Nebraska Wesleyan University Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ted Bulling has released the names of 31 recruits who plan to compete in cross country and/or track and field while attending NWU in 2008-09.

"I am very excited to have these student-athletes enter our program,” Bulling said. “We have added a strong men's and women's distance group who will have an immediate impact this fall during cross country. The sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers and throwers will be a great addition when the track season rolls around."

The recruiting class includes several athletes who placed at the 2007-08 Nebraska State Cross Country & Track Championships. Included in the group are: Malaina Huebert (2nd, C, 3200, 6th, C, 1600), Ben Paben (3rd, B, XC), Mike Pettiford (3rd, A, 400), Brandon Schlautman (4th, A, 800, 4th, B, XC), Devan Walsh (3rd, A, Triple Jump), Michael Rathje (7th, A, 3200) and Jordan Rector (7th, B, XC). Several other athletes also placed in their respective classes.

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

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

2008-09 Recruiting Class

Athlete, Event(s), (Previous School)
Jay Anderson, Distance, (Lincoln Southwest H.S.)
Bobby Brown, Distance, (Lincoln Lutheran H.S.)
Ryan Dostal, Distance, (Ralston H.S.)
Ashley Ermer, Distance, (York H.S.)
Andy Gallagher, Throws, (Chadron State)
Evan Harpster, Distance, (Fremont H.S.)
Zach Harsin, Distance, (Blair H.S.)
Jace Heiden, Throws, (Bertrand H.S.)
Malaina Huebert, Distance, (Heartland H.S.)
Hannah Johnson, Distance, (Ainsworth H.S.)
Megan Kautz, Distance, (Gering H.S.)
Hannah Kinberg, Distance, (Lincoln East H.S.)
Tanya Krof, Distance, (Millard South H.S.)
Joe Manley, Jumps, (Lincoln Christian H.S.)
Cole Marolf, Distance, (Norris H.S.)
Harry Meginnis, Sprints, (Lincoln East H.S.)
Kevin Meyer, Sprints, (Lincoln East H.S.)
Katie Nelson, Distance, (Lincoln Southeast H.S.)
Ben Paben, Distance, (Beatrice H.S.)
Mike Pettiford, Sprints, (Lincoln Southeast H.S.)
Michael Rathje, Distance, (Lincoln Northeast H.S.)
Jordan Rector, Distance, (Beatrice H.S.)
Nick Sawyer, Sprints, (Lincoln Southwest H.S.)
Brandon Schlautman, Distance, (Lincoln Pius X H.S.)
Katie Schoen, Hurdles/High Jump, (Freeman H.S.)
Jacob Smrcina, Distance, (Fremont H.S.)
Melissa Sorensen, Hurdles, (Orchard H.S.)
Josh Wall, Sprints, (Perkins County H.S.)
Devan Walsh, Jumps, (Elkhorn H.S.)
Paul Watley, Distance, (Lincoln Christian H.S.)
Denae Wolken, Distance, (Freeman H.S.)

MEDIA REMINDER: Nebraska Wesleyan University does NOT give athletic scholarships or sign national letters of intent.