BULLDOGS ANNOUNCE 2002-03 RECRUITING CLASS

Ten Athletes Join FSU Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country Program

The signees include Kristen Balla (Farmington) (pronounced Ball-a), Jessica Bunce (DeWitt) (pronounced Buntz), Katie Grundeman (Albion/Homer) (pronounced Grund-a-man), Jenny Irwin (Scottville/Mason County Central), Kathryn Lange (Laingsburg) (pronounced Lang) and Leanna Wolf (Fountain/Mason County Central). They join Michelle Blanch (Grand Rapids/Kenowa Hills – Grand Rapids CC), Michele Vanderhyde (Sand Lake/Tri-County – Western Michigan) (pronounced Vander-Hyde), Andrew Hayton (Adrian/Sand Creek) (pronounced like Clayton) and Matthew Neiman (China Township/St. Clair) (pronounced Ni-man) as Ferris’ 2002-03 commitments to date.

“We’ve added a solid group overall,” Kavalunas said. “They are excited to come in this fall and can’t wait to get here, which is a good thing for our program. We looked for kids that would come in and compete immediately and this group will certainly do that.

“Although we’re not in a position to sign many athletes on the men’s side because of our youth, we’re still looking to fill in a few areas this summer,” Kavalunas added.

Balla, Irwin, Lange and Wolf will compete in both women’s cross country and run distance events in track and field. A 1999 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Cross Country Academic All-State selection, Balla was a two-time (1999, 2001) team Most Valuable Performer Award winner. Lange, a four-time (1998-01) All-Central Michigan Athletic Conference cross country honoree, placed 40th overall (20:34.50) at the 2001 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Cross Country Finals (11/3/01) held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

Irwin finished 27th overall (20:13.90) at the 2001 Division III State Cross Country Championships and was sixth (5:21.55) in the 1,600-meter run at the 2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Track and Field Championships (June 1) held at Comstock Park High School. Wolf earned 2001 MHSAA Division III All-State accolades with a fourth place (2:20.37) 800-meter dash finish at the state finals. Both Irwin and Wolf ran on Mason County Central’s 2001 State Championship 3,200-Meter Relay Team (9:31.71).

“We’ve graduated quite a few distance kids in the past two years, so we tried to bring in athletes who could help us in that area,” Kavalunas said. “This group of girls has had some success and should continue to excel in our program.”

Bunce and Grundeman are expected to contribute immediately in the women’s throwing events. Grundeman placed fourth overall (115-0) at the 2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Track and Field Championships while Bunce was a 2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Track and Field qualifier.

“Jessica and Katie haven’t had a lot of experience in some of the weight events, but they have continued to show improvement,” said Kavalunas. “They both have good athletic ability and should be able to step in and be competitive in our league.”

The Bulldogs landed two transfer athletes in Vanderhyde and Blanch, both of whom will compete in the women’s pole vault. Vanderhyde, who broke NCAA Division I Western Michigan University’s women’s indoor pole vault record (10-6) this past season, is the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Track and Field meet record holder (10-9; 2001). Blanch competed at Kenowa Hills High School prior to enrolling at Grand Rapids Community College.

Kavalunas added depth in the men’s program with the addition of Hayton and Neiman. Hayton, the 2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division IV State High Jump Champion (6-6), was invited to compete in the 2002 Midwest “Meet of Champions,” one of the area’s most prestigious all-star events. Neiman, a distance runner, was an all-area performer at St. Clair High School and plans to compete in both the FSU men’s cross country and track and field programs.

The Ferris State women’s track and field team placed third (123 points) of nine teams at the 2002 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships and recorded the program’s best national meet finish ever (15th place - 12 points) at the 2002 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Bulldog men finished sixth (141 points) of 12 teams at the 2001 GLIAC Cross Country Championships and were seventh overall at both the league’s 2002 indoor and outdoor track and field meets.

2002-03 Ferris State Recruits:

Michelle Blanch
Women’s Track & Field
Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills (Grand Rapids CC)
Event: Pole Vault
Competed in the pole vault at Kenowa Hills High School

Jessica Bunce
Women’s Track & Field
DeWitt, Mich.
Event: Throws
2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Track & Field Meet Qualifier

Katie Grundeman
Women’s Track & Field
Albion, Mich./Homer
Event: Throws
2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III All-State Track & Field Honoree (Discus)

Andrew Hayton
Men’s Track & Field
Adrian, Mich./Sand Creek
Event: High Jump
2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division IV State High Jump Champion (6-6)

Jenny Irwin
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Scottville, Mich./Mason County Central
Event: Distance
Placed sixth at 2002 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Track & Field Championships (1,600-meter run)

Kathryn Lange
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Laingsburg, Mich.
Event: Distance
Four-Time (1998-01) All-Central Michigan Athletic Conference Cross Country Honoree

Matthew Neiman
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
China Township, Mich./St. Clair
Event: Distance
Was an all-area performer in both cross country and track & field

Michele Vanderhyde
Women’s Track & Field
Sand Lake, Mich./Tri-County (Western Michigan)
Event: Pole Vault
Holds MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III State Track & Field Meet Record (Pole Vault: 10-9, 2001)

Leanna Wolf
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Fountain, Mich./Mason County Central
Event: Distance
2001 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division III All-State Track & Field Performer (800-meter dash)

MHSAA - Michigan High School Athletic Association