IU East News
With a few strokes of a pen, the Indiana University East cross country program almost doubled in size, and the Red Wolves' track and field roster began to take shape.
IU East cross country and track and field distance coach Pam Mertz on Nov. 4 announced six local high school seniors signed letters of intent to compete for the Red Wolves' programs during the 2010-11 school year.
Northeastern senior Patrick Smith, Randolph Southern seniors Aaron Myers and Danielle Acton, Union County senior Jordyn Holland and New Castle senior Shayna Gray signed letters of intent to run cross country for the Red Wolves starting with the 2010 season. The quintet also signed to compete for the new IU East track and field program.
Northeastern senior Hunter Curtis signed to compete in track and field program.
The addition of a track and field program at IU East was announced Nov. 3.
Mertz held a signing ceremony for all six athletes prior to a pre-big-meet pizza party for the current cross country team. The Red Wolves compete in meets Friday in Nashville, Tenn., that will determine qualifiers for the NAIA National Championships.
"It's been a big day because our main goal has been to build up our numbers," said Mertz, who sees 10 runners per team as the target number for the cross country programs. "I wanted to show our kids before our conference meet that things are going to be better next year."
The Red Wolves often did not have enough runners for a full team this fall.
Smith helped Northeastern win its conference and qualify for the IHSAA semistate this fall. He is a three-time age group champion in the Wayne County Challenge local running series.
"Being able to run at the collegiate level is a great opportunity," Smith said.
Myers was an all-county and all-conference runner at Randolph Southern. He helped Randolph Southern reach the IHSAA regionals three times.
Myers said he picked IU East because he can earn a degree at a fraction of the cost at other schools and to pursue a course of study in elementary education.
Acton helped Randolph Southern's girls cross country teams earn two county championships and one conference championship, as well as two trips to the IHSAA regionals.
Acton liked IU East's location, size and price.
Holland has been an all-conference runner at Union County.
"(IU East) seems like an amazing school for good opportunities," Holland said.
Gray is a multi-sport athlete at New Castle.
She picked IU East because of "the many opportunities" available.
Curtis' accomplishments range from special teams MVP on the Northeastern football team to drum major in the band.
Curtis picked IU East for the chance to participate in athletics and to stay close to home in a "great atmosphere" with "nice class sizes."
Current IU East cross country runners Nick Reece (Fountain City, Ind/Richmond High School; bottom left), Vanessa Legg (Lynn, Ind./Randolph Southern High School; bottom middle) and James Healton (Centerville, Ind./Centerville High School; bottom right) also signed during Tuesday's ceremony to compete for the track and field program.
IN THE TOP PHOTO: Front row from left: Jordyn Holland, Danielle Acton and Shayna Gray. Back row from left: Patrick Smith, Aaron Myers, Hunter Curtis and Pam Mertz.
WANT TO JOIN?: Click here to fill out a cross country and/or track and field recruiting form.
