Nebraska Wesleyan University Director of Track & Cross Country Dr. Ted Bulling has released the names of 34 recruits who plan to compete in cross country and/or track and field while attending NWU in 2006-07.
“I feel extremely pleased about our class for next year,” Bulling said. “Every one of our incoming student-athletes will make a contribution to our program.”
“I might be most excited about our women’s class. Without a doubt, our new women have the most potential of any class we have recruited in a number of years,” Bulling said. “Our men’s class is also solid. You will see many of these guys have a lot of success early in their careers.”
The recruiting class includes five state champions, including Anne Kersenbrock (Class D 400-meter dash), Nathan Leonard (All-Class long jump), Lauren Liebig (Class C 4x800 relay), Eric Noel (Class A 4x800 relay) and Mikaela Richard (Class A high jump).
The Nebraska Wesleyan men have won six of the last seven conference team titles in men’s cross country and have placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Division III Championships seven times in the last eight years. NWU’s women shared the league title in 2005 and have qualified as a team for the NCAA Div. III Championships in eight of the last 10 seasons, which includes four top-10 finishes.
In track and field, Nebraska Wesleyan’s men have won 34 of the past 36 conference team crowns, including 18 in a row outdoors, and have placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Div. III Championships in 19 of the last 22 years. The women have 13 top-10 finishes in Div. III since 1989.
Men, High School, Event(s)
Mike Bandy, Millard West, Distance
Brian Copley, Syracuse, Distance
Andy Coppersmith, Wallace, Sprints
Chase Edwards, Ogallala, Distance
Nick Green, Lincoln Christian, Jumps
Mike Herz, Madison, Distance
Andrew Kletchka, Lincoln Southwest, Hurdles
Mike Kratz, Waverly, Sprints
Andrew Laflin, Norris, Distance
Nathan Leonard, Fremont, Jumps
Chris Moen, Wapsie Valley (Iowa), Distance
Eric Noel, Lincoln North Star, Distance
Jake Riha, Grand Island, Throws
Nathan Smith, Holdrege, Sprints
Eric Smoyer, Grand Island Northwest, High Jump
Jake Tranmer, Wahoo Neumann, Throws
Kyle Wagner, Fairbury, Distance
Neil Wolford, Adams Central, Distance
Women, High School, Event(s)
Brittny Barber, Fairbury, Jumps/Sprints
Holly Carr, Wilcox-Hildreth, Hurdles
Ashley Faubel, Lincoln Southwest, Sprints
Rachel Garrett, Lincoln Southwest, Hurdles
Jessica Holliday, Gering, Distance
Anne Kersenbrock, O’Neill St. Mary’s, Sprints
Lauren Liebig, Kearney Catholic, Distance
Megan Mejstrik, Schuyler Central, Jumps
Mikaela Richard, Lincoln Northeast, High Jump
Mary Seeling, St. Charles (Mo.), Distance
Kalin Snowdon, Niobrara/Santee, Jumps/Hurdles
Alea Speer, Minden, Hurdles/Sprints
Jackie Spelts, Burwell, Distance
Kelsey Steinmeyer, Lincoln Lutheran, Middle Distance
Abby Tranel, Hampton, Distance
Brooke Valentine, Pleasanton, Hurdles
MEDIA REMINDER: Nebraska Wesleyan University does NOT give athletic scholarships or sign national letters of intent.
