Nov. 30, 2006
Orem, Utah - Utah Valley State head track coach Scott Houle has announced the signings of 15 new athletes during the early signing period.
"We are excited that we have been able to bring in athletes each year that help us get better as a team," Houle said. "These athletes are very competitive in their individual events."
Seven women's athletes and eight men's athletes were among those signed during the signing period.
On the women's side, UV inked three distance runners in Melissa Baird, Aleina Eisenhauer and Chelsea Loss. The Wolverines also have signed three sprinters in Shantay Hall, Chelsea Baker and Natasha Martin and one hurdler in Amanda Peart.
On the men's side, three distance athletes have been signed in Danny Barney, Macy Butterfield and Brian Wertner. One sprinter, DJ Miller and one hurdler, Justin Huwa will have also been added. In an effort to strengthen the jump events, the Utah Valley signed three jumpers: Tyler Ashworth, Allen Beck and Aaron Kay.
"All of these athletes are among their respective states' best," Houle said. "I believe all will come in and make an immediate impact. They are solid in the classroom and on the track."
Below is a listing of the early signees:
Women's Signees
Distance
Melissa Baird - Genola, UT, Payson, High School
Baird joins one of the most talented distance signing groups in UVSC history. An accomplished athlete in high school, Baird brings personal bests of 2:18/800m, 5:19/1600m, 11:22/3200m, and 18:35 for 3 miles.
Aleina Eisenhauer - Glendale, AZ, Sandra Day O'Connor High School
Eisenhauer looks to make an immediate impact for the Wolverines. Eisenhauer has personal bests of 2:23/800m, 5:14/1600m, 11:21/3200m, and 18:44 for 5000m.
Chelsea Loss - Salem, UT, Spanish Fork High School
Loss will make the short trip up I-15 to join the UVSC Track and Field Teams. Loss will provide more depth to the women's distance squad, as she has a personal best of 19:44 for 3 miles.
Sprints/Hurdles
Shantay Hall - Bancroft, ID, North Gem High School
Hall comes to Utah Valley as the only signee from the state of Idaho. One of the top sprinters from the potato state, Hall brings personal bests of 12.30/100m and 26.61/200m to UVSC.
Natasha Martin - Orem, UT, Orem High School
Arguably the best short sprinter from the state of Utah, Martin will make an immediate impact on the Wolverine sprint corp. Martin carries a 12.08, 100m top time, as well as a 25.18, 200m time.
Amanda Peart - Rich, UT, Rich High School
The lone hurdler in the group of 2006 early signees. Peart comes to UVSC from the small school ranks of Utah, where she was a state champion in the 100mH. Peart has personal bests of 15.89/100mH and 47.74 300mH.
Chelsea Baker - South Jordan, UT, Bingham High School
Baker will come to UVSC to add depth to the Wolverine quarter mile group. She has a personal best of 59.50.
Men's Signees
Distance
Danny Barney - Alpine, UT, Lone Peak High School
Barney comes to UVSC from Lone Peak High School, where he finished 9th at the Utah State Cross Country his senior season. Barney has a personal best of 16:16 for 3 miles.
Macy Butterfield - Riverton, UT, Riverton High School
Macy will be the third member of the Riverton Silver Wolves to join the UVSC track team. Butterfield prepped with current Wolverines Drew Clarke and Eric Goldhardt. Butterfield brings a personal best of 16:16 for 3 miles to the Wolverine distance squad. He placed just ahead of Wolverine signee, Danny Barney, in 8th place at the Utah State Cross Country meet.
Brian Wertner - San Diego, CA, Rancho Bernardo High School
Wertner becomes the first Wolverine to hail from the state of California since former Wolverine Nate Shaffer. Wertner ran as the Rancho Bernardo number one runner during his senior cross country season. Wertner has a personal best of 1:58 for 800m on the track.
Sprints/Hurdles
DJ Miller, Colorado Springs, CO, Liberty High School
Miller comes to UVSC as the second best long hurdler from Colorado. Miller owns personal bests of 15.48 for 110mH, 39.64 300mH, and 56.39 for 400mH. Miller hails from the same hometown as current 400mH school record holder, Stig Robertson.
Justin Huwa, LaSalle, CO, Valley High School
The signing of Justin Huwa cements a strong hurdle group for the wolverines. Huwa is the top returning short hurdler in the state of Colorado. Huwa owns a personal best of 14.59 for the 110mH. He has also run 40.11 for 300mH.
Jumps
Tyler Ashworth - Orem, UT, Timpanogos High School
Ashworth joins a talented group of incoming freshman high jumpers for the Wolverines. A 2006 5A state meet participant, Ashworth looks to make an immediate impact for the Wolverines.
Allen Beck - Alpine, UT, Lone Peak High School
Beck joins Danny Barney, and Aaron Kay as a threesome of Lone Peak Knights to join the Wolverine Track and Field Teams, class of 2011. Beck brings a 3rd place finish in the 5A state meet high jump, to UVSC as well as a personal best of 6-4.
Aaron Kay - Cedar Falls, UT, Lone Peak High School
Kay is joined by prep teammates Allen Beck and Danny Barney on the UVSC Track and Field Team. Kay will compete in the pole vault with current Wolverine and former Prep teammate, Matt Williams. Kay has a personal best of 14-0.
