SACRAMENTO — Four Sacramento natives who were products of the Sacramento Republic FC Academy have returned to the capital city as Sacramento State head coach Michael Linenberger announced the addition of four more student-athletes to the roster for the 2024 season on Friday.

Three of the four are transfers from other Division I programs as Sean Battistessa comes home after signing with Kentucky out of Bella Vista HS, Gio Ceja returns to California after spending the 2022 season across the country at NC State, while Donovan Sessoms will have his homecoming after spending 2022 at UNLV. The fourth addition, Jonathan Dadzie, is a 2022 graduate of Elk Grove Charter School.

"We lost nine seniors plus three other players that have entered the transfer portal, so we have a large group of new players coming in," Linenberger said. "We are excited about adding these four players to our program starting in the spring."

The quartet joins a pair of freshmen, Hiroshi Yang and Silvestre Cahue, who inked National Letters of Intent with the Hornets during the NCAA's early signing period back in November to bring this year's recruiting class up to six.

Brief bios on all four newcomers, in alphabetical order, are below.

SEAN BATTISTESSA
6-3 / 185
Midfielder/Forward
Fair Oaks, Calif.
Bella Vista HS / Kentucky
Sacramento Republic FC Academy

PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Signed with Kentucky out of high school in 2022… As a senior for the Broncos, finished with a league-high 19 goals and 7 assists in 13 matches… Earned All-Capital Valley Conference and league MVP honors… Helped the Broncos to a league title that year… Earned All-Metro honors from the Sacramento Bee as a senior… Played five years with the Sacramento Republic FC Academy… Parents are Mike and Kim… Has a brother, Evan… Father played soccer at Cal Poly.

Coach Linenberger said: "Sean is an athletic forward that is a threat to run behind the defense, but he can also play with his back to goal and be a link up player. He originally committed to Kentucky, but he decided that he wanted to get back to California. We expect him to score goals for us immediately."

GIO CEJA
5-11 / 165
Defender
Merced, Calif.
El Capitan HS / NC State
Sacramento Republic FC Academy

PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Spent the 2022 season on the roster at NC State… Did not play high school soccer, instead focusing on his career with the Sacramento Republic FC Academy team for six years beginning in 2016… Played there alongside future Hornet teammates Fernando Venegas and Jonathan Dadzie… Reached the semifinals of a MLS NEXT event in 2021… Trained and appeared in preseason matches with the first team… Served as a team co-captain… Parents are Bernardino and Cecilia… Has two brothers, Roberto and Yandel, and a sister, Bercy… Also drew interest from UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, Oregon State, and Georgetown out of high school.

Coach Linenberger said: "Gio is a left-footed holding midfielder or center back that has a very high soccer IQ and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He is a transfer from NC State, so he has a year of experience in the ACC, which is typically thought of as the best men's soccer conference in the country. We expect him to have an immediate impact."

JONATHAN DADZIE
6-0 / 175
Defender
Sacramento, Calif.
Elk Grove Charter School
Sacramento Republic FC Academy

PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Joined the Sac Republic Academy in 2015 and, after a brief stint with FC Dallas, returned to Sacramento… Member of the Sac Republic Academy's U19 MLS NEXT Cup U19 squad that reached the semifinals and scored in his first appearance… Mother is Karen Dunning… Has two brothers, Samuel and Benjamin.

Coach Linenberger said: "Jonathan he is a very athletic and tough center back. He had a very good youth career, spending time with FC Dallas and the Sacramento Republic academies. He had some injuries that affected his minutes over the past couple of years, but he is healthy again and we expect him to come in and challenge immediately for a starting spot at the center back position."

DONOVAN SESSOMS
5-10 / 170
Forward
Sacramento, Calif.
Antelope HS / UNLV
Sacramento Republic FC Academy

PRIOR TO SACRAMENTO STATE
Played his freshman year at UNLV in 2022, appearing in 14 matches and scoring his first collegiate goal against Pacific on Sept. 15… Took a career-high four shots in his collegiate debut against Santa Clara on Aug. 25… Scored 26 goals as a sophomore for his Antelope HS team in 2018… Spent eight years with the Sacramento Republic FC Academy… Parents are Anthony and Sariah… Has a brother, Tristan, and three sisters, Jillian, Kierah, and Alexi.

Coach Linenberger said: "Donovan is a left-footed player that is very athletic and he can play multiple positions. He is a transfer from UNLV, so he already has a valuable year of experience at the Division I level. He should get significant minutes right away."