BOONE, N.C. - The App State cross country and track & field team is set to welcome 11 student-athletes to its 2024-25 signing class, head coach
Damion McLean announced on Monday. The fall batch of Mountaineer signees includes seven distance runners, two pole vaulters, a jumps athlete and a thrower.
"What you see in this fall signing class is the ability to add talent and depth to our distance program. These signees are eager to be successful as a team and individual when it comes to the track," said head coach
Damion McLean. "Meeker will have an immediate impact in the pole vault group in the spring, while the others will prepare for their last season of high school."
"We are extremely excited to have these individuals come up the mountain to wear the black and gold for us," said McLean.
The signing period for track and field will be open until Aug. 1. The Mountaineers will announce their spring signees at a later date.
Ella Battel | Distance | Gray, Tenn. | Daniel Boone HS
Joining the Mountaineers from Gray, Tenn. is Ella Battel. Battel will compete on the cross country team as well as in the distance events during the track season. The Gray, Tenn. native is a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-Region cross country honoree. She was also the 2023 regional runner-up. Battel was the 2023 conference and Top-9 Region champion in the 800 meters. She also earned All-State honors after finishing fourth in the 800 meters at the state meet. Battel was also a member of the 4x800-meter relay team that holds the Northeast Tennessee record.
Battel intends on majoring in English and plans to become a high school English teacher. She enjoys running, hiking, biking, swimming, and spending time with friends and family. Battel also has 10 pets (five dogs, five cats) and loves to paint and draw.
Why Battel Chose App State: "I chose App State because of its beautiful location, genuine community, and plentiful opportunities.
Breanna Budzinski | Distance | Mills River, N.C. | West Henderson HS
Breanna Budzinski will join the Mountaineers' ranks as a distance competitor. Over the course of her career, Budzinski has collected Times News Runner of the Year accolades, and is a two-time 3A Sportsmanship Award honoree. She is a three-time cross country conference champion, was the 2023 cross country regional champion and 2022 cross country regional runner-up. On the track, she's placed fourth in the 3,200 meters at both the indoor and outdoor state championships in 2022. In 2021 she was part of the 4x800-meter relay state champion team and placed fourth in the 3,200 meters.
Budzinski intends on majoring in biology. She enjoys running, hiking, shopping, and traveling.
Why Budzinski Chose App State: "I chose App State due to the home atmosphere, the beautiful location, and all the resources provided by the university."
Abigail Goetz | Pole Vault | Redwood City, Calif. | Sequoia HS
Coming to Boone from Redwood City, Calif. is Abigail Goetz. Goetz will compete in the pole vault event. The Californian is a two-time league champion in the pole vault and a league champion in the 100 meters. She also was a California state qualifier in the pole vault and earned Women's Field Event Athlete of the Year and Coaches Award honoree.
Goetz plans on studying exercise science while competing for the Mountaineers and plans to pursue a masters in physical therapy. She enjoys wakesurfing and her family owns a sporting goods store that was established in 1937.
Why Goetz Chose App State: "I chose App State because of its strong exercise science program, the beautiful campus, the track team, and how much it felt like a family and home."
Rowan Gwin | Distance | Cheswick, Pa. | Fox Chapel Area HS
Joining App State's distance squad is Rowan Gwin. The Cheswick, Pa. native is a three-time state cross country qualifier and a five-time WPIAL medalist.
Gwin enjoys playing golf. He is also a second-generation Division I athlete, as his father, Mike Gwin, ran at Virginia Tech. He likes to explore new places while on runs and enjoys TV shows and films.
Why Gwin Chose App State: "I chose App state because of the area it is located in, the support that the program has, and because of the success the team is having."
Aaron Kidd | Distance | Hurricane, WVa. | Hurricane HS
App State's distance crew will add Aaron Kidd to its ranks next fall. The Hurricane, WVa. native is a five-time All-State selection, and nine-time All-Region and All-Conference honoree.
Kidd, who intends on pursuing a degree in exercise science, enjoys pickleball, soccer, disc golf, golf, and hanging out with friends. He also started running when he was eight years old.
Why Kidd Chose App State: "I fell in love with it on my visit."
Noelle Meeker | Pole Vault | Powell, Ohio | Olentangy Liberty HS | Cincinnati
Joining the Mountaineers this spring is graduate transfer Noelle Meeker. While at Cincinnati, Meeker set a personal best of 3.78m (12' 4.75") and was a three-year varsity letter winner. She received the 2022-23 Female One Team Award and was a Lindner Business Honors Scholar. She clinched first in the pole vault at the 2022 Charlie Thomas Invitational and helped the Bearcats to a second-place team finish at the 2021 AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and at the 2022 AAC Indoor Track & Field Championships.
During her high school career, Meeker clinched the 2019 District Championship pole vault title and was the OCC pole vault champion. She was also an indoor state championship qualifier and indoor New Balance Nationals qualifier in 2020.
Meeker intends on pursuing a masters degree in business administration with a concentration in sustainable business. She also has a relative who competes on the Tiffin University track and field team. Meeker enjoys cooking and trying new recipes and spending time with friends and family. She has traveled abroad to four countries, was part of an acapella group in high school, and was a synchronized swimmer for six years.
Why Meeker Chose App State: "When I came on my visit it felt like home. The positive team culