NAMPA – Northwest Nazarene University head track & field and cross country coach John Spatz announced this week that 16 student-athletes have signed National Letters-of-Intent to attend NNU and compete for the Crusaders this fall.
“We are very happy to have this great group of student-athletes join the team,” Spatz commented. “They are some of the finest cross country and track athletes from around the Northwest and beyond. Each and every one of them will have an immediate impact in continuing the drive to win a conference title.”
Five Treasure Valley products lead the group of recruits, beginning with Luke Hetrick of Greenleaf Academy and three Nampa Christian High School products in Jason Towery, Danielle Beesley and Megan Oberst. Rounding out the group of local distance runners is Neil Easter of Nampa's Columbia High School. Adding a sixth distance recruit is Alex Crystal of Kimberly High School (ID).
The Crusaders add six athletes in the sprint, jumps and hurdles areas of competition in Taeshaun Brown of Thomas Dale High School in Virginia, Edward Bartlow from Pomeroy High School (WA), Kegan Lassiter of Cody High School (WY), Anna Knapp of Arco High School (ID), Heather Pence of Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, Washington and Molly Reid of Jerome High School (ID).
A quartet of field event competitors join the Crusaders in Kristine Larson of West Salem High School (OR), Lakiesha Nilles of King's West High School (Poulsbo, WA), Joy Warrington of Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Erika Rempel will transfer back to NNU from the University of Arizona.
“It's an honor that each of them has selected Northwest Nazarene University to further their academic and athletic careers,” Spatz added. “We are looking forward to the year ahead.”
The NNU cross country teams will begin their 2008 season on September 6th when they host the Roger Curran Invitational at West Park in Nampa.
