Texas Tech University Athletics
Denesik Becomes Third Senior This Year to Go Pro
March 06, 2019 | Women's Soccer
Co-captain Brooke Denesik signs deal with BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan.
LUBBOCK, Texas – All three graduating seniors of Texas Tech's back line from last year have officially gone pro with the signing of Brooke Denesik to BIIK Kazygurt in Kazakhstan. Denesik's new squad is the 11-time and reigning champion of the Kazakhstani Women's Football Championship and is a regular qualifier in the UEFA Champions League.
Head coach Tom Stone, who has now coached 12 Red Raiders to the pros in his 12 years at Tech, was excited Denesik, who is the first and only Red Raider he has signed from Arizona.
"Brooke will make a great professional," he said. "She is super committed to her craft and will truly relish this opportunity to live out her dream."
Denesik's dream is not only to play professionally, but be one of the dozen-plus pro Red Raiders that continue to put Tech on the map as a program that churns out pro-level talent.
"I am very grateful to get the opportunity to play in one of the top leagues in the world," she said. "I do not plan on taking that lightly – I want to show them what Texas Tech is about."
Denesik spent her time post-graduation exploring opportunities with some NWSL squads, but it was ultimately her desire to play abroad that led her to the Khazakhstani powerhouse.
"This part of the world is very unfamiliar to me, but that makes it all the more of an adventure," she said.
Denesik started in all 22 games for the Red Raiders in 2018. Under her leadership, the back line racked up 14 shutouts – the most in the Big 12 and third-most in the country. Tech knocked off a program-best four opponents, all of whom were shut out. Her lone point of her senior season came on one of the most crucial goals the team scored all year long. Down 1-0 at Kansas with less than 90 seconds remaining, Denesik lofted a perfect free kick to Cassie Hiatt, who headed it in for the game-tying goal. The Red Raiders would win the game just a minute into overtime to stun the Jayhawks in Lawrence.
Denesik's career at Tech included 81 games, making her a mainstay in Stone's lineup for all four years at the outside back position. Denesik contributes her success at the position to the culture at Tech.
"Texas Tech helped develop me into the player I am," she said. "I feel confident in my abilities because of the high caliber that my teammates and coaches have pushed me to train these past four years. I am sad to leave Tech, but I feel confident and prepared because of my time here."
Denesik's success on the pitch was matched by her success in the classroom, too. The Anthem, Ariz., native was a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She has twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-District recognition, and in 2018 became Tech's fourth-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Head coach Tom Stone, who has now coached 12 Red Raiders to the pros in his 12 years at Tech, was excited Denesik, who is the first and only Red Raider he has signed from Arizona.
"Brooke will make a great professional," he said. "She is super committed to her craft and will truly relish this opportunity to live out her dream."
Denesik's dream is not only to play professionally, but be one of the dozen-plus pro Red Raiders that continue to put Tech on the map as a program that churns out pro-level talent.
"I am very grateful to get the opportunity to play in one of the top leagues in the world," she said. "I do not plan on taking that lightly – I want to show them what Texas Tech is about."
Denesik spent her time post-graduation exploring opportunities with some NWSL squads, but it was ultimately her desire to play abroad that led her to the Khazakhstani powerhouse.
"This part of the world is very unfamiliar to me, but that makes it all the more of an adventure," she said.
Denesik started in all 22 games for the Red Raiders in 2018. Under her leadership, the back line racked up 14 shutouts – the most in the Big 12 and third-most in the country. Tech knocked off a program-best four opponents, all of whom were shut out. Her lone point of her senior season came on one of the most crucial goals the team scored all year long. Down 1-0 at Kansas with less than 90 seconds remaining, Denesik lofted a perfect free kick to Cassie Hiatt, who headed it in for the game-tying goal. The Red Raiders would win the game just a minute into overtime to stun the Jayhawks in Lawrence.
Denesik's career at Tech included 81 games, making her a mainstay in Stone's lineup for all four years at the outside back position. Denesik contributes her success at the position to the culture at Tech.
"Texas Tech helped develop me into the player I am," she said. "I feel confident in my abilities because of the high caliber that my teammates and coaches have pushed me to train these past four years. I am sad to leave Tech, but I feel confident and prepared because of my time here."
Denesik's success on the pitch was matched by her success in the classroom, too. The Anthem, Ariz., native was a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. She has twice earned CoSIDA Academic All-District recognition, and in 2018 became Tech's fourth-ever CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Players Mentioned
Defender
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