Whiz "Kid": Alex Riggs Turns Pro

 graduate Alex Riggs is taking his talents to Columbus.

Riggs, a soccer goalkeeper, signed with the Columbus Crew of the MLS to keep his soccer career going.

Riggs, 22, played collegiality at Missouri State University. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010 and in 2009 was chosen as the Defensive Player of the Year in the conference. He earned an All-MVC first team selection his senior season for the third time in his career. In 2010, he led the conferences in goals against average (0.73), save percentage (.854) and shutouts (9), with six of his shutouts coming in conference games.

The 6-foot-4 keeper led Fort Zumwalt South High to a 25-4-1 record and a Gateway Athletic Conference Championship and district championship as a senior. He holds the career record for shutouts (31) and was 51-12-3 while with the Bulldogs. Riggs earned first team all-conference, third team all-metro, and honorable mention all-state honors as a senior. During his junior year, Riggs recorded 14 shutouts and was named to the all-conference second team and was an all-metro honorable mention.

Riggs holds the school record for most varsity shutouts, with 31, and led his team to a 51-12-3 record over his career.

The newest member of the Crew is the son of Gary and Karen Rigg.