Post by The Cats on Aug 8, 2023 17:34:11 GMT -5
Western Carolina track & field head coach Jesse Norman today announced the addition of 20 student-athletes to the men's roster for the 2023-24 school year. The 20 newcomers will compete in sprints, distance, hurdles, jumps and throws and consist of seven transfers and 13 freshmen.
Sprint/Hurdle Group
Kylen Crosby (Indian Hills CC/Alpharetta HS – Alpharetta, Ga.)
PR's: 200m – 22.07, 400m – 48.81
Coach Notes: "Kylen is a JUCO product that will add some much-needed depth and national-level experience to the program in the long sprints. Paired up with current Catamounts Elias Barton and Noah Straley, we feel that we can get back to dominating the long sprints in the future."
Quinton Godfrey (Tuskegee University/Fairhope HS – Fairhope, Ala.)
PR's: 100m – 10.67, 200m – 21.33, 400m – 48.29
Coach Notes: "Quinton is a very exciting addition to the program that will pair very well with current Catamounts David Miles and Teddy Ayden. Quinton gives us the ability to have flexibility within the events that we'll put him in at the conference level."
Elijah Jenkins (Parkview HS – Tucker, Ga.)
PR's: 60m – 7.05, 100m – 10.63, 200m – 22.23, Long Jump – 22-4.25
Coach Notes: "Elijah is an exciting addition to the short sprint and horizontal jump groups that will help add some depth to those areas of the program. He's very excited about joining the program and helping us get back to winning some team championships."
CJ McFerrin (Indian Hills CC/Alpharetta HS – Alpharetta, Ga.)
PR's: 60m hurdles – 8.16, 110m hurdles – 14.27, 400m hurdles – 56.08
Coach Notes: "CJ is another JUCO product who will continue being teammates with Kylen. CJ is a great addition to our hurdles program that will replace recently graduated Catamount Kaleb Ambrose. CJ made some great progressions this spring and we'll be looking for him to continue developing into one, if not the top hurdler in the conference in the future."
Jumps Group
David Dorbin (North Oconee HS – Watkinsville, Ga.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-2.00, Long Jump – 22-11.5
Coach Notes: "David is a great developing all-around jumper that will continue his growth here in Cullowhee in the coming years. The coaching staff is looking at him becoming an outstanding all-around jumper capable of scoring in all three jumping events."
Adam Ledford (Mountain Heritage HS – Burnsville, N.C.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-6.00
Coach Notes: "Adam is a local product that will be a great addition to the vertical jumps group, capable of becoming one of the leading high jumpers within the Southern Conference."
Cameron Pompey (Highland CC/Tavares HS - Groveland, Fla.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-5.50, Long Jump – 23-2.00, Triple Jump – 46-6.00
Coach Notes: "Like David, Cameron is a great addition to the jumps group. He is someone that will be a great triple threat for scoring at the conference level. Teamed up with our current stable of Catamount jumpers, he will keep our tradition of great jumpers going here at WCU."
Multi's Group
Dakota Braucher (Eaton HS – Eaton, Colo.)
PR's: Long Jump – 20-4.5, 200m 23.91, 400m – 52.04
Coach Notes: "A developing athlete that comes from a town known for producing great student-athletes. He's itching at becoming a high-level Southern Conference multi-event athlete capable of scoring. Adding him to our incoming group of multi's will be a great addition to the program this upcoming year and help WCU establish a presence in the multi-events."
Colby Capps (Mountain Heritage HS – Burnsville, N.C.)
PR's: 200m – 23.43, 400m – 52.44, 300m hurdles – 42.71, Pole Vault – 14-0.00
Coach Notes: "Another local product, who will continue being teammates with future Catamount Adam Ledford, will be a great addition to our growing multi's group. He brings some long hurdle and pole vault experience that should be able to score points at the conference level."
Blake Cassada (Franklin HS – Franklin, N.C.)
PR's: 110m hurdles – 16.34, Pole Vault – 14-4.00
Coach Notes: "Blake comes to us from nearby Franklin, N.C., where he was a pole vault state champion this past spring. He's a developing student-athlete in the multi's group where we feel combined with his pole vault ability, will be a solid Southern Conference scoring athlete."
