KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Wizards General Manager Curt Johnson announced today the signing of 2006 Supplemental Draft pick Ryan McMahan and discovery player Sergei Raad to developmental contracts. The Wizards have also promoted a trio of players, Ryan Raybould, Matt Groenwald, and Tyson Wahl, from developmental contracts to the 18-man senior roster.
"I am pleased for Ryan Raybould as he has worked very hard for this roster spot. He is a Johnson County and Rockhurst High School product. It is especially gratifying to see one of Kansas City's own work his way up the ladder," said Johnson. "Matt Groenwald, Tyson Wahl, Sergei Raad and Ryan McMahan all will be looked upon to contribute right away. They will have opportunities immediately with our first team and/or our reserve division games."
McMahen was selected in the second round of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft and was taken with the 16th overall pick out of Michigan State. Named an All-American as a senior, McMahen led the Spartans to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and the Big Ten Tournament title in 2004.
A former collegiate player at Furman where he was a teammate of MLS players Clint Dempsey and Drew Moor in 2002, Raad spent time in the A-League with the now defunct Calgary Mustangs starting 20 of 28 matches in 2004. He has since trained in Russia, his place of birth, although he is a U.S. citizen by adoption.
Kansas City Legends product Raybould, a developmental player in 2005 after being drafted out of Yale University, has made the jump up to the senior roster in 2006 where he is joined by 2006 draft selections Wahl and Groenwald. Originally signed to developmental contracts on March 1st, Groenwald and Wahl will begin their first professional season on the senior roster this Saturday, April 1st against the Columbus Crew.
