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It didn't cost a lot to take the recruiting trip to his own backyard, but that didn't make it easy for Rich Manning.
When it came to convincing all-state defender Megan Trabert from East High to play her college soccer five minutes away from her house, his work was cut out for him. She started out by telling the Utah soccer coach she was set on playing out of state.
Then she did her own scouting.
"It's hilarious because I'm at the closest school possible now," she said. "As I looked out of state, it became more clear this was the place for me. I'm very glad I stayed."
So are the Utes (7-2-3, 0-2-1), who have benefitted greatly from a pipeline that stretches all of two miles. The East High Leopards might be the best thing to happen to Manning's back line.
There's Trabert, junior captain, who turns away opponents attacks with mechanical efficiency. Sophomore Audrey Gibb has already made an impact in her first year in the program as a defender who can make dynamic runs upfield. Freshman Janie Kearl, filling in minutes as a reserve, has been a plus player at outside back while helping cover for injured Utes.
Maybe Manning should send East coach Rudy Schenk a thank-you card.
"I do know the kids at East work hard, they're good teammates, and they like soccer," Manning said. "That's a good common thread. We've had really good success with those kids."
The Utes are looking forward to more success this year, particularly with Trabert and Gibb sharing the pitch again. The two have played together since they were seven years old, through rec league, club with the Utah Avalanche, Utah's Olympic Development Program, and of course at East. As seniors, the tandem led the Leopards to the Class 4A semifinals, and they won four straight region championships during their prep careers.
But there they split: Gibb went off to Oregon State while Trabert stayed in Salt Lake City. An injury kept Gibb out her first year in Corvallis, then in her second year, she began privately rethinking her choice to go out of state. Trabert didn't know it at the time, but in their conversations about their respective teams, Gibb started to feel the tug of playing at Utah.
"She actually didn't know I was thinking about transferring until I had already come and visited with Rich." Gibb said. "It kind of caught everybody off guard. She was like, 'What?' But the past two years, she had said only good things, so it made me definitely more inclined to look at Utah."
So far, it's been a good change. Knowing the local players gave Gibb a "safe space" where she had some familiarity. Being a transfer is tough enough without having to worry about whether your new teammates are getting to know you.
Manning said he sees Gibb still working hard to prove her place on the team. She said it already feels like home - and not just because she's a corner kick away from where she grew up.
"They welcomed me with open arms and adopted me as part of the family," she said. "As a transfer, you can't ask for more than that."
All three of the East alums find joy in living and playing soccer among neighbors, school mates and friends they've know their whole lives. Games are as much family get-togethers as competitions.
They're also happy to continue the tradition of locals flowing through the program.
"I think East players have a reputation of working really hard," Kearl said. "That's really important in college, just the hard work ethic."
This weekend, Utah will try to rebound from its two-loss trip to Los Angeles by knocking out the Pac-12 competition in Oregon. Gibb will be walking on her old field, seeing her old teammates, finding her old home is enemy territory.
But her new home - really, the place she's always called home - gives her all the more confidence.
"I'm really excited, see some of my old teammates, as well as be back in Corvallis, because that was my home for two years," she said. "But I'm excited to go up with the team I'm part of now and be able to take pride in being a Ute and have fun."
Utah has three defenders who graduated from East High
Megan Trabert, jr. — 12 starts, 2 goals, 1 assist
Audrey Gibb, soph. — 11 starts, 1 goal
Janie Kearl, fr. — seen action in 10 games