Wilhelms, 2 San Diego Players Picked by Sockers

The Sockers selected two local players--Paul Wright of Grossmont High School and Patrick “Bo” Kaemerle of the University of San Diego--in the four-round Major Indoor Soccer League draft in Cleveland Wednesday.

The Sockers’ first-round pick, seventh overall, was Ralf Wilhelms, a defender from Foothill College in Los Altos, Calif.

“In my opinion, (San Diego) is the team to play for because no other team has a history like San Diego’s,” the West German-born Wilhelms said. “I had hoped San Diego would choose me.”

Wright, 17, a forward who graduated from Grossmont last week, was the Sockers’ second-round choice and was the youngest player selected.

Socker Coach Ron Newman has been scouting Wright, a member of the San Diego Nomad soccer team, for the past two years.

“I’m going to have my work cut out for me,” said Wright. “If I don’t make (the team) this year, I will next year.”

Rod Castro, a forward from Indiana University, was the Sockers’ third-round choice. They attempted to sign Castro in 1983, but he decided to attend college instead.

Kaemerle was selected in the fourth round. A forward, he led USD in goals scored each of his four years, including 19 goals and 10 assists last season.