WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- The word came through a tweet Tuesday afternoon as Midwestern State senior defender Kalen Ryden followed the Major League Soccer Super Draft.
 
"I received a phone call on Sunday to kinda prepare me for this to happen today but nothing was for sure," he said. "I just froze. We just stood up and starting cheering. After that it was pure joy."
 
That is exactly how word came that the Columbus Crew had made Ryden the seventh pick of the fourth round. Now, he will have to hit the ground running.
 
"I will be flying out to Columbus tomorrow for take physicals, and then the team flies out to start preseason camp," Ryden said. "It's been an anxious 48 hours."
 
Ryden helped MSU to consecutive NCAA Division II postseason appearances making 27 starts at center back for the Mustangs while garnering first-team All-South Central Region honors from the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America as a senior last fall.
 
"Kalen's collegiate success ultimately led to him being drafted," Columbus Crew assistant coach Pat Onstad said in an email to MSU coach Doug Elder. "Kalen comes to us highly recommended by our USL affiliate's head coach. We are excited to bring him into camp and assess the best level for him to develop his career."
 
The 6-2, 200-pound Norman, Okla. native enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with the Austin Aztex of the USL Premiere Development League last season scoring three goals and dishing out an assist in 14 appearances to earn the club's defensive player of the year honor and was a PDL Southern all-conference selection.
 
Ryden becomes just the second Midwestern State player selected in the MLS Draft joining former All American Daniel Woolard.
 
Woolard was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Chicago Fire. He went on to make 16 appearances with the Fire from 2007-09 before making his return to the United States' top professional league with D.C. United making 69 appearances for the Black and Red from 2011-13.