Butler Track/Cross Country Adds Strong Recruiting Class

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler’s already strong distance program received a boost for 2012-13 with the addition of a deep and talented recruiting class.  Head coach Matt Roe signed five men and three women to join the Bulldogs this fall.

Roe's newest class of recruits includes male runners Erik Peterson of Barrington (Ill.) High School, Luke Zygmunt of Grayslake (Ill.) Central High School, Christopher Kelsey of Columbus (Ind.) North High School, Sage Kosiorek (right) of Boiling Springs (S.C.) High School and Keigan Culler of Fremont (Ind.) High School.  Female athletes joining the Bulldogs are Olivia Pratt (right) of Madison (Wis.) West High School, Taylor Royalty of Trinity Lutheran High School (Ind.) and Julia Williams of Washington (Ill.) High School.

“One of my long term goals when I arrived on campus was to develop a program model centered around continuity, sustainable success in competition and in the classroom, and a unified team culture.  A pivotal part of the model was to create and build a strong recruiting presence locally, and throughout the region,” said Roe.  “We have made huge steps the last few years to attract top Midwest prospects.  With Coach (Darren) Gauson’s skilled assistance, we have bolstered our roster with another talented group of student-athletes.”

Butler has won the Horizon League Men’s Cross Country Championship for 14 consecutive years, and the Bulldogs have captured the league’s Women’s Cross Country Championship in nine of the past ten years.  Over the past decade, the Bulldogs have won 37 indoor Horizon League individual titles in the mile, 3,000 and 5,000, and 45 league outdoor championships in the 1500, 5,000, 10,000 and 3,000 steeplechase.

2012-2013 Butler Recruiting Class

Erik Peterson    Barrington H.S.    Barrington, Illinois
1600 meters 4:16.20    3200 meters: 9:11.36    3 miles XC: 14:25.00
Twice All State in Cross Country (3A) 6th in 2010, 8th 20011
Sectional Cross Country Champion in 2010, 2011

Roe on Peterson:  “Erik is one of the top prospects in the Midwest this year. Despite being recruited heavily in the Big 10 and throughout the region, he flew under the national radar due to his limited post - season race schedule, and modest training background. Erik is a raw talent with a huge upside.  As he continues to progress his training load, I believe he will prove to be one of the best pure distance prospects in the country this year.”


Luke Zygmunt    Grayslake Central H.S.    Grayslake, Illinois
800 meters: 155.90    Mile: 4:14.90 (US #7)    3 miles XC: 14:59.00
2011 Illinois State Outdoor Runner-up 1600 meters (2A)
2012 Illinois State Indoor Runner-up 1600 meters (2A)
2012 Arcadia Invitational Runner-up Mile Run
Currently ranked 7th in the nation in Mile (4:14.90)

Roe on Zygmunt:  “Luke is an incredibly versatile runner from the middle distance to cross country.  He has only been running competitively for two years and is already emerging as one of the top milers in the country.  He will fit in nicely with our young and talented middle distance group and I believe his potential in cross country his high.  I believe he and Erik (Peterson) are the two biggest sleepers in a traditionally deep Illinois prep class this year.”


Christopher Kelsey    Columbus North H.S.    Columbus, Indiana
1600 meters: 4:16.60    3200 meters:  9:07.93    5K XC: 15:25.00
All State in Cross Country 2011 (12th), 2009
Led Columbus North to three consecutive Indiana State Cross Country team titles (2009-2011)
Placed 8th at Nike Midwest Championship leading his team to Midwest Title (2011)
Helped Lead his team to 9th place finish at Nike Team Nationals (2011)
Placed 7th at 2011 Indiana State Track Championships in the 3200 meters (9:13.59)

Roe on Kelsey:  “Simply put, Chris is a winner.  He won in high school and he will find a way to win in college.  Every single time we evaluated Chris he just out-toughed his competition.  He is a no non-sense team oriented guy with a ton of character.  We really need what Chris brings to the table in our program.  He will raise the training environment and make people around him better.”


Sage Kosiorek    Boiling Springs H.S.    Boiling Springs, South Carolina
1600: 4:24.0    3200: 9:27.67    5k XC: 15:31.00
2012 South Carolina State Champion 3200 meters (4A)
Three times All State in Cross Country 2nd (2011), 5th (2010), 3rd (2009)
10th at Nike South Championships (2011)

Roe on Kosiorek:  “Sage is one of the top prospects in the South and our first athlete from South Carolina.  Sage has produced great marks for training alone in a rural area.  He has done really well when he has faced tough competition. With a training group and time to develop, I believe his talent and toughness will be revealed further.  He will give our program the much needed depth we need in cross country.”


Keigan Culler    Fremont H.S.    Fremont, Indiana
3200 meters:  9:23.75    5000 15:23.75
All State in Cross Country in 2010 (13th)
Hoosier Relays State Champion at 3200 meters (2010)
East Noble Sectional Champion at 3200 meters (2011)
Two Time State Qualifier 3200 meters (2010-2011)

Roe on Culler:  “Keigan is a consistent performer who loves to train and compete.  He has trained on a high level and will push our group to prepare better.  He is going to be a great teammate and asset to our group.  We are excited to bring another top Indiana prospect into our program.”


Olivia Pratt    Madison West H.S.    Madison, Wisconsin
1600 meters: 5:06.68    3200 meters: 10:53.59    4K XC: 13:58.96
5th at Wisconsin State Cross Country Meet (2011)
4th at Wisconsin State Track Meet at 3200 meters (2011)
20th at Footlocker Midwest Cross Country Championships  (2011)

Roe on Pratt:  “Olivia is what we are looking for in a prospect.  She is a great student, has a lot of potential in the longer distances, and is ambitious.  She is an athlete on the rise that will vie for a top 7 spot in Cross Country immediately.  We are tremendously excited to advance our recruiting into Wisconsin and sign one of its top preps away from programs in the Big 12, Big East, and Big 10.”
 

Taylor Royalty    Trinity Lutheran H.S.    Seymour, Indiana
1600 meters:  5:01.89    5K XC: 18:38
2010 Regional and Sectional Cross Country Champion
2011 Indiana State Qualifier 1600 meters

Roe on Royalty:  “Taylor is outstanding student from a smaller environment.  She has impressively been able to run a 5:01 1600 off very little training and competition.  Though it might take a little time for her to adapt to Division I running,   I believe her upside is as high as any female distance recruit in Indiana this year.”


Julia Williams    Washington H.S.    Washington, Illinois
3200 meters:  11:08.66    3 miles XC: 17:29.00
Illinois State 2A Indoor runner-up at 3200 meters (2012)
All State in 2A Cross Country in 2011 (14TH)
Normal West Sectional Cross Country Champion (2011)
Peoria Journal Star Female Cross Country Runner of the Year

Roe on Williams:  “Over the course of the last year, I believe that Julia is the most improved female distance runner in Illinois.  She went from relative obscurity to being All State in Cross Country and a State runner-up on the track.   I am excited about her potential and her ability to contribute to the program.   Julia is a tremendous student and will be positive role model on the team and on campus.”