach Eric Lewis, now in his 11th season guiding the Quakers. Last season, his team had three former juco players, all three from Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, MD.

Nishibun, a Fremd High School grad, plans to make her official visit to the school in February.

Lewis spotted Nishibun during Harper’s performance in the NJCAA national tournament in the fall. That turned out to be a good place to see her talents.

Nishibun described her effort there as, “all out — this could be my last year playing (competitive soccer).”

The sophomore defender finished the season with 6 goals, including 2 in the national tournament.

In early December, Nishibun was named an NJCAA Division III All-American. She was twice named an NJCAA Division III all-Region IV pick, and twice named to the North Central Community College Conference all-league team.

At first Lewis had no way to contact the sophomore defender, but that changed with a chance encounter with Hawks assistant coach Katie Klimczak. The two coaches knew one another from Klimczak’s playing days at North Carolina.

“I was really lucky,” Nishibun said of the connection.

Nishibun holds a 3.85 GPA and will study physical therapy and kinesiology.

“It’s time to go out on my adventure,” Nishibun said.