Outlook
Enrique Mercado becomes the first player to hail from Newton, Kansas … Really crafty, technical winger that loves to drive  at players an create scoring opportunities for himself and teammates … Coaches are excited to watch him develop over the next two years.

Freshman Year 2025
Helped JCCC to a 13-5-4 record, a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Division II runner-up finish, a Region 6 Division II Championship – the first since 2005 - a Plains District Division II Runner-up finish and a No. 15 ranking in the NJCAA D-II Poll … Played in seven matches … Was part of a defensive unit that produced eight shutouts, which led the conference and ranked 13^th nationally … The defense also had the second-best goals against average in the conference at 1.36 … That GAA also tied for 26^th in the country.

High School
Was a four-year starter for coach Scott Janzi at Newton High School, Newton, Kan. … Graduated 2025 … Was a three-time 5A All-State by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association … Named honorable mention as a sophomore, second-team as a junior and first-team his senior season … Was a three-time All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League selection … Named honorable mention as a sophomore, second-team as a junior and  first-team as a senior and named Co-MVP… Was also a first-team All-Metro selection his senior year … In 2023 helped lead Newton to the 5A State Tournament for the first time 20 years … The Railroaders went on to finish 17-4-0 and fourth overall … Finished his career with 25 goals and 41 assists for 91 points … Had four goals and four assists as a freshman … Tallied five goals with 10 assists as a sophomore, eight goals with 12 assists as a junior and capped his career with eight goals and 15 assists his senior year … Helped the Railroaders to a record of 52-21-0 over his four seasons … … Played club soccer for Sporting Wichita from 2020-25, coached by Dallas Fiszell … Helped the team win  ECNL League title in 2023.Kansas Scholar.

Personal
Born Enrique Lorenzo Mercado-Arellano on September 18, 2006, in Newton, Kan. … Nickname is Kike … Son of Vicente Mercado and Stacey Arellano … Has five siblings, Ashley, Diego, Kyle, Lance and Maria … Majoring in business and accounting … Also recruited by Fort Hays State University, Bethel College and Cowley College … Favorite food is Mexican … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chick-fil-a … Favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse … Favorite TV show is The Office … Favorite movie is Good Will Hunting … Favorite sports movies are the Rocky trilogy … Favorite actor is Adam Sandler … Favorite book is The Great Gatsby … Favorite music entertainer is Drake … Favorite cartoon character is Spiderman … Favorite athlete is Lamine Yamal … Favorite sports team is FC Barcelona … Greatest sports moment was taking the winning he penalty kick to win regionals for his high school … Best player he has played against is Sporting KC defender Ian James.