June 8, 2006
SEATTLE, WA - The Seattle University men's and women's Track & Field/Cross Country team Head Coach Trisha Steidl announced June 6 that 14 recruits had agreed to compete for the Redhawks during the 2006-07 season.
Steidl signed eight recruits to National Letters of Intent. Rachel Yorkston (Bellingham, Wash.), Greta Stickney (North Kitsap, Wash.), Lindsay Currier (Beaverton, Ore.), Travis Glover (SeaTac, Wash.), Ryan Oda (Honolulu, Hawaii), Nicholas Alvarado (San Francisco, Calif.), Nicholas Kirschner (Seattle, Wash.), and Kyle Anderson (Seattle, Wash.)
Steidl said that she had to jump into the recruiting process after she was hired at SU April 27 and credits former interim head coach Mike Hill and current assistant coach Matt Franck with contacting recruits prior to Steidl's hire at SU.
"For me it was letting recruits know my training philosophy and what direction I want to take the program in the next few years, with the hopes that this was the type of program they wanted to be a part of," Steidl said. "I'm excited about the individuals we were able to recruit for the upcoming year because it is a highly-motivated group. Adding these people to an already great group of student-athletes is going to make for a fantastic year and I can't wait for it to begin."
 New recruit Rachel Yorkston  |
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Also accepting invitations to join the Redhawks next year will be Alissa Borda (Mercer Island, Wash.) and Anna Nguyen (Edmonds, Wash.).
"This is easily the most talented group of athletes this program has ever brought in," said Assistant Coach Matt Franck. "We sent hundreds of letters to athletes in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. All the work paid off, as we brought in some stellar individuals."
Other walk-ons include Tony Capeloto (Seattle, Wash.), Chris Henry (Seattle, Wash.), Andy Wilburn (Boise, Idaho) and female standout Sammy McCoy (Minturn, Colo.).
"We are excited to further expand the team with these fine individuals," said Franck. "Each have displayed the heart and desire to compete at the collegiate level and we believe they will go far."
Detailed Information on the 14 Redhawk recruits:
Athletes signed to National Letters of Intent:
Lindsay Currier - Throws (Discus) - Beaverton High School (Beaverton, Ore.)
 Lindsay Currier |
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Personal: Lindsay has had the privilege of working with Olympic Gold Medalist Mac Wilkins in the discus over the past several years. Her best mark of 132-03 ranks No. 6 in the whole state of Oregon and No. 3 in the 4A High School Division. In addition to the discus, she is looking forward to the opportunity to learn to throw the hammer, an event which is not available to high school athletes.
Franck Comments on Currier: "Lindsay was intent on joining the Redhawks because she loves Seattle University. It was a win-win situation for us. We were ecstatic to find out she would be joining our team next year."
Travis Glover - Sprints - Highline Community College (SeaTac, Wash.)
Personal: A transfer student originally from Tyee High School in SeaTac, Wash., Travis Glover has track & field personal bests of 11.28 (100m), 22.6 (200m) and 51.35 (400m).
Franck Comments: "Travis will bring some much needed sprinting talent to our program over the next two years. He will help round out our team so we can compete in all events. He is a hard worker who has consistently improved throughout his career."
Rachel Yorkston - Distances - Bellingham High School (Bellingham, Wash.)
Personal: Yorkston will graduate from Bellingham HS with a 3.686 GPA and was a four-year letter winner in cross country runner and three-year letter winner in track & field. She plans to major in the nursing program at Seattle University. Yorkston placed No. 27 at 3A state cross country meet in 2005. She had a personal best in the 5,000k cross country with a time of 19:32, as well as a personal best in track & field with times of 5:29 in the 1,600 meters and 11:42 in the 3,200 meters.
Franck Comments: "Rachel is another great freshman coming in. She has great leadership qualities that will benefit this team well beyond her athletic abilities."
Ryan Oda - Throws (Discus) - Iolani School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
 Ryan Oda with his family |
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Personal: Ryan had a personal best of 141-00 in the discus and placed No. 13 in the Hawaii State Meet in 2005. Ryan has been a part of the Iolani Track Team since the eighth grade and specialized in the discus. Ryan also plays on the Hawaii Harlequins Rugby team.
Franck Comments: "Ryan really wants to compete for this school and has sent many e-mails updating us on his progress. His drive and willingness to put in the work will benefit not only him, but the rest of our program as he is someone others can look up to."
Nicholas Alvarado - Distances - St. Ignatius College Prep. (San Francisco, Calif.)
 New recruit Nicholas Alvarado |
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Personal: Nicholas was a four-year letter winner at St. Igantius in San Francisco and was a three-time state competitor. A member of 2005 Division III team that finished third, Nicholas finished No. 13 individually at CIF State Championship 2005 (15:57 5k) and ran personal bests of 2:04 (800m), 4:24 (1600m), 9:00 (3000m), and 9:40 (3200m).
Franck Comments: "Nick will be a huge asset to the team over the next four years. We do not often bring in runners of his tremendous ability, and it bodes very well for this program to have him with us."
Greta Stickney - Distances - North Kitsap High School (North Kitsap, Wash.)
Personal: Greta ran four years at North Kitsap High School. She placed No. 80 at 4A State in 2005 Cross Country and had a personal best in the 5,000k cross country with a time of 19:16, as well as a personal best in track & field with times of 2:25 in the 800 meters and 5:29 in the 1,600 meters.
Franck Comments on Stickney: "Greta is one of two phenomenal freshman distance runners we have brought in this year. They will both make an impact immediately and could possibly help us make our first trip to nationals in 2006."
Nicholas Kirschner - Distances -University of San Francisco - hometown: (Seattle, Wash.)
Personal: A sophomore transfer, Nick was a distance standout at O'Dea High School before attending the University of San Francisco in 2005. Nicholas' personal bests in cross country are times of 13:31 (4k), 16:11 (5k) and 27:56 (8k).
Franck Comments: "Nicholas is looking to start a new chapter of his life at Seattle University. The Redhawks are eager to see what he can do on the cross country course over the next three years."
Kyle Anderson - Distances -Spokane Falls CC - hometown: (Tacoma, Wash.)
Transfer Student (Junior)
 Kyle Anderson |
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Personal: A transfer student from Spokane, Kyle had personal best cross country times of 15:53 (5k), 26:10 (8k) and a personal best time in track & field of 15:24 (5,000m). He also ran 9:18 for the steeplechase in 2005.
Franck Comments: "Kyle is our top recruit for the year. He is a tremendous competitor with the potential to be an All-American many times over in his last two years of eligibility."
NOT signed to NLI, but also joining the team will be:
Alissa Borda - Distances - Mercer Island High School (Mercer Island, Wash.)
Personal: Alissa was a talented softball player, who decided to change to distance running after suffering injury setbacks. The move has paid off, with Alissa setting a personal best time of 3:37 in the marathon.
Franck Comments: "She will be new to the shorter distances, but has the talent to go far."
Anna Nguyen - Sprints - Edmonds-Woodway High School (Edmonds, Wash.)
Personal: Anna was part of the 4x100m relay team that went to State in 2006 and was a part of the team that set the school record in 2005.
Steidl Comments: "Anna is a hard worker with a lot of drive. Her determination and competitiveness will help her go far in her sprinting career at Seattle U. She plans to study biology."
Additional Walk-Ons include:
Tony Capeloto - Blanchet High School - Seattle, WA
Chris Henry - O'Dea High School - Seattle, WA
Andy Wilburn - Boise High School - Boise, ID
Sammy McCoy - Battle Mountain High School - Colorado (Female)
 Greta Stickney |
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