Peoria, Ill. ? Bradley cross country and track and field coach David Beauchem has announced a seven-member recruiting class on the women's side and a pair of recruits to the rapidly improving men's side for 2006-07.
The seven member women's class provides tremendous depth to a squad that returns all 13 members of the 2005-06 roster that included nine freshman and sophomores while the two additions to the men's team provide instant contributors to and up-and-coming side with six freshman and sophomores on the nine-member team.
2006-07 Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Recruits
2006-07 Men's Cross Country Recruits
Brubaker is the 2004 Class A state-runner up in the 1,600m and was a three-time state qualifier in cross country, garnering two top-ten finishes including a 6th place showing in 2003.
“Rachel is going to be a great fit to our team. I see her having a very small transition to the MVC and making a very strong contribution to our team almost immediately” Said Beauchem.
Bucalo is a competitive weight lifter with 10th place showings in the Class AA meet in the discus each of the past two seasons and looks to continue a strong tradition of throwers on the Hilltop along with Schamberger who comes off of a 5th place showing in the Illinois Class A state finals in the shot put.
“Anne and Catherine are certainly going to add to the quality of our throw group. Anne is bringing a very solid strength base to her college career and Catherine's improvement over the past 12 months; I see them working very well together and with Kim (Martin) and Jennifer (Jenkins) to continue to keep us very competitive in the MVC throws.”
Glander brings a winning feeling to the Braves, having run for the highly successful Sandburg program that finished in the top six in the AA state meet three times in her career.
Haefelin joins the Braves with three top-ten finishes in the Illinois Class A cross country meet including a 5th place showing in 2003.
“Melanie brings as much experience to our program as any incoming freshman I have had at Bradley University. I believe Melanie is a great fit to BU will be a tremendous asset to our team.” said Beauchem.
“I am truly looking forward to adding Marlana to our team this fall. Everything I have seen and heard about her says she is a great competitor and I see her attitude being a great addition to our program.”
Lotter and Switzer come in as key contributors to quality high school programs and look to immediate contributors.
“Tracy was the final recruit to sign with our program this year. We have never before been able to add a person of Tracy's caliber so late in the recruiting year. Tracy is a person who is just fully committed to winning. Through out her high school career she has always done what ever is asked of her to help her team win. She is going to prove to be an invaluable addition to this program.”
“Amanda has had tremendous improvement through out her senior year in Cross Country and Track & Field. Amanda is really going to benefit from the being able to race 5K and 6K in Cross Country and 5K and 10K on the track in college. I really see Amanda contributing to our top 7 in XC through all four of her years at BU.”
The men's additions include ICC transfer and former Elmwood standout Drew Cisel and Andrew Weiser, a former high school teammate of current Braves Nathan Ahart.
“Andrew was in the top 20 of the MSHSAA State Meet when he fell with less than ? mile to go. He was able to salvage a 40th place finish, but he is much better than that place shows. He was also playing soccer throughout each of his high school Cross Country seasons and I feel very strongly that as Andrew adjusts to being a full-time distance runner he will prove to be one of the best recruits our Men's XC Program has had in a long time.”
“Drew is the first junior college recruit I have had at Bradley University and was very close to coming here after he finished high school in 2004. I really see Drew being a key member of our team this fall. He is really going to provide us with some consistency and help solidify our top 7.”
