Track & Field Adds Seven Signees to Incoming Class

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State track & field head coach Brian Etelman continued to strengthen the program with the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent during the spring signing period.

Emmalyne Tarsa (Traverse City, Mich./St. Francis) will look to make an immediate impact in the fall, when she joins the cross country program. Paris Carver (Fishers, Ind./Fishers), Michelle Lehmann (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Watterson), Ivy McKee (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln), Maquila Norman (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Lutheran West), Anasja Troutman (Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) and Wambui Watene (Columbus, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) will make their debuts in the winter with the indoor track & field program.

The seven new signees join multi-event specialist Abby Denham (Switz City, Ind./White River Valley), distance runner Cayla Eckenroth (Novi, Mich./Northville) and sprinter Dejah Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind./Warren Central) who inked their NLIs during the early signing period in November.

"I'm so proud of our staff and everyone involved in our program for putting together another stellar signing class," head coach Brian Etelman said. "We know the key to building Ball State into a championship-caliber program is to develop our current student-athletes and continue to recruit and sign talented incoming freshman to make in impact right away. I feel we have done this for the second year in a row. As great as our staff's first recruiting class was last year, I believe this one matches that one in many different ways. We will now have the depth needed to give our returners the help they need to deliver high-quality performances come championship time. While we have assembled a sizable class to this point, I anticipate the addition of a handful more in the coming weeks. We are committed to making our program the best it can be, and that dedication is reflected in this year's recruiting class once again."

STUDENT-ATHLETE INFORMATION

Paris Carver; Sprints
Fishers, Ind. (Fishers High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 60m – 7.89 | 200m – 24.98 | 400m – 58.49

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1st in the 4x200m relay at the 2017 Hoosier State Relays | 7th in the 60m at the 2016 Hoosier State Relays | 5th in the 200m at the 2016 IHSAA Outdoor State Championships | 11th in the 400m at the 2015 IHSAA Outdoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON CARVER: "Paris is a multi-talented sprinter that comes to us from just down the street in Fishers. One of Paris' best qualities is her ability to perform at a high level when it matters most, as shown by her competitive finishes at the Indiana State Championship meets. Paris will give us much needed depth across both sprint relays and play a major role in the 200 and 400 events at the MAC level. We always prioritize recruiting the best sprinters in the state of Indiana and we continue that trend by bring Paris on board to make a difference for us."

12224

Michelle Lehmann; Sprints / Jumps
Columbus, Ohio (Bishop Watterson High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 60m – 7.74 | Long Jump – 17'-6.75"

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2nd in the long jump at the 2017 OATCCC Indoor State Championships | 6th in the 60m at the 2017 OATCCC Indoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON LEHMANN: "Michelle is a very talented pure athlete that is coming off a phenomenal indoor season in Ohio. I'm excited for the opportunity to work with Michelle as her natural foot speed makes the sky the limit for her long-term potential. We are getting an extremely driven and intelligent student-athlete in Michelle that will make a difference in the sprints and jumps areas right away."

12225

Ivy McKee; Sprints / Jumps
Columbus, Ohio (Gahanna Lincoln High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 60m – 7.92 | 200m – 25.35

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1st in the 4x200m relay at the 2017 OATCCC Indoor State Championships | 3rd in the 4x200m relay at the 2016 OHSAA Outdoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON MCKEE: "We are incredibly excited to have Ivy join the sprint/jump group next year. Ivy comes to Ball State with a championship pedigree as a member of numerous Gahanna Lincoln High School State Championship teams in Ohio. Ivy gives us the depth in her event areas that we need right now and I look forward to her stepping in and making a difference as a freshman."

12226

Maquila Norman; Sprints
Garfield Heights, Ohio (Lutheran West High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 400m – 57.13

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 4th in the 400m at the 2015 OHSAA Outdoor State Championships | 7th in the 400m at the 2016 OHSAA Outdoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON NORMAN: "We have found a true diamond in MaQuila. MaQuila splits her time between basketball and track year round and possesses all of the physical qualities that I look for in a great 400m runner. She is primed to have a fantastic senior season. Maquila will give us some much needed help in the long sprints right away and I expect her to be a contributor at the MAC level as a freshman."

12227

Emmalyne Tarsa; XC / Distance
Traverse City, Mich. (St. Francis High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 400m – 59.58 | 1600m – 5:26.01 | 5000m (XC) – 18:27.99

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS CROSS COUNTRY: 47th at 2013 MHSAA Division 1 State Finals | 32nd at 2014 MHSAA Division 1 State Finals | 5th at 2015 MHSAA Division 3 State Finals | 19th at 2016 MHSAA Division 3 State Finals

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS TRACK & FIELD: 6th in the 100m hurdles at the 2016 MHSAA Division 3 Outdoor State Championships | 4th in the 400m and the 2016 MHSAA Division 3 Outdoor State Championships | 2nd in the 4x400m relay at the 2016 MHSAA Division 3 Outdoor State Championships

DEGRIO ON TARSA: "Emmalyne is an incredibly talented and versatile athlete who has a tremendous amount of potential to succeed in whatever event she chooses to focus on when she gets to Ball State. We're excited to see her develop into an immediate contributor in both cross country and on the track. In addition to her athletic abilities, Emmalyne is a great student and outstanding young woman."

12228

Anasja Troutman; Sprints / Hurdles
Chesterland, Ohio (Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School)
PERSONAL RECORDS: 60m Hurdles – 8.78

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 3rd in the 60m hurdles at the 2017 OATCCC Indoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON TROUTMAN: "Anasja is a talented hurdler from the Cleveland area and is in the middle of a very impressive senior season. I'm excited to add her to the hurdle group, particularly in the short hurdles where we have shown flashes of dominance at the MAC level this year. Anasja looks to be that key piece to continuing our renewed hurdle presence in the conference. In the recruiting process, I was drawn to Anasja's focus and humility and I know those qualities will carry over as she makes an immediate impact for us as a freshman."

12229

Wambui Watene; Sprints / Hurdles
Columbus, Ohio (Dublin Coffman High School)

PERSONAL RECORDS: 400m – 58.73

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 7th in the 400m at the 2017 OATCCC Indoor State Championships

ETELMAN ON WATENE: "In Wambui we have found an extremely versatile sprinter/hurdler with a huge upside and long term development potential. Wambui is very new to hurdling and has the physical attributes to be a great long hurdler and sprinter at the next level. We need someone to step into the long hurdles and add depth to the long relays and she fits that mold for us perfectly. We have caught her at the right time coming off a fantastic indoor season and she looks ready to have an incredible outdoor season as well."

- BallStateSports.com –

Ball State University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos