Berney Announces Corban's Recruiting Class
SALEM, Ore. – Eighth-year head coach Norm Berney announced Monday the signing of 22 student-athletes in the sports of cross country and track & field, including local products Jason Miller and Hannah Whitehead.
"The men's team has ten individuals who have varsity experience," said Berney. "On the women's side, the team includes several new freshman that will challenge our experienced runners for scoring positions. Everyone has worked hard all summer to prepare for the season and we have challenged both teams to qualify for the national meet this November in Vancouver, Washington."
This year's female recruiting class includes Danielle Case (Chiloquin, Ore.), Ariana Cole (Yakima, Wash.), Rebecca Cox (Parma, Idaho), Olivia James (Chugiak, Alaska), Maddie Parsons (Klamath Falls, Ore.), Mesha Perkins (Sherwood, Ore.), Christi Schmitz (North Pole, Alaska), Kristina Schwartz (Portland, Ore.), Abigail Van Hoogen (Boise, Idaho), Bailey Wold (Spokane, Wash.), Hannah Whitehead (Lebanon, Ore.), and Karlen Yallup (Warm Springs, Ore.).
On the men's side, Berney signed Zach Conlee (Milton-Freewater, Ore.), Kyle Croft (Spokane, Wash.), Josh Dyer (Tokatee, Ore.), Riley Forrest (Springfield, Ore.), Mark Hanson (Clackamas, Ore.), Jordan Hatfield (Heppner, Ore.), Chris McGehee (Jefferson, Ore.), Jason Miller (Salem, Ore.), James Myrvold (Sandy, Ore.), and Kent Wilson (Bonney Lake, Wash.).
Case, a 5-foot-10 transfer from Lassen Community College in Northern California, comes to Corban after having played two seasons of basketball for the Cougars. As a senior at Chiloquin High School, Case finished second in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet and sixth in the 100 meter hurdles thanks to a time of 18.13 at the 2A state meet.
Cole, a 5-foot-2 freshman from Highland High School, ran both cross country and track & field for the Scots. A two-time cross country team captain, Cole earned four straight all-league honors and was SCAC district champion as a junior and senior. In track & field, Cole was named Most Inspirational as a senior.
Cox, a 5-foot-9 freshman from Parma High School, will compete in both cross country and track & field for the Warriors after spending four years on the Panthers' track & field team. Cox also competed in basketball and volleyball, while helping lead Parma to back-to-back state championships in volleyball as a junior and senior.
James, a 5-foot-6 freshman from Anchorage Christian School, will be part of the Warriors' track & field squad after competing four years for the Lions. James was part of the three-straight state championships track & field teams at Anchorage Christian, while finishing fourth in the shot put at the state meet. James was second in the shot put at the South Central Regional Championships, as well.
Parsons, a 5-foot-3 transfer from Simpson University, comes to Corban this fall for her first season of cross country since she was a senior at Triad High School in Klamath Falls. Parsons ran at the state cross country championship four times for the Timberwolves, while also setting a district record in the 100 meter dash.
Perkins, a 5-foot-4 freshman from Sherwood High School, arrives in the Capital City after helped lead the Bowman to four straight district track & field championships. Perkins ran track & field for four years, while competing on the cross country team as a junior and senior.
Schmitz, a 5-foot-5 freshman from North Pole High School in Alaska, will compete in both cross country and track & field for the Warriors after being named Wendy's Alaska State Female Athlete of the Year as a senior. Schmitz was a three-time state cross country competitor, while also taking part in the state track & field championships as a junior and senior.
Schwartz, a 5-foot-3 freshman from David Douglas High School, comes to Corban after running three years in cross country and track & field for the Scots. Schwartz also was a member of the dance team as a freshman and sophomore, while helping lead David Douglas to first place finish in the drill down and hip-hop division.
Van Hoogen, a 5-foot-10 freshman from Borah High School, will suit up for the Warriors' track & field team this spring after completing the women's soccer season. Van Hoogen posted a career-high in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet, 3-inches as a senior to win the District 3 Championship before finishing seventh at the 5A state championship meet in the same event.
Wold, a 5-foot-9 freshman from West Valley High School, will move from the court to the field in the spring following the conclusion of the women's volleyball season. Wold registered a point total of 4,869 in the decathlon to finish second at the State Multi Events, while posting a season-high leap of 34-feet, 9-inches in the triple jump as a senior.
Whitehead, a 5-foot-6 freshman from East Linn Christian High School, brings a wealth of talent to Corban after helping lead the Eagles to a sixth place finish in cross country and a third place finish in track & field as a senior. As an individual, Whitehead was named conference female runner of the year as a junior and senior to go along with back-to-back 400 meter state championships.
Yallup, a 5-foot-8 freshman from Madras High School, will run as part of the Warriors' cross country team before stepping onto the court as a member of Corban's women's basketball team during the winter months. Yallup posted a career-low 5K time of 21:01.60 at the Harrier Classic as a senior.
Conlee, a 6-foot-3 freshman from McLoughlin High School, will compete on the Warriors' track & field team after just one season for the Pioneers. Conlee finished second in the district in the shot put before turning in a sixth place showing at the state meet, while ranking third in the district in the discus as a senior.
Croft, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Valley Christian School, will be a two-sport athlete at Corban in both cross country and track & field after competing four years for the Panthers. Croft was a two-time Bi-County All-League selection, while also competing in the state championship as a junior and senior. Croft also posted a third place finish in the 110 and 300 meter races as a senior after posting a championship performance in both events at the District 7 meet.
Dyer, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Glide High School, comes to Corban after four years of track & field for the Wildcats. Dyer helped lead Glide's 4x400 meter relay team to a runner-up finish at the state meet, while earning the team's Most Inspirational award as a senior.
Forrest, a 5-foot-8 freshman from Thurston High School, will join his older brother, Jefferson, on the Warriors' cross country and track & field teams this fall. Forrest was a member of the three-time Midwestern District cross country champions, while also earning 2nd team all-league honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior.
Hanson, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Portland Christian High School, arrives at Corban after winning the 2A state championship in the javelin as a senior. Hanson also was the NWL District Champion in both the shot put and javelin during his senior season, while finishing second in the district in the javelin as both a sophomore and junior.
Hatfield, a 6-foot freshman from Heppner High School, will compete for the Warriors after earning 14 state championship appearances for the Mustangs. Hatfield also was a three-time state runner-up in two events, while winning 10 district championships in five different events.
McGehee, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Jefferson High School, comes to Corban after four seasons in both cross country and track & field for the Lions. McGehee qualified for the state cross country meet as a junior, while advancing to the state track & field meet in both the 300 meter hurdles and 4x400 meter relay as a senior.
Miller, a 5-foot-10 freshman from nearby Sprague High School, is the lone Salem-area runner to sign with Corban after spending time competing for the Olympians. Miller was named All Mid-Valley as a senior, while winning the district championships in the 400 meter dash as a senior.
Myrvold, a 6-foot-4 freshman from Sandy High School, will move from the field to the track this spring after the men's soccer season has concluded. Myrvold finished second in the high jump at the OSAA 6A state championship meet after clearing a season-best 6-foot, 5-inches, while finishing as the Mt. Hood Conference runner-up in the triple jump with a career-best leap of 43-feet, 5-inches.
Wilson, a 6-foot-1 from Bonney Lake High School in Washington, will compete for the Warriors' track & field team after posting career-highs in the javelin, shot put, and discus as a senior.
Corban will begin its cross country season on Saturday, September 4th, with the second annual Corban Invitational at 9:30 a.m. in Salem. Meanwhile, the Warriors' track & field team will not begin competition until the spring of 2011.