Men's Track and Field 8/31/2022 11:44:00 AM

Indiana Tech Men's Track & Field Announces Recruiting Class

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - After a runner-up finish at the NAIA Indoor National Championships and an 18th consecutive WHAC outdoor championship, the Indiana Tech men's track & field team has reloaded in their quest to add more hardware to an already bulging trophy cabinet. Now in his 12th season, head coach Doug Edgar is proud to announce a deep list of 62 new Warriors that could make up one of his best classes yet.

SHORT SPRINTS

Edgar is justifiably excited about what could be one of the deepest and most talented classes in school history. Heading this group is a trio of runners who have gone under 10.70 for 100 meters in Esau Hayes (10.67/Michigan City HS, Indiana), Edward Powell (10.61/Pearland HS, Texas), and Michael Williams (10.67/22.40/Eastside HS, Florida). Other talents expected to contribute right away in the 100/200 are David Slick (10.85/21.87/Leo HS, Indiana) and Deonsae Dorsey (10.87/21.67/Downington HS, Pennsylvania). Additional newcomers with high ceilings include Sean Torres (10.89/22.35/Olentangy Orange HS, Ohio), Derrick Francis (11.18), Drew Martin (10.98/22.10/Wayne HS, Ohio), Tyree Alexander (11.03/22.93/Saginaw Heritage HS, Michigan), Xavier Byrd (22.5/College of the Sequoias, California), and Parish Smith (11.15/22.69/Evans HS, Georgia).

Coach Edgar: This can really be a special group! We have never had this level of both top-end talent and depth. We could see over 10 guys under 10.9 this year as freshman and we anticipate having multiple newcomers qualifying for the National Championship. We are very young so it's going to take a lot of hard work in the preseason, but if this group can buy in, expect some special results before the year is over!

LONG SPRINTS

A pair of elite quarter milers who have each gone under 48.9 lead the charge in the long sprints group. Dexter Mounts (Canal Winchester HS, Ohio) and Naasir (Eric) Pulman (Parkview HS, Georgia) both bring in elite high school marks that should translate to immediate success. Others in the long sprints group that have already made a name for themselves include Jonathan Hairston (49.14/Catawba HS, South Carolina), Aaron Heisser (49.45/East Lake HS, Washington), Idriss Bayia (50.30/Hillgrove HS, Georgia), Victor Centio (50.06/Archer HS, Georgia), Cade George (50.35/Oak Mountain HS, Alabama), Nicholas Myles (50.19/New Haven HS, Indiana), and Solomon Osborne (2:01/Snider HS, Indiana).

Coach Edgar: I am excited for the potential in this group. We have several guys who are ready to qualify for nationals right away as freshman and another strong group ready to be high-level conference performers. We really needed to add some depth to this group and I think we brought an awesome mix of hard working guys in who elevate an already strong long sprints group. Coach Smith-Jones and myself are really going to push this group in preseason training and see what type of mentality they have.

HURDLES

Four combo hurdlers will lead the charge for the Warriors. Dominic Lincoln (14.94/39.03/Manchester HS, Indiana), Joe Mitchell (14.61/39.58/Princeton HS, Ohio), Jaivon Smith (15.04/40.82/Ann Arbor Pioneer HS, Michigan), and Kolin Brown (14.97/39.54/James S. Rickards HS, Florida) have all had success over both the 300h and 100h at the high level. Zachary Hueber (40.40/Spencerport HS, New York) also to figure into the mix as a long hurdler.

Coach Edgar: Coach Wheeler has a lot to work with in this recruiting class. Obviously these men are making the transition on hurdle height and moving to the 400h, so that will take time, but the potential they have is amazing and I know they will catch on quickly. I think this group will improve a lot between our early season practice and indoor nationals in March. I expect multiple guys to be in South Dakota and Marion.

FIELD EVENTS

In the throws, Grand Valley State transfer Mason Murphy (56-5/179-10/Grand Valley State/Belmont HS, Indiana) returns home, where he excelled at Belmont High School in 2021. He is joined in the throws by Tyler Heelein (Woodstock HS, Illinois) and Ronald Stevenson (Theodore HS, Alabama).

The jumps group is highlighted by Pima CC transfer Donovan Henderson (48-9/23-7/Pima CC, Arizona) who already has All-American performances already under his belt. Another junior college jumper, Jaelan Stewart (6-5/22-11/43-8/Central Arizona CC, Arizona) should add depth across all three jumping events. Look for freshmen Cubie Jones III (22-10.5/Marian HS, Indiana), Braden Deal (6-8/Brookwood HS, Georgia), and Khalil Carr (21-8/Parkview HS, Georgia) to also make an immediate impact.

