Dec. 5, 2007

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Lewis University track and field head coach Dana Schwarting believes a solid core of returning athletes combined with a very talented group of newcomers should equate to success for the men's and women's teams during the 2007-08 season.

The Flyers return 41 athletes to a roster of 63 on the men's and women's teams. For the men, that group comprises 11 seniors, five juniors and seven sophomores. The women returned nine seniors, five juniors and four sophomores. The list of newcomers for the men is one junior and six freshmen, while the women have added one junior and 14 freshmen.

On the men's team, Lewis returns four athletes with NCAA Division II national experience. Senior Adrian Myers, a two-time All-American on the distance medley relay (DMR), has returned to defend his Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) title in the 800 meter. Myers was a national qualifier last season on the relay, the 800 meter indoor and outdoor, the mile indoors and the 1500 meter outdoors. He registered all-conference status four times in those events last season.

Senior Goeff Rozovics, also an All-American in the DMR, returns to vie for more honors. Rozovics had a solid all-around indoor season last year, specializing in the 200 and 400 meter. He redshirted outdoors last season, and has returned this season to conclude his career outdoors.

Senior Dan Probst also participated at nationals last season. He set a personal best 60-1¼ in the weight throw, the second-longest throw in Lewis history. Probst also redshirted outdoors last year but will have a full indoor and outdoor season this season.

The other returning national qualifier is sophomore Scott Barnas. Barnas just missed the Lewis school record in the shot put last outdoor season and was an all-conference performer indoors. Barnas will look to improve his distance this year and make the trip to Mankato, Minn., for the indoor national meet.

Behind the leadership of those four athletes, the list of national-qualifying athletes and all-conference performers on the men's team should grow this season.

Leading the list of student athletes whom head coach Dana Schwarting feels should break through this season are sophomore James Knaperek (4th all-time 200 hurdles); senior Chance Eiker (10th all-time in the pole vault); senior Brian Pedersen (4th all-time 400 meters, 10th in the 200 meters); senior Jeff Zoellick (5th all-time in the decathlon, 6th pole vault, 10th high jump); and sophomore Randy Hinton (10th all-time 400 meters).

In the long distance races, seniors Andrew Northrup and Sinan Khamo should have productive seasons, while seniors Alberto Villa and Emory Burdette look to shine for the Flyers in the middle distance events.

Newcomers who Schwarting thinks will make an immediate impact are freshman Chris Liebrand in the 200/400 meters, freshmen Matt Schultz in the pole vault, freshman Adam Zaremba in the 110/400 hurdles, freshman Andy Lepkowski in the mile/5K and junior Patrick Walsh in the middle distances.

"Last year we had a solid indoor season, but we redshirted a number of top student athletes for the outdoor season," Schwarting said. "This year I really feel like we will be ready to compete for a GLVC title both indoors and out. Our goals for this season will be to win conference and be a top 10 team at nationals.

On the women's team, senior Terran Wertz is the only returning athlete with national championship experience.

"She had a terrific season last year," Schwarting said. "We had been waiting for the breakout year, and it happened in 2007."

Wertz was All-America in the 800 meters indoors. She also was a national qualifier in the 1500 meters outdoors and all-conference in the 800 meters outdoors and with the DMR indoors.

Two other legs from that relay return for this season in sophomore Michelle Ruff and senior Kristin Johnson.

"The relay team just missed the cut for nationals last year, and with three legs back, we hope to punch our ticket to Mankato this year," said Schwarting.

Sarah King, a senior pole vaulter, is the only other returning student athlete with all-conference honors from last season.

Other returners who, according to Schwarting, are ready for a big seasons are junior Millennium Wheeler (5th all-time in the outdoor triple jump and 10th all-time indoors in the long jump), sophomore Christine Kustra (6th all-time triple jump), junior Becky Herbert (6th all-time in the 5K and 7th in the 3K), senior Erin Mitchell (2nd all-time in the pole vault), sophomore Ashley Butler in the jumps and sprints and sophomore Angelique McNeal in the sprints.

Schwarting also is looking from some of his newcomers to make a difference this year. Those student athletes are freshman Samantha Linck in the jumps, freshmen Danielle Thompson, Hailey Justes, and Pierra Sobodas in the distance/middle distance areas, freshman Maggie Boban in the sprints, freshman Kelsey Boland in the jumps/hurdles, freshman Kellsi Howell in middle distance and junior Kristen Sherman in the throwing events.

"Our goals for the women's team are to finish in the top three in the conference and top 15 in the nation," Schwarting said. "If the women keep working as hard as they are right now, I think they realistically can reach both goals this season."

The Flyers open their season Dec. 8 at the Early Bird Open.