“Wild” Wes Wade Retiring

Kansas City, MO – Indoor soccer veteran Wes Wade will be wearing his No. 24 jersey this Saturday in the last regular season game of his career. He is retiring after 16 seasons of indoor soccer and 12 seasons as a member of the Kansas City Attack and Comets.

A special ceremony honoring Wade will take place at halftime of the game, which pits the Comets against the San Diego Sockers. It will be a fitting opponent for Wade. He started his indoor soccer career in 1989 with the San Diego Sockers of the original Major Indoor Soccer League and won his first title as a member of the Sockers in his rookie season.

“(Playing against San Diego in the last game) worked out kind of neat,” Wade said. “It’s kind of a full circle thing.”

Wade and the rest of the Comets need a win to cement the Comets into the fifth seed for the playoffs. The team hopes to advance all the way to the MISL Championship. Wade’s career could end just as it began—with a championship.

“A championship would certainly make for a good ending,” said Don Kincaid, owner and president of the Comets. “Our fans, our staff and our team have the goal to win a championship and present Wes with a sixth championship ring. Wes will always be a winner. His qualities—his even demeanor, his professionalism on and of the field and his desire to always compete—have been evident throughout his career.”

The seven-time All-Star was born in Ohio but calls Phoenix, Ariz. his hometown. He graduated from Maryvale High School in 1986 and started his soccer career with the Arizona Condors of the Western Soccer League in 1988. Wade played with the Condors for one season of outdoor soccer before he started his professional indoor career with the San Diego Sockers of the original MISL in 1989.

After the original MISL folded in 1992, Wade thought he was finished with soccer until the Wichita Wings of the National Professional Soccer League offered him a 15-day contract. From there, he played for the Detroit Rockers for two months before he was traded to the Kansas City Attack. He’s been with Kansas City ever since.

“Wes has been such a great teammate,” said fellow veteran Jeff Davis, who has played with Wade for seven seasons. “It’s been my pleasure and honor to play with a guy who’s won so many championships and played at such a high level. He’s been such a great ambassador for soccer in Kansas City and for the Comets.”

Wade owns five championship rings—three from his first three years with the Sockers and two as a member of the Kansas City Attack (1992-93 and 1996-97). He holds numerous records within the Comets organization including most games played (400), points (1,002), goals (278), assists (436) and blocks (409).

Wade lives in Kansas City with his wife, Monica, and their two sons, Taybor, 19 months, and Zane, who turns 5 on Monday.

WES WADE’S VITALS:

BORN: 2.18.68 in Ohio

HEIGHT: 6-0

HOMETOWN: Phoenix, Arizona

WEIGHT: 185

2003-04: Scored two game-winning goals in overtime (against Philadelphia on January 10 and against Monterrey on March 28)…Named MISL’s Offensive Player of the Week for the seven-day period ending on March 28…Wade’s best defensive effort was four blocks against St. Louis on December 26 and best offensive effort was against Monterrey on March 28 (two goals and two assists for four points).

CAREER HONORS: Seven-time All-Star…Named to six All-League teams: three as a forward: (1993-94,1994-95 and 1999-2000) and three as a defender (1996-97, 1997-98, 2000-01)…Member of five championship teams: three with the San Diego Sockers of original MISL (1989-90, 1990-91 and 91-92) and two with the Kansas City Attack (1992-93 and 1996-97)…One of only two players in indoor soccer history to have recorded over 500 blocks and 500 assists.

KANSAS CITY FRANCHISE RECORDS HELD (REGULAR SEASON)

· GAMES PLAYED- 400

· POINTS- 1,002

· ASSISTS- 436

· BLOCKS- 409

· GOALS- 278

· GAME-WINNING GOALS- 26

PLACE AMONG ALL-TIME INDOOR SOCCER LEADERS

· Seventh IN ASSISTS- 506

· 14TH IN GAMES PLAYED- 575

PLACE AMONG ALL-TIME INDOOR SOCCER LEADERS WITH ONE FRANCHISE

· 10TH IN GAMES PLAYED- 400

· FOURTH IN ASSISTS- 436

· FIFTH IN POINTS (GOALS + ASSISTS)- 714

CAREER STATISTICS IN INDOOR SOCCER (THROUGH MARCH 30, 2004)

YEAR TEAM GP 3PG 2PG 1PG GLS A PTS BL

89-90 San Diego 46 9 6 15 19

90-91 San Diego 48 21 15 36 27

91-92 San Diego 39 14 8 22 27

92-93 Wich/Det/KC 26 5 18 1 24 26 78 25

93-94 Kansas City 20 3 17 1 21 25 69 18

1993 Ariz. Sandsharks 27 39 25 64 34

94-95 Kansas City 40 5 29 9 43 71 153 36

95-96 Kansas City 40 1 24 0 25 47 98 31

96-97 Kansas City 40 4 15 3 22 52 97 34

97-98 Kansas City 36 3 11 1 15 37 69 45

98-99 Kansas City 31 5 35 1 31 31 97 21

99-00 Kansas City 42 3 37 0 40 56 139 46

00-01 Kansas City 37 2 23 0 25 30 82 68

01-02 Kansas City 40 3 28 0 31 45 110 25

02-03 Kansas City 36 1 8 - 9 19 38 56

03-04 Kansas City 27 - - - 7 13 20 21

TOTALS 575 35 245 16 376 506 1187 533

For more information, please contact Beth Kapp, manager of media and community relations at 816-474-2255 ext. 226 or by email at [email protected].