Coach Edgar: We graduated a lot of experience in the field and this group allows us to add depth while also bringing in multiple athletes with college experience. Coaches Maierle, Bailey, and Ciolek have strong groups to work with year.

DISTANCE

The distance crew will get their first taste of competition in the upcoming cross country season. Not only is it a large recruiting class, it's one with a ton of potential that should mesh with the returners to make a push towards nationals. Top freshman recruits include Christopher Putman (16:32/10:05/Holly Pond HS, Alabama), Denzel Lee (1:58/4:43/Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Illinois), Cameron Thompson (16:52/9:53/4:34/Dover-Sherborn HS, Massachussetts), Chase Molden (16:38/10:15/Homestead HS, Indiana), and Aaron Farley (16:38/10:22/Franklin Central HS, Indiana). A transfer from Calumet-St. Joseph, Isaac Sytsma (25:57/3:55/1:55/Highland HS, Indiana) heads east after individual appearances in the NAIA cross country and outdoor track & field championships (1500).

Coach Kluchki: With 16 new faces, this is one of the largest men's classes in program history. This group has the chance to cement the distance program as a consistent presence at the national level in both cross country on on the track.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Coach Edgar: This is as deep a recruiting class as we have ever had. The fun part is discovering which of the athletes will develop into college All-Americans. We have a lot of athletes that we feel have a lot of development left in their career. This class has a chance to be special and remembered among the best recruiting classes we have ever had.

2022 SIGNEES

Tyree Alexander (Saginaw Heritage HS)
Steve Banton (Middletown HS)
Idriss Bayiha (Hillgrove HS)
Gavyn Blalock (Fenton HS)
Kolin Brown (James S. Rickards HS)
Xavier Byrd (College of the Sequoias)
Khalil Carr (Parkview HS)
Dylan Carroll (Wicomico HS)
Caleb Catania (Windsor HS)
Denzel Cedeno (Rancocas Valley HS)
Victor Centeio (Archer HS)
Marlon Cooper (Royal Oak HS)
Braden Deal (Brookwood HS)
Deonsae Dorsey (Downington HS)
Aaron Farley (Franklin Central HS)
Derrick Francis (Cayman Islands)
Cade George (Oak Mountain HS)
Jonathan Hairston (Catawba Ridge HS)
Essau Hayes (Olivet Nazarene)
Donovan Henderson (Pima CC)
Tyler Heelein (Woodstock HS)
Logan Hubka (Cary-Grove HS)
Aaron Heisser (East Lake HS)
Zachary Hueber (Spencerport HS)
Aaron Johanson (Bryan HS)
Zion Johnson (Pickerton North HS)
Cubie Jones III (Marion HS)
Parker Kent (Zionsville HS)
Denzel Lee (Homewood-Flossmoor HS)
Malik Lewis (Cross Creek HS)
Dominic Lincoln (Manchester HS)
Blake Malstaff (John Glenn HS)
Drew Martin (Wayne HS)
Brian McAuliffe (Jackson HS)
Joe Mitchell (Princeton HS)
Chase Molden (Homestead HS)
Daniel Morris (Pioneer HS)
Dexter Mounts (Canal Winchester HS)
Mason Murphy (Grand Valley State)
Nicholas Myles (New Haven HS)
Adil Mzese (Clarksburg HS)
Eric Neff (Clinton HS)
Brad Ogle (Carroll HS)
Solomon Osborne (Snider HS)
Edward Powell (Pearland HS)
Naasir (Eric) Pollum (Parkview HS)
Marques Rookwood (SW Oregon CC)
Christopher Putman (Holly Pond HS)
David Slick (Leo HS)
Justin Small (Carl Sandburg HS)
Errol Smith (Cayman Islands)
Jaivon Smith (Pioneer HS)
Parrish Smith (Evans HS)
Jacob Stetzel (Bishop Luers HS)
Jaelan Stewart (Central Arizona CC)
Ronald Stevenson (Theodore HS)
Isaac Sytsma (Calumet-St. Joseph)
Cameron Thompson (Dover-Sherborn HS)
Sean Torres (Olentangy Orange HS)
Jamarius Wallace (Spartanburg HS)
Michael Williams (Eastside HS)

Print Friendly Version