Eight Student-Athletes to Join Program

Western Michigan University men's track and field coach Mike Turk has announced the signing class for the 2002. Eight student-athletes will join the Bronco program for the 2002-03 season.
"This is an outstanding class," said first-year head coach Mike Turk. "We are very excited about the quality athletes, predominately from Southwest Michigan, that we are bringing into the program."

Seven of the eight athletes are from the state of Michigan. The signees include three distance runners, two middle distance runners, a hurdler, a sprinter, and a thrower. Five of the athletes also competed in cross country. The class has accounted for a total of 10 individual state championships and five runner-up finishes in track and cross country.

Kyle Shaw (Three Rivers, Mich/Three Rivers) was the 2002 MHSAA Division II state champion in 300 meter hurdles and finished runner up in the 110 meter high hurdles. He posted season-best times of 14.53 in the 110 meter high hurdles and 38.42 in the 300 meter hurdles. His time in the 300 meter hurdles ranked him No. 2 in the state among all divisions.

A four-time MHSAA Division III state champion, Aaron Nasers (Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield) took home the 800 and the 1600 meter run championships in both his junior and senior seasons. His efforts helped Pennfield finish second in the state. Nasers also finished second in the 2001 MHSAA Division II Cross Country Championships. He placed second in the Michigan Cross Country Meet of Champions and represented the state at the Midwest Meet of Champions.

Mike Putzke (New Buffalo, Mich./New Buffalo) won a pair of state titles in his senior year. He won the 2001 MHSAA Division IV state championship in cross country before taking the 3200 meter run at the Division IV track and field championships. Putzke represented the state of Michigan at the Midwest Meet of Champions.

Matthew French (Howell, Mich./Howell) was the fourth place finisher at the 2001 MHSAA Division I Cross Country state championships. French also placed second in the 3200 meter run at the Division I state track and field championships. His personal-best time in the 3200 is 9:17.

A two-time state champion, Nelson DeFord (Lansing, Mich./Haslett) won the 200 and the 400 meter dash at the 2001 MHSAA Division II Track and Field Championships, helping his team place third overall. DeFord has run personal-best times of 10.6 in the 100 meter dash, 21.6 in the 200, and 48.36 in the 400.

Jake Hammerle (Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven) was one of the top cross country runners in the state. He finished second in the 2001 MHSAA Division I state championships. He also earned a top-ten finish in the 1600 meter run at the 2001 MHSAA Division I State Track and Field Championships, placing eighth overall.

One of the top performers in the shot put in the United States among high school athletes, Matt Whalen (West Dundee, Ill./H.D. Jacobs) was the 2002 Illinois Indoor Top Times Meet Champion and the 2002 Illinois Class AA State Champion in the shot put. His personal-best mark of 61'5" in the shot ranks among the top 20 in the nation in the event.

Matt Sackrider (Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek) was the Big 16 Conference runner up in cross country. He also placed 20th in the 2001 MHSAA Division II State Cross Country Championships.

"We filled some holes with this class," said Turk. "We met specific needs with quality people."

Western Michigan finished second in both the indoor and outdoor Mid-American Conference Track and Field Championships. The Broncos placed sixth in the MAC in cross country.

BRONCO RECRUITS: NAME EVENT HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
Kyle Shaw Hurdles Three Rivers, Mich./Three Rivers
Aaron Nasers M. Distance Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield
Mike Putzke Distance New Buffalo, Mich./New Buffalo
Matthew French Distance Howell, Mich./Howell
Nelson DeFord Sprints Lansing, Mich./Haslett
Jake Hammerle M. Distance Woodhaven, Mich./Woodhaven
Matt Whalen Throws West Dundee, Ill./H.D. Jacobs
Matt Sackrider Distance Battle Creek, Mich./Harper Creek

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