Nine Sign for NU XC and Track & Field
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Northwest University’s head cross country and track & field coach, Mark Mandi, announced the signing of nine student-athletes to attend the university this fall. Five women have signed letters of intent while four men have committed to attend and compete for NU.
Mia Valerio will join the women’s team from Littleton, Colo., and is a 2016 graduate of Dakota Ridge High School. Valerio earned ten varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track & field at DRHS and was a three-time all-conference and state qualifier in cross country. She also earned second team, all-conference honors in track & field. Mia plans to major in Public Relations and Communications at Northwest U.
Commented Coach Mandi, “I'm really excited about the group that we brought in. On the women's side, we added depth to our distance group that already features a strong group of returners. Mia comes in with a basketball background and has a level of toughness that will really add that gritty layer to our competitiveness. Last year, she helped lead her team to a 7th place finish at the Colorado 5A State XC Championships.”
Emma Horn, of Lake Stevens, Wash., graduated from Lake Stevens High School and earned eight letters in varsity sports at Lake Stevens High. A 2016 team captain, Horn was awarded the Lake Stevens Foundation and Lions Club scholarships. Horn will major in Elementary Education at NU.
“Emma comes from a strong high school program,” said Mandi, “and has a strong mindset to training and racing that should help her transition easily into the college atmosphere. Mia Valerio and Emma Horn should make an immediate impact and help our women's team compete at a high level this season and for years to come.”
Reegan Moore, of Spokane, Wash., is a transfer from Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, Wash., where she competed for the TLC Eagles. TLC was closed the end of the 2015-16 school year. Moore is a 2015 graduate of Shadle Park High School in Spokane and will be a sophomore at Northwest U this fall. In 2011, Moore was the 3A Freshman District champion and went on to earn two varsity letters in both cross country and track & field. She will be a Business major.
Leila Praino is from Carnation, Wash., and is a recent graduate of Bellevue Christian High School. Praino was a four year varsity letter winner in cross country and track & field. An outstanding student, Leila maintained a 3.6 grade point average and was a member of the National Honor Society at BCHS. Praino will major in Music Education.
Megan Golling, of Puyallup, Wash., is a 2016 graduate of Rogers High School and also spent two years in the Running Start program at Pierce College in Tacoma, Wash. She will be a junior this fall at NU and majoring in Business Management.
Said Coach Mandi, “Reegan Moore, Leila Praino, and Megan Golling are young women we are also excited to have join our team(s). Reegan is a Trinity Lutheran College transfer and will already have that valuable experience of competing at a collegiate level. Leila and Megan are both local athletes and we're glad they decided to stick around the area and compete for us. They will all have an opportunity to add to the culture of our program and I'm looking forward to coaching them this upcoming season.”
For the NU men,
TJ Randle, of Tacoma, Wash., will compete for the Eagles in 2016. He is a 2014 graduate of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, and will be a junior at NU this fall. Randle attended Trinity Lutheran College for two years where he earned two TLC Athlete of the Year awards and qualified for the NCCAA nationals in 2015 and 2016. He was named a NCCAA All-American in 2016. Randle plans to major in Business Administration.
“On our men's side, we are bringing in students to help add variety for our team,” stated Mandi. “TJ Randle, another Trinity Lutheran College transfer, just finished 3rd place at the 2016 NCCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 400m Hurdles as well as 4th in the 110m Hurdles and should make an immediate impact out on the track this season. He's a tough competitor but just as importantly he will be a great guy to have around the team.”
Riley Sine comes to NU from Spokane, Wash., and Central Valley High School. Sine is a two-time varsity letter winner in both cross country and track & field. An outstanding student, he was a member of the National Honor Society and earned a Washington State Honors Award in 2016. Sine will have a double major in Communications and Youth and Family Ministry at Northwest U.
Cameron Siler, of Lake Stevens, Wash., is a transfer from Trinity Lutheran College in Everett, Wash. He is a 2012 graduate of Lake Stevens High School where he lettered in cross country and track & field. Cameron was also a member of the National Honor Society at LSHS. At Trinity Lutheran, Siler was appointed team captain of the cross country team in 2015.
Coach Mandi commented, “Riley Sine and Cameron Siler should help the men's distance group deal with the loss of senior Jonathan Ferguson. Riley had a breakout senior season and showed tremendous improvements across the board, most notably with his 9:31 performance at 3,200m. Last year, Cameron, another Trinity Lutheran College transfer, was solid throughout and capped off the year with a personal best for 800m on the track. Both Riley and Cameron love running and are students of the sport. They're going to fit right and contribute to our men's distance program and give us some depth and even fire power up front.”
Carter Cunningham is from Indio, Calif., and is a 2016 graduate of La Quinta High School. He will compete in the shot put and discus for the NU track & field team. At La Quinta, Cunningham won the 2016 Desert Valley League championship in the discus and was named Track Throwing MVP. Carter was awarded a Rotary Scholarship in 2016 and will major in Biology at NU.
“Carter Cunningham is another addition to our men's track & field team that we are really excited about having,” continued Coach Mandi. “He's a young man who will work hard day in and day out and it showed last year with a big improvement in the discus at La Quinta.”