Nebraska Wesleyan University Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ted Bulling has released the names of 27 recruits who plan to compete in cross country and/or track and field while attending NWU in 2009-10.The recruiting class includes several athletes who placed at the 2009 Nebraska State Track Championships.  Highlighting the group is John Kersenbrock from O’Neil St. Mary’s who won four gold medals, Taylor Tacha from Bertrand who won three state championships including the all class gold in the 300 hurdles and Jack Chatelain from Kearney who earned three medals and was a main cog in Kearney’s state championship team.    

Other standout athletes include: Erin Twibell who was the Class D 100 champion, Jerry Lobeda who earned medals in the Class B 100 and 200, Bailey Soucie who had two medals in the Class C Throws and Mindi Schlautman who was the runner-up in the Class C Discus.

The NWU men’s cross country team has won nine of the last 10 conference championships, while the NWU women’s cross country team has won seven of the last eight conference titles.

In track & field, the Prairie Wolves men have won 19 of the last 21 conference crowns, while the women have finished in the top 20 at the NCAA III Championships 22 times since 1989.

2009-10 Recruiting Class

Athlete, Event(s), (Previous School)

Phil Bakken, Distance, (Fremont H.S.)

Derek Bowers, Jumps, (Arnold H.S.)

David Bush, Sprints, (Colorado Springs Christian H.S.)

Jack Chatelain, Hurdles, (Kearney H.S.)

Amanda Costello, Distance, (Lincoln H.S.)

Deanna Dirkschneider, Throws, (North Bend H.S.)

Jordan Duncan, High Jump, (Gibbon H.S.)

Kayla Franzluebbers, Throws, (Dodge H.S.)

Dan Haden, Distance, (Aurora H.S.)

Jake Harris, Throws, (Lincoln Northeast H.S.)

Jordan Janda, Sprints, (Columbus Scotus H.S.)

John Kersenbrock, Sprints/Jumps, (St. Mary’s H.S.)

Johnny Landell, High Jump, (Hastings H.S.)

Jerry Lobeda, Sprints, (Aurora H.S.)

Alex Markham, Distance, (Columbus H.S.)

Meleia Oestmann, Distance, (Auburn H.S.)

Griffin Perry, Sprints, (Lincoln Southwest H.S.)

Jami Pritschau, Sprints, (Norris H.S.)

Jasmine Rector, High Jump, (Rolla (Mo.) H.S.)

Mindi Schlautman, Throws, (Howells H.S.)

Bailey Soucie, Throws, (Cambridge H.S.)

Taylor Tacha, Hurdles, (Bertrand H.S.)

Erin Twibell, Sprints, (Orchard H.S.)

Kirk Vodicka, Throws, (Shelby H.S.)

Cody Webben, Hurdles, (Shelton H.S.)

Sarah Wheeldon, Mid-Distance, (Schuyler H.S.)

Carrie Wiese, Distance, (Columbus H.S.)

* Attention Media: Nebraska Wesleyan University is affiliated with the NCAA as a Division III member institution and does not give athletic scholarships or sign national letters of intent.