TicketsJuly 13, 2006
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, - The University of track and field teams have signed a total of 21 student-athletes to national letters of intent. The men's team will add 12 newcomers, while the women's squad will have nine student-athletes continue their academic and athletic careers at UC. Of the 21 student-athletes to sign with the Bearcats, 18 hail from , including natives Tommy Morgan of and Jonathan Spatz from .
"The 2006 recruiting class will prove to be one of our best ever. Not only did we fill losses in the pole vault and sprints, but we added talented athletes in the distances and the high jump as well," said men's head coach Bill Schnier. "All of our scholarship recruits placed in the state meet with many placing very high. Since we always strive to field a complete, all-around team, this class will keep that tradition alive."
The Bearcat men added two state champions and a national indoor champion as well as five regional champs. The class, comprised of two sprinters, two hurdlers, one middle distance runner, two distance runners, three high jumpers and two pole vaulters, will begin competition in the 2006-07 season.
"Our coaching staff spent a lot of time and energy on this recruiting class and it has rally paid off," commented women's head coach Jim Schnur. "These nine athletes will strengthen our team and add to our depth. We have also received verbal commitments from three student-athletes that will improve the strength of an already superb class. We will be better in every event next season."
A balanced class consisting of a pair of sprinters, two hurdlers, two distance runners, two throwers, and a heptathlete will sport their wares for UC's women's squad. Seven state qualifiers, including two state champions, and a national runner-up highlight the group.
Individual student-athlete information follows.
Men's Signees
Sam Benjamin
Sprints , / HS
2006 state runner up in the 100 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x200 relay...finished fourth in the 200 meters at 2006 state championships...2006 regional champion in 4x200 relay.
Anthony Busselato
High Jump /Hilliard Davidson HS
Fourth-place finisher in high jump at 2006 state championships...2006 district and regional high jump champion.
Brandon Fitch
High Jump , / HS
2006 national indoor high jump champion...2006 district and regional champ in high jump...finished third in high jump at 2006 state championships.
Dayo Igeleke
Sprints , / HS
2004 state champion in 100 meters...finished third in 200 meters at 2005 state championships...2006 state and regional runner-up in 100 meters.
Ernest Kerr
Sprints/Mid-Distance /Collinwood HS
Finished sixth in 400 meters at regional championships...placed fourth in 400 at districts...eighth-place finisher in 800 meters and 4x800 relay at state championships.
Allen Moore
Hurdles Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison HS
2006 state runner-up in 4x400 relay...placed fourth in 4x800 relay at 2006 state championships...2006 district runner-up in 300 hurdles...fourth-place finisher in 300 hurdles at 2006 regional championships.
Tommy Morgan
Distance /Kings HS
Third-place finisher in 2005 cross country state championships...2006 district champion in 3200 meters....third-place finisher in 2006 regional competition (3200 meters)...2006 3200 meters district champion.
Chase Petzinger
Sprints/Hurdles /Twinsburg HS
Helped 4x400 relay team to fifth-place finish at state championships.
Shane Shockey
Pole Vault /Bluffton HS
Produced top pole valt mark (15' 5") in all of in 2006...2006 state runner-up in pole vault...2005 state champ...2006 regional champion and district runner-up.
Jonathan Spatz
High Jump /Indian Hill HS
2006 district champion in high jump...placed third in high jump at regional championships...fifth-place finisher in high jump at 2006 state championships.
Graham Turlington
Distance /Northmont HS
Placed 25th at 2005 state cross country championships.
Elliot Vocke
Pole Vault Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon HS
2006 district and regional pole vault champion...finished third in pole vault at 2005 state championships...placed seventh in pole vault at 2006 state championships.
Women's Signees
Natasha Aguiar
Sprints /Glen Oak HS
Regional qualifier in 400 meters in 2004, 2006...2006 state runner-up in 4x200 relay...school record holder in 400 meters and 4x200 relay...Cincinnatus Scholarship recipient...United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award winner...also played volleyball and ran cross country.
Ashley Arnold
Sprints , / HS
2006 state and regional qualifier in 400 meters, 4x400 relay and 4x800 relay...12th-place finisher in 400 meters at state meet in 2005...2004 state qualifier and regional champion in 400 meters...three-time qualifier for Nike Indoor National Championships in 400 meters...fifth-place finisher in 400 meters at 2005 Ohio Indoor State Championships...finished fourth in 400 at prestigious Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational in 2005.
Krystal Barnhill
Throws , / HS
2006 state champion in shot put...2004 state qualifier in shot put...2006 regional qualifier in discus.
Boudine Bouma
Jumps/Multi /DaVinci HS
Second-place finisher in 100 hurdles at Dutch Junior Championships in 2006...won 60 hurdles, finished second in heptathlon and finished third in 200 meters at 2004 Dutch Junior Championships...placed fourth in heptathlon at 2005 Dutch Junior Championships.
Chelsea Honigford
Dist./Cross Country Van Wert, Ohio/Lincolnview HS
Four-time all-conference performer in cross country...2005 state champion in 800 meters...2004 state runner-up in 800...four-time regional qualifier in both cross country and track...holds school records in 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
Tamara Masters
Dist./Cross Country /Northview HS
Four-time regional qualifier in cross country...finished third at district championships in 2005...two-time regional qualifier in 1600 meters (2004, 2006)...2005 regional qualifier in 3200 meters...Cincinnatus Scholarship recipient.
Emily Taylor
Throws /Bellaire HS
2006 state runner-up in discus...fifth in shot put at 2006 state championships....finished third in shot put and sixth in discus at 2005 state championships.
Sharika Thompson
Hurdles /Helix Charter HS
Two-time state qualifier in 100 and 300 hurdles...three-time league champion in 100 and 300 hurdles...2005 sectional champion in 100 and 300 hurdles...2006 sectional runner-up in 100 hurdles and champion in 300 hurdles...also earned three letters in basketball.
Jennifer VanSickle
Hurdles /Marion Harding HS
Three-time regional qualifier in 300 hurdles and long jump...school record holder in 300 hurdles...2004 state qualifier in 300 hurdles...2004 and 2005 team MVP...also four-year letterwinner in volleyball.