April 26, 2006

Grand Valley State cross country and track & field head coach Jerry Baltes announced the signing of 28 student-athletes to attend school and compete for the Lakers in the 2006-07 season. Fifteen women and 13 men have signed with GVSU.

On the women's side, Wendy Mahlan (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont), Rebecca Schmidt (St. Joseph's, Mich.), Amy Kolin (Ypsilanti, Mich.), Lori Burges (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian), Leah Borns (Grand Haven, Mich.), and Jessica Koster (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) will all compete as distance runners for the Lakers. Allison Whipple (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) and Kristen Meyers (Portage, Ind.) are middle distance runners, while Chante Liggins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), Katie Haynes (Spring Lake, Mich.), and Amber Pearsall (Highland, Mich./Milford) will all be sprinters. Danielle Fonseca (Barrie, Ontario/St. Joan of Arc), Candice Wheat (Pontiac, Mich./Northern), and Jaymi Walters (Coloma, Mich.) are all hurdlers and Christi Kettelhut (Rockford, Mich.) will be a pole vaulter.

"We are very excited about our incoming class on the women's side. We feel it is the most well-rounded and deepest recruiting class we have ever had here at GVSU," said Baltes. "We feel there are numerous ladies that can step in and make an immediate impact on our program."

"The accolades of many of these ladies are numerous from all-conference honors to all-state plaudits," added Baltes. "We are excited to see them finish up their senior year and begin their career here with us."

On the men's side, Matt Gardeneer (Vermontville, Mich./Maple Valley) and Joey Latz (Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie) will be pole vaulters for the Lakers. Ian Evans (Clearwater, Fla./Countryside) will compete in the throwing events, while Wes Zemla (Elsie, Mich./Ovid-Elsie) is a high jumper/hurdler. Nick Lachappelle (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights), Mike Segal (Warwick, New York/Warwick Valley), Jeff Koster (Wyoming, Mich./Grandville), Tim Armstrong (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central), Brian Principe (Kalamazoo, Mich./Mattawan), and Patrick Sage (Linden, Mich.) will all be distance runners. Justin Wiles (Escanaba, Mich.), Andrew Post (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern), and Jaquon Morrison (Carson, Calif.) are all coming to GVSU as sprinters.

"We are also very excited about the men's incoming class," said Baltes. "We feel that we have some individuals that can really help take our men's team to the next level."

"We ar excited to see these individuals finish out their high school careers and start on the preparation for their careers here at GVSU," added Baltes.