Seattle University’s head cross country and track and field coach Trisha Steidl has announced the first student-athlete to sign a National Letter of Intent for the 2011-12 season. The Redhawks will be joined by Baxter Arguinchona (Spokane, Wash.) in the fall.
“Baxter made a great jump in performance from last year to this year in cross country, finishing 24th individually (second on his team) and second place team finish at the WIAA 4A state championships, which is an extremely competitive division,” said Steidl. “I expect to see a similar jump in his track performance this spring as well.”
Arguinchona, who attends Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, Wash. as a cross country and distance track runner, has been awarded the NECA/IBEW Greater Spokane League Student-Athlete award for the fall 2010. The honor roll student with a 3.9 GPA has been recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor by the College Board.
“He is an intensely focused and goal-oriented person, both in his athletics as well as his academics,” said Steidl. “I have high expectations for him and know that he will be a strong contributor for us as we go through our final year of the transition to DI and beyond. He is an important piece of the puzzle in terms of our men’s team continuing to be at the top of the Great West Conference in cross country this fall.”
With the addition of Arguinchona, the men’s cross country will look to stay in the top ranks of the Great West Conference after their second-place finish at the Championships last fall.