McNeese track has recruiting class of 24
May 30, 2007
McNeese State has announced a track and field recruiting class of 24 athletes, the largest in the school's history.
Head coach Ty Sevin and his assistants have 17 male and seven female athletes committed. Some of the athletes will be attending on athletic scholarships and some as walkons.
Sevin said that he was pleased with the class, which he says is a very talented one.
There are a total of nine commitments from the immediate area including Cagle award winners David Richardson (javelin) of Sam Houston High and Kenneth Pierce (distance races) of LaGrange High.
Also signing with McNeese was 17-9 pole vaulter Wout van Wengerden of The Netherlands.
Including Pierce, McNeese signed a total of 10 distance runners. And, including Richardson, the school signed six javelin throwers.
Distance runners recruited by the university were Pierce, Jeremy Damiata of Barbe High, Andrew Doherty, Mark Hoey, Jordan Neil, and Stephen Scullion of Ireland, Logan Hassenbein of Clear Creek in Texas, Jonathan Koenck of Anacoco, Alasdair Russell of England and Tinette Burger of South Africa.
Javelin throwers besides Richardson are Ben Chretien of Elton, Pete Reynolds of St. Louis High, Amanda LeJeune of Welsh High and Mandy Paris of Sam Houston High.
Also joining the Cowboys and Cowgirls are hurdler Sean Brinson of Deweyville (TX) High, shot putter Jacob Domingue of Erath High, hurdler Cody Williams of Anacoco High, middle distance runner Michael Washington of Klein Oaks High of Houston, shot putter Lillie Biddle of Hamilton Christian, hurdler and jumper Erika Coleman of Richmond (TX) Foster High, jumper Erin Huckabay of Omaha, TX and pole vaulter Nicole Walker of Vinton High.
McNeese has had one of its most successful seasons as far as national recognition this spring. Ten athletes recently completed in the NCAA regionals and two - pole vaulter Brad Gebauer and javelin thrower Chris Hill - qualified for the NCAA national meet which begins Wednesday in Sacramento, CA.
McNeese Track Recruits
(Boys)
Sean Brinson, Deweyville High, Deweyville, TX All-district in the 400 meter hurdles
Ben Chretien, Elton High, Elton, LA All-district in the javelin
Jeremy Damiata, Barbe High School, Lake Charles, LA All-district in the mile and two mile runs
Andrew Doherty, Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education, Belfast, Ireland Runs 3000 meters and also participates in cross country; represented Ireland in 2006 in international games; school cross country champion
Jacob Domingue, Erath High School, Erath, LA Second in state meet in the shot put; had a best of 55 feet
Logan Hassenbein, Clear Creek HS, League City, TX Sixth at district cross country meet and qualified for regionals; best of 2:00 in 800 meters and 4:35 in 1600 meters
Mark Hoey, St. Mary's Diocesan, Louth, Ireland Irish national champion in 3000 meters; also cross country champion; fifth in national junior cross country championship in 2006; member of international team for European championship; school's athlete of the year in 2006
Jonathan Koenck, Anacoco High, Anacoco, LA 2007 division II state champion in the 1600 meters and runnerup in 800 meters indoors; named to all-state team; finished among top four in state cross country meet three years running; Class B state champion mile and two mile runs
Jordan Neil, Bangor, County Down, North Ireland Distance runner who run the 3K and the 1500 meters; club champion in both the 3K and the 1500 meters; third in high school cross country championship; on Irish shortlist for European Youth Olympics in 2005; 1500 meters, 3K and 5K representative to Irish club championship
Kenneth Pierce, LaGrange High, Lake Charles, LA Top distance runner in Southwest Louisiana; second in the 1600 meter and fourth in 3200 meter at state meet in 2007; best of 4:31.02 in the mile and 9:57.26 in the two mile... runnerup in state Class AAAA state cross country meet; named Southwest Louisiana runner of the year; Cagle award winner
Pete Reynolds, St. Louis High, Lake Charles, LA All-state in the javelin throw; all-district and all-region; third in the state meet; also standout football player
David Richardson, Sam Houston High School, Moss Bluff,LA Top ranked javelin thrower in Southwest Louisiana; state runnerup in 2006 and was runnerup in 2007 meet with throw of 194-2; career best of 195-6Cagle award winner
Alasdair Russell, Queen Katherine School, Kendal, England County champion in 1500 meters and 3Km; also record holder in 1500 meters; all-county for three years and medal winner four years
Stephen Scullion, North Belfast, Northern Ireland Distance runner who represented Ireland at world cross country championship in 2006; Irish junior cross country champion; won bronze medal at Irish prep 3K steeplechase race; Irish prep 2K steeplechase champion; won Northern Ireland cross country title three straight years; silver medalist at British school cross country championship
Wout van Wengerden, Nieuwstad, The Netherlands Ranks among the top 25 junior pole vaulters in the world with a best of 17-9; Netherlands national junior champion; has qualified to compete in this year's European junior championship
Cody Williams, Anacoco High, Anacoco, LA State record holder in the 300 meter hurdles; all-state; was state champion in the 300 meter hurdles and in the 110 high hurdles in 2006
Michael Washington, Klein Oaks High, Houston, TX, 400, 800 meters Four year letterman; best of 48.35 in 400 meters and 1:55.79 in 800 meters; district champion in 800 meters; also runs 4x400 relay and qualified for regionals in all three
(Women)
Lillie Biddle, Hamilton Christian High, Lake Charles, LA All-state in the shot put event
Tinette Burger, Biathle Victrix Ludorum, South Africa Named to high school Hall of Fame; also named most versatile and best biathlete; in cross country was fourth at national championship; runs 800, 1500 and 3000 meters; member of South Africa national teams
Erika Coleman, Richmond Foster High School, Richmond, TX Participated in long and triple jump, 100 hurdles and 400 and 800 meter relays; was a regional qualifier three years running in all four events; cross country participate; volleyball letter winner; academic all-district three years in basketball (team co-captain senior year); academic all-district three years in track
Erin Huckabay, Paul Pewitt HS, Omaha, TX Participates in high jump, long jump, 100 hurdles, triple jump; set school record in high jump and 100 hurdles; second hurdles and third in high jump at state meet in 2007; regional champion in hurdles; named to Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state team; academic all-state in volleyball; all-district and district's outstanding blocker in volleyball; honor roll student; member of national honor society; editor of school yearbook and newspaper; class officer; cheerleader
Amanda LeJeune, Welsh High, Welsh, LA All-state in the javelin; two-time district champion
Mandy Paris, Sam Houston High School, Moss Bluff, LA Second at state in the javelin; first at district and second at regionals; basketball and track four year letter winner; second team all-district in basketball; as junior was second at regionals and fifth at state in javelin; graduated with honors
Nicole Walker, Vinton High, Vinton, LA District champion in the pole vault; named to all-state team