FERRIS STATE RECEIVES COMMITMENT FROM LOCAL PREP RUNNER
Crossroads Charter Academy’s Rebecca Monroe To Join Bulldog Distance Group
The Ferris State University women’s cross country/track and field program has received a commitment from local distance runner Rebecca Monroe (Big Rapids/Crossroads Charter Academy), who has announced her intentions to attend and compete in both sports at FSU, starting with the 2006-07 academic term. The announcement was made by 10th-year FSU head coach Jeff Kavalunas.
 | Local prep runner Rebecca Monroe of Crossroads Charter Academy inked with Ferris State this fall |
Monroe helped guide Big Rapids’ Crossroads Charter Academy to back-to-back Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Lower Peninsula Division IV State Cross Country Championships in 2004-05 under head coach Kendall Schroeder. The Cougars were the first charter school in the country to win a state title in any sport when they captured their first crown during Monroe’s junior season in 2004.
“We’re excited Rebecca’s going to join our program at Ferris State,” Kavalunas said. “Based on her performance in high school, we’re expecting her to step right in and help our squad as we compete for a spot in the national championships and try to move up in the league standings.”
Monroe placed fifth overall among 230 runners in a time of 18:49.8 at this season’s state championships (Nov. 5). The senior captain finished first of the title squad’s seven performers at the state meet, which was held on Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. She also was chosen to represent Michigan in the Mideast Regional Cross Country Championships based on her top 10 overall finish. The regional field annually includes top performers from the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
“Her team has performed extremely well over the last couple of years at Crossroads and Rebecca has been a big part of the success,” said Kavalunas. “She had a great season this fall and should come in and do well for us. Anytime you can run under 19 minutes in high school, it gives you an outstanding opportunity to succeed at the college level.”
Monroe was Crossroads’ highest finisher and took seventh place overall in a time of 19:30.75 at the 2004 state cross country championships (11/6) while earning all-state laurels for the first time. The Big Rapids native plans to major in optometry at Ferris State. She is the first student-athlete from Crossroads to sign a national letter-of-intent at a NCAA Division II school or higher.
The Cougars also earned back-to-back regional championships and won three consecutive Michigan Class D Coaches Association State Finals crowns during Monroe's prep career.
The Ferris State women's cross country team captured fifth place at the 2005 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Championships (Nov. 5) held on FSU’s Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldog women's team finished one spot short of qualifying as a team for the national championships for the second consecutive year. FSU also took third overall in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championships this season.
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