FERRIS STATE ANNOUNCES 2003-04 RECRUITING CLASS

Thirteen Student-Athletes Join Men’s & Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Program

The group includes Darryl Bowman (Baldwin), Kamitra Carrol (Flint/Carmen-Ainsworth), Stephan Davis (Allegan), Steve Ellsworth (Auburn Hills/Avondale), Elizabeth Engle (Colon), Ashley Farr (Detroit/King) and Chase Gibson (Big Rapids). They join Katie Kundrat (Central Lake), Lauren Lindner (Warren/Mott), B.J. Meyers (Rockford), Chandra Robinson (Warren/Mott), Kyle Schuberg (Big Rapids) and Julia Viel (Big Rapids) as Ferris’ 2003-04 commitments to date.

“Although it took awhile to assemble, our recruiting class came together nicely,” Kavalunas said. “This group is extremely versatile and will be able to step in and contribute in a number of events.

“A large number of student-athletes in this class have the talent and potential to immediately compete in our league,” added Kavalunas.

Headlining the list of additions is the Big Rapids trio of Gibson, Schuberg and Viel. Gibson, who finished 83rd overall (16:56.55) at the 2003 Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Lower Peninsula Division II State Cross Country Championships (11/2) held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, helped guide the Cardinals’ cross country team to back-to-back state titles in 2000-01. Schuberg, the younger brother of current FSU football player Tyler Schuberg (Big Rapids), placed fifth in the long jump (21’-3.25’’) at the 2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Track and Field Championships (5/31) after previously claiming regional championship recognition. A 2003 state track and field meet qualifier in the 3,200 meters, Viel recorded her second consecutive top 100 finish at the 2002 state cross country championships with an 89th-place (20:13) showing. Bowman, who hails from Baldwin, is expected to contend for all-conference laurels in the throwing events after claiming the Big Rapids Pioneer Track and Field Championships title and a state runner-up finish (51-2) in the shot put last spring.

“We’re excited about the quality of area athletes we’ve added,” Kavalunas said. “Kyle really had a productive spring and should be a solid jumper for us while Darryl is a raw talent with tremendous potential. Chase has the ability to help fortify our men’s distance events and Julia could contend for one of the top seven women’s cross country spots.”

In addition to Gibson and Viel, three other recruits will compete in cross country along with track and field including Kundrat, Meyers and Robinson. Kundrat reached the 2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division IV State Track and Field Championships (5/31) in the 3,200 meters following a third place (12:15.39) regional finish. A 2003 state meet qualifier, Robinson also attained all-region kudos in the 800-meter run after concluding her senior cross country campaign with a 119th-place finish (20:09.45) at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I State Championships. A prep teammate of current FSU men’s track and field/cross country distance runner Joe Swendrowski, Meyers was a four-time all-state cross country pick and led the Rams to state championships in 2000 and 2002. He placed 23rd overall (15:58.25) in the Division I field at the 2002 state cross country meet.

The 2003-04 class also includes three state track and field meet champions in Carrol, Davis and Ellsworth. Carrol broke the MHSAA Division I state meet record (45-6.25) en route to claiming individual championship honors in the shot put as a senior. Davis compiled a first-place (14-6) performance in the pole vault at the MHSAA Division II State Championships while Ellsworth’s long jump mark of 22-0.75 topped the field in 2003.

Engle, Farr and Lindner are expected to add quality depth to the women’s program. Engle won a regional title in 2003 and qualified for the state finals in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdle events. A high school teammate of Robinson, Lindner presently holds her school’s long jump record (16-9) and registered a fifth-place performance at the 2003 MHSAA Division I Region VII Championships (5/17). Farr captured 2003 Detroit Public School League titles in both the 200 and 400-meter dashes. She also claimed a regional championship in the 400 meters (57.80) and qualified for the state meet in two events.

“Along with the state champions, this class also includes other kids who were near the top of their respective divisions,” said Kavalunas. “Overall, we’re expecting a majority of these student-athletes to contribute in the near future.”

Ferris State placed fourth in the women’s field (84 points) and seventh (41) in the men’s competition at the 2003 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The women’s team finished sixth (42.5) while the men’s team was eighth (18) at the conference indoor meet. FSU also took eighth place in both the men’s and women’s divisions at the league cross country championships in 2002.

2003-04 Ferris State Recruits:

Kamitra Carrol
Women’s Track & Field
Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth
Event: Throws
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I State Champion (Shot Put)

Stephan Davis
Men’s Track & Field
Allegan, Mich.
Event: Pole Vault
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Champion (Pole Vault)

Steve Ellsworth
Men’s Track & Field
Auburn Hills, Mich./Avondale
Event: Jumps
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Champion (Long Jump)

Elizabeth Engle
Women’s Track & Field
Colon, Mich.
Event: Hurdles
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division IV State Qualifier (100-Meter Hurdles; 300-Meter Hurdles)

Ashley Farr
Women’s Track & Field
Detroit, Mich./King
Event: Sprints
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I State Qualifier (200 and 400 Meters)

Chase Gibson
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Big Rapids, Mich.
Event: Distance
Placed 83rd overall at the 2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Cross Country Championships

Katie Kundrat
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Central Lake, Mich.
Event: Distance
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division IV State Qualifier (3,200 Meters)

Lauren Lindner
Women’s Track & Field
Warren, Mich./Mott
Event: Jumps
Placed fifth in the long jump at the 2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I Region VII Championships

B.J. Meyers
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Rockford, Mich.
Event: Distance
Four-Time MHSAA All-State Boys Cross Country Recipient

Chandra Robinson
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Warren, Mich./Mott
Event: Distance
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I State Qualifier (800 Meters)

Kyle Schuberg
Men’s Track & Field
Big Rapids, Mich.
Event: Jumps
Placed fifth in the long jump at the 2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Championships

Julia Viel
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Big Rapids, Mich.
Event: Distance
2003 MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division II State Qualifier (3,200 Meters)

MHSAA - Michigan High School Athletic Association