Ethan Hibberts (Sonoraville HS – Adairsville, Ga.)
PR's: 400m – 53.15, High Jump – 6-2.00
Coach Notes: "Ethan is a great all-around athlete that will be making his debut in the multi's here at WCU. He's a developing athlete that is excited about being on a team looking to win team championships and having a role in helping that goal along."
Damon Worley (North Greenville University/Seneca HS - Seneca, S.C.)
PR's: 100m – 11.06, 200m – 23.08, High Jump – 6-0.50, Pole Vault – 13-6.25, Javelin – 164-6
Coach Notes: "Damon brings a multitude of experience to Cullowhee. He will be looked at as a leader to our growing multi's group this upcoming year. He brings the flexibility for us as a staff to utilize him in ways to help the team win Southern Conference team titles."
Throws Group
Austin Cline (Queens University/Bandy's HS – Catawba, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 50-5.25, Discus – 133-2.00, Hammer – 139-7.00, Weight Throw – 43-4.50
Coach Notes: "Austin is a great pickup for the Catamounts and will complement returner Riley Center to solidify our top throwers this next year. He gives us college experience and the desire to be a Catamount like his parents. We feel he will come right in and keep pushing our throws program back to Southern Conference dominance. "
Austin Ramirez (AC Reynolds HS – Fletcher, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 53-0.00, Discus – 134-11.00
Coach Notes: "Austin is a great local pickup that developed quite nicely this spring. As we continue his development here in Cullowhee, we feel that he will add some great depth to our throws program. His addition will help us as we aim to again be a dominant throws group within the Southern Conference."
Dakota Sorrells (Pisgah HS – Canton, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 46-9.75, Discus – 104-9.00
Coach Notes: "Dakota is another local product that was coached by former Catamount head coach Danny Williamson. We believe that he will be a good project kid that, when combined with our current Catamounts, will explode in the future to becoming a solid Southern Conference point scorer."
Distance Group
Lawson Mecom (Christiansburg HS – Christiansburg, Va.)
PR's: 800m – 2:00.90, 1600m – 4:23.35, 3200m – 9:31.76, 5k xc – 15:32.00
Coach Notes: "Lawson was someone recommended to me by a coaching colleague that turned into a big pickup for the Catamounts. He brings some great cross-country credentials to the program along with a progression in the spring that will look at him becoming an immediate contributor to the program as a freshman."
Peter Schihl (Cuthbertson HS – Waxhaw, NC)
PR's: 800m – 2:01.06, 1600m – 4:30.48, 3200m – 9:41.86, 5k xc – 15:55.60
Coach Notes: "The younger brother of current Catamount, Mickey Schihl, Peter brings solid credentials to Cullowhee along with the mindset of a winning program. He comes from one, if not the best, high school program in the state of North Carolina that expects to win team championships every year. His mindset was something that we sought after as a coaching staff."
Chase Thurber (River Ridge HS – Odessa, Fla.)
PR's: 800m – 1:56.26, 1600m – 4:27.45, 3200m – 9:42.31, 5k xc – 15:59.30
Coach Notes: "A solid pickup, Chase comes to us from the Sunshine State and adds some solid depth to our developing middle-distance group. Not only will he help in the spring, but his cross-country experience will add depth to our program and push our returners to continue getting better."
Knox Witherspoon (NC A&T/Brevard HS – Brevard, N.C.)
PR's: 800m – 1:59.91, Mile – 4:23.76, 5k xc – 15:59.70
Coach Notes: "A local product who transferred in this year, Knox was a multi-time state champion in North Carolina and was a part of a successful high school program. He loved the idea of being back close to home along with training with current Catamounts, John Davis, Jalen Elwell and Henry Stecher."
Matthew Womack (Oak Mountain HS – Birmingham, Ala.)
PR's: 800m – 1:57.15, 1600m – 4:26.82, 3200m – 9:49.95, 5k xc – 15:52.97
Coach Notes: "Another developing middle-distance runner, who like Chase, will not only add depth in the spring but also some great cross-country expertise also. The combo of Chase and Matthew will make sure that we continue our push of getting better and scoring more points in the middle-distance events in the future."
Sprint/Hurdle Group
Kylen Crosby (Indian Hills CC/Alpharetta HS – Alpharetta, Ga.)
PR's: 200m – 22.07, 400m – 48.81
Coach Notes: "Kylen is a JUCO product that will add some much-needed depth and national-level experience to the program in the long sprints. Paired up with current Catamounts Elias Barton and Noah Straley, we feel that we can get back to dominating the long sprints in the future."
Quinton Godfrey (Tuskegee University/Fairhope HS – Fairhope, Ala.)
PR's: 100m – 10.67, 200m – 21.33, 400m – 48.29
Coach Notes: "Quinton is a very exciting addition to the program that will pair very well with current Catamounts David Miles and Teddy Ayden. Quinton gives us the ability to have flexibility within the events that we'll put him in at the conference level."
Elijah Jenkins (Parkview HS – Tucker, Ga.)
PR's: 60m – 7.05, 100m – 10.63, 200m – 22.23, Long Jump – 22-4.25
Coach Notes: "Elijah is an exciting addition to the short sprint and horizontal jump groups that will help add some depth to those areas of the program. He's very excited about joining the program and helping us get back to winning some team championships."
CJ McFerrin (Indian Hills CC/Alpharetta HS – Alpharetta, Ga.)
PR's: 60m hurdles – 8.16, 110m hurdles – 14.27, 400m hurdles – 56.08
Coach Notes: "CJ is another JUCO product who will continue being teammates with Kylen. CJ is a great addition to our hurdles program that will replace recently graduated Catamount Kaleb Ambrose. CJ made some great progressions this spring and we'll be looking for him to continue developing into one, if not the top hurdler in the conference in the future."
Jumps Group
David Dorbin (North Oconee HS – Watkinsville, Ga.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-2.00, Long Jump – 22-11.5
Coach Notes: "David is a great developing all-around jumper that will continue his growth here in Cullowhee in the coming years. The coaching staff is looking at him becoming an outstanding all-around jumper capable of scoring in all three jumping events."
Adam Ledford (Mountain Heritage HS – Burnsville, N.C.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-6.00
Coach Notes: "Adam is a local product that will be a great addition to the vertical jumps group, capable of becoming one of the leading high jumpers within the Southern Conference."
Cameron Pompey (Highland CC/Tavares HS - Groveland, Fla.)
PR's: High Jump – 6-5.50, Long Jump – 23-2.00, Triple Jump – 46-6.00
Coach Notes: "Like David, Cameron is a great addition to the jumps group. He is someone that will be a great triple threat for scoring at the conference level. Teamed up with our current stable of Catamount jumpers, he will keep our tradition of great jumpers going here at WCU."
Multi's Group
Dakota Braucher (Eaton HS – Eaton, Colo.)
PR's: Long Jump – 20-4.5, 200m 23.91, 400m – 52.04
Coach Notes: "A developing athlete that comes from a town known for producing great student-athletes. He's itching at becoming a high-level Southern Conference multi-event athlete capable of scoring. Adding him to our incoming group of multi's will be a great addition to the program this upcoming year and help WCU establish a presence in the multi-events."
Colby Capps (Mountain Heritage HS – Burnsville, N.C.)
PR's: 200m – 23.43, 400m – 52.44, 300m hurdles – 42.71, Pole Vault – 14-0.00
Coach Notes: "Another local product, who will continue being teammates with future Catamount Adam Ledford, will be a great addition to our growing multi's group. He brings some long hurdle and pole vault experience that should be able to score points at the conference level."
Blake Cassada (Franklin HS – Franklin, N.C.)
PR's: 110m hurdles – 16.34, Pole Vault – 14-4.00
Coach Notes: "Blake comes to us from nearby Franklin, N.C., where he was a pole vault state champion this past spring. He's a developing student-athlete in the multi's group where we feel combined with his pole vault ability, will be a solid Southern Conference scoring athlete."
Ethan Hibberts (Sonoraville HS – Adairsville, Ga.)
PR's: 400m – 53.15, High Jump – 6-2.00
Coach Notes: "Ethan is a great all-around athlete that will be making his debut in the multi's here at WCU. He's a developing athlete that is excited about being on a team looking to win team championships and having a role in helping that goal along."
Damon Worley (North Greenville University/Seneca HS - Seneca, S.C.)
PR's: 100m – 11.06, 200m – 23.08, High Jump – 6-0.50, Pole Vault – 13-6.25, Javelin – 164-6
Coach Notes: "Damon brings a multitude of experience to Cullowhee. He will be looked at as a leader to our growing multi's group this upcoming year. He brings the flexibility for us as a staff to utilize him in ways to help the team win Southern Conference team titles."
Throws Group
Austin Cline (Queens University/Bandy's HS – Catawba, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 50-5.25, Discus – 133-2.00, Hammer – 139-7.00, Weight Throw – 43-4.50
Coach Notes: "Austin is a great pickup for the Catamounts and will complement returner Riley Center to solidify our top throwers this next year. He gives us college experience and the desire to be a Catamount like his parents. We feel he will come right in and keep pushing our throws program back to Southern Conference dominance. "
Austin Ramirez (AC Reynolds HS – Fletcher, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 53-0.00, Discus – 134-11.00
Coach Notes: "Austin is a great local pickup that developed quite nicely this spring. As we continue his development here in Cullowhee, we feel that he will add some great depth to our throws program. His addition will help us as we aim to again be a dominant throws group within the Southern Conference."
Dakota Sorrells (Pisgah HS – Canton, N.C.)
PR's: Shot Put – 46-9.75, Discus – 104-9.00
Coach Notes: "Dakota is another local product that was coached by former Catamount head coach Danny Williamson. We believe that he will be a good project kid that, when combined with our current Catamounts, will explode in the future to becoming a solid Southern Conference point scorer."
Distance Group
Lawson Mecom (Christiansburg HS – Christiansburg, Va.)
PR's: 800m – 2:00.90, 1600m – 4:23.35, 3200m – 9:31.76, 5k xc – 15:32.00
Coach Notes: "Lawson was someone recommended to me by a coaching colleague that turned into a big pickup for the Catamounts. He brings some great cross-country credentials to the program along with a progression in the spring that will look at him becoming an immediate contributor to the program as a freshman."
Peter Schihl (Cuthbertson HS – Waxhaw, NC)
PR's: 800m – 2:01.06, 1600m – 4:30.48, 3200m – 9:41.86, 5k xc – 15:55.60
Coach Notes: "The younger brother of current Catamount, Mickey Schihl, Peter brings solid credentials to Cullowhee along with the mindset of a winning program. He comes from one, if not the best, high school program in the state of North Carolina that expects to win team championships every year. His mindset was something that we sought after as a coaching staff."
Chase Thurber (River Ridge HS – Odessa, Fla.)
PR's: 800m – 1:56.26, 1600m – 4:27.45, 3200m – 9:42.31, 5k xc – 15:59.30
Coach Notes: "A solid pickup, Chase comes to us from the Sunshine State and adds some solid depth to our developing middle-distance group. Not only will he help in the spring, but his cross-country experience will add depth to our program and push our returners to continue getting better."
Knox Witherspoon (NC A&T/Brevard HS – Brevard, N.C.)
PR's: 800m – 1:59.91, Mile – 4:23.76, 5k xc – 15:59.70
Coach Notes: "A local product who transferred in this year, Knox was a multi-time state champion in North Carolina and was a part of a successful high school program. He loved the idea of being back close to home along with training with current Catamounts, John Davis, Jalen Elwell and Henry Stecher."
Matthew Womack (Oak Mountain HS – Birmingham, Ala.)
PR's: 800m – 1:57.15, 1600m – 4:26.82, 3200m – 9:49.95, 5k xc – 15:52.97
Coach Notes: "Another developing middle-distance runner, who like Chase, will not only add depth in the spring but also some great cross-country expertise also. The combo of Chase and Matthew will make sure that we continue our push of getting better and scoring more points in the middle-distance events in the future."