Cavalier Men Sign 10 to NLIs
Nov. 23, 2017
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.– Virginia director of track and field and cross country Bryan Fetzer announced on Thursday (Nov. 23) the signing of 10 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to join the men’s track and field and cross country program.
“We are very excited about our men’s class,” Fetzer said. “They will provide depth and a great foundation for the future.”
Colton Bogucki- cross country/distance- Purcellville, Va.
– Ranks 18th in senior class for the mile and 21st in the 2-mile
– Member of the top cross country team in the country, which earned a perfect score of 15 at the 2017 Virginia Cross Country Championships
“Colton Bogucki is a member of the state championship Loudon Valley team. He has demonstrated success on the track and in cross country, and he is one of the top runners in the state.” – UVA assistant coach Pete Watson
“UVA has always been a dream school of mine. It’s an amazing school with an unmatched college atmosphere. Charlottesville is a beautiful place. I can’t wait to live and run there.” -Bogucki
Trey Causey- jumps- Winchester, Va.
– Ranked No. 29 nationally among seniors and No. 1 for Virginia in the high jump
– Named All-Area Track and Field top athlete for Winchester, Va.
“Trey has a huge upside. I’m so excited to have the state’s (Virginia) best coming to Charlottesville. We have not recruited a male high jumper in a while, but with the addition of Coach Freeman to the staff, it has allowed our staff to open up that area for development.”- Fetzer
“When I came on my visit to UVA, one thing that really impressed me was the fact that they didn’t try to ‘woo’ me. They took a very modest and humble approach, and that was one thing that really stood out to me. The fact that they have a really good track program, along with great academics, stood out to me as well. On my visit, I got to see one of the practices, and I saw how they just got after it and really put the work in. Even when they were tired, they continued to go hard. Ultimately, I knew that I just wanted to be a part of it.”- Causey
Colin Duignan- pole vault- Bronxville, N.Y.
– New York State Outdoor Championship 2017 runner-up in pole vault
– 2017 Eastern State outdoor champion in the pole vault
“Colin possess everything a pole vault coach wants to work with, in that he’s tall, fast and has a great technical understanding of the event. He comes to UVA from one of the top programs in the country. Colin is a true student-athlete and we are glad that he chose to be a Cavalier.”- UVA assistant coach Mario Wilson
“UVA has the highest standards and such a rich history. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it. I am looking forward to reaching new heights on and off the track at UVA.”- Duignan
Ethan Dabbs- javelin- Johnstown, Pa.
– Ranked No. 11 nationally among seniors in the javelin
– Two-time PIAA District 6 champion
“Ethan is a tenacious type of athlete who does not shy away from hard and dedicated work. His energetic attitude will fit perfectly with our throws group.” – UVA assistant coach Martin Maric
“When I walked onto the campus at UVA it just felt right. Great coaching along with a great engineering program especially peaked my interest. I am excited to see what’s to come in my future at Virginia.”- Dabbs
Nolan Harris- cross country- Riner, Va.
– Set the Virginia High School League 1A all-time record in the 5k
– Finished ninth in the 2-mile at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in 2017 in addition to being a seven-time VHSL 1A/2A champion
“Nolan is the fastest 1A cross country runners in the state of Virginia and I think he has tremendous upside. He knows how to win and these are the types of guys we need.”- Watson
“I chose UVA because I want to challenge myself to be the best I can be. The best opportunities to do this academically and athletically are at UVA, and with the group of guys joining me next year, I think we can do some amazing things.” – Harris
Derek Johnson- cross country/distance- Leesburg, Va.
– Named to the All-RunWashington team
– Three-time All-State honoree in cross country and track and field
“Derek, last year on the track, really demonstrated the potential to be a top athlete in the state. I am excited to have him on the team.”- Watson
“I chose UVA because it has a history of both academic and athletic excellence. It has one of the best 5k and 10k programs in the country, and their systems engineering program is ranked in the top 10 as well. I have a diverse set of interests and I feel that I can pursue all of them at UVA.”- Johnson
Ryan Lockett- cross country/distance- Dickerson, Md.
– Ranked No. 1 nationally among seniors in the 3,200-meter race and No. 17 in the indoor 2-mile
– Six-time Maryland State Champion
“Ryan was a very important signee for us. He is one of the top distance runners in the country and I am very excited to have him on the team.” – Watson
“I chose UVA because I feel that it will be a place that I will thrive both athletically and academically. I think there is great chemistry on UVA’s team and I’m excited to be a part of it. I cannot wait to start my college career.”- Lockett
Yared Mekonnen – cross country/distance- Alexandria, Va.
– Ranked No. 19 nationally in senior class in the 2-mile
– Five-time all-state honoree
“Yared is the indoor 2-mile runner-up and just had a great cross country season. He has a tremendous upside and I think he will contribute to this team pretty quickly.”- Watson
“There were so many reasons to choose to run at UVA. The coaching staff has a clear idea of what they’re doing, and an ability to zero in on what is the best for the individual athlete. The facilities the university offers are amazing and give the athletes an edge on the competition. Its academic program is unparalleled, outing me in the best position come graduation. There’s nowhere else I could see myself going.”- Mekonnen
Peter Morris- cross country/distance- Hamilton, Va.
– Ranked No. 23 nationally in senior class in the 2-mile
– Member of the top cross country team in the country, which earned a perfect score of 15 at the 2017 Virginia Cross Country Championships
“In the past two years, Peter arguably has been the most consistent and successful cross country runner in the state. He is part of a tremendous program at Loudon Valley and will be a great asset to the team here.”- Watson
“I chose UVA because of its excellent academic and athletic programs. I looked at a number of schools, but the UVA coaches and team made me feel right at home. Coach Watson and Coach Fetzer have a lot of experience which will help me improve as an athlete. The team is supportive of each other, but also knows how to work hard and stay focused. I was impressed by way UVA takes care of its student-athletes. UVA provides a lot of resources to help the student-athlete be successful in academics and athletics. UVA continues to be one of the top public institutions in the nation. These are the reasons I chose the University of Virginia.”- Morris
Grant Summers- cross country/distance- Lake Oswego, Ore.
– Ranks fourth on all-time senior list on district course
– Finished first-team all-league in cross country and second-team all-league track and field in the 3k
“One of the top cross country and track runners out of Oregon. I was very impressed with him during the recruiting process and his desire to be here at UVA.” – Watson
“I chose UVA because of the strong academic and athletic reputation, and the opportunities the experience will provide me.”- Summers