Klugman looking forward to joining Barton Community College soccer

Louisburg’s Brecon Klugman will look to improve in goal this upcoming season with the Barton Community College soccer program. Klugman is coming off a senior season where he helped the Wildcats to the regional title game.

Brecon Klugman didn’t grow up wanting to play soccer in college, and it wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he even knew much about the goalie position.

However, after a successful senior season in goal with the Louisburg High School program, Klugman has gotten the chance to take his talent to the collegiate level. 

A series of events led him to Barton Community College, where he will join the Cougars next fall in hopes of growing even more in the sport. Klugman signed his letter of intent with the school late last spring.

“I am very blessed and honored to play at this high of a level coming from Louisburg,” Klugman said. “Right after junior year, I felt like if I wanted to play college soccer I had to put in a lot of work in the off season and my teammates are part of the reason why I have gotten better. During that off-season we would go to the field every other day kicking the ball around. It just built such a special bond between all of us.”

Klugman had never played in goal at the high school level prior to his junior season and didn’t come with much knowledge of the position. After serving as the JV goalie as a junior, a starting spot opened up for his senior season and the rest is history.

He helped the Wildcats to the regional championship game and caught the eyes of a lot of coaches around the Frontier League. 

In his first year as a varsity goalie, Klugman thrived for the Wildcats as he finished with 113 saves and finished with six shutouts on the season. His save number was the second highest total in program history for a season.

That earned him second team All-Frontier League honors and was also named honorable mention all-state.

“Playing goalie is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Klugman said. “In high school there were always ups and downs, but I learned a lot and still need improvement. The Barton goalkeepers that were there last year are back and they will help me get better.”

Klugman will join a very successful Barton program as the Cougars finished as the No. 11 team in the nation and were the Jayhawk West Conference Champions.

With all that success, Klugman is excited to get going with his new team.

“The people at Barton just welcomed me in such a nice way and the coach is a very cool guy to be around,” Klugman said. “Also, being able to play for one of the best JUCO soccer teams is just special and cannot wait for the season to start.”

Klugman knows he will have to pay his dues to get the playing time he is hoping for, but he is looking forward to the journey that lies ahead.

“For right now I expect myself to get some playing time in the spring in exhibition matches and then hope to start by my sophomore year,” he said. “I’m super excited to meet so many new people, teammates and getting on the campus.”

As exciting as his future is, Klugman relishes his time with the Wildcat program as it put him on his current trajectory.

“I will never forget when I asked my teammates on the last day of tryouts my junior year if I should tryout for goalie and it was a now or never situation,” Klugman said. “They encouraged me at the last second to do so. I am very grateful for all my teammates, coach (Bobby) Bovaird and coach (Ben) York. I have gotten to learn so much from them and they have put me on this path to getting better at the sport I love most.”