sacramento, california – Sacramento Republic FC announced Thursday that the club has signed defender Shane Wheat for the 2023 USL Championship season. The signing is pending league and federation approval and the terms of the deal were not disclosed per club policy.
“Shane brings a physical presence to our backline and a cool touch on the ball that will fit our style of play,” said Republic FC president and general manager Todd Dunivant. . “His work ethic and mentality are what have stood out the most for us, and we think he is a natural fit for Sacramento.”
Wheat has spent the past two seasons with fellow USL Championship Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, leading the Hounds to a postseason berth as part of a strong defensive team. In 2022, the defender appeared in a career-high 35 games in all competitions, leading the team in tackle successes (35) and interceptions (71) where he ranked second.
Throughout the season, he was named to three USL Championship Teams of the Week and was a key member of a defensive unit that kept 11 clean sheets. In 2021, he was part of the back line that allowed the third fewest shots and third fewest goals in the entire league.
Vito’s signing with Republic FC will see him join a core of 17 returning players from the club’s 2022 roster and reunite with two former teammates. He appeared in each of his two seasons at Steel City alongside forward Russell Cicerone, who signed with the club in December. Wiedt, Cicerone, and current goaltender Danny Vitiello have all shared pitches with Pittsburgh in 2021.
Prior to joining Pittsburgh, he spent two seasons with Loudoun United FC. After recording seven appearances in his first professional campaign of 2019, the defender was one of the club’s top contributors during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. 13), minutes (1,040) and interceptions (24) to finish the season.
Wiedt played four seasons at the college level at the University of Akron and the University of Pittsburgh. After a redshirt freshman season with Akron, he appeared in his 32 games with the Zips from his 2015 to his 2017, recording over 1,700 minutes. His junior season saw the team reach the semi-finals of his 2017 NCAA D1 College Cup, losing to eventual champion Stanford. He played his senior season at the University of Pittsburgh, helping the Panthers reach the ACC Tournament quarterfinals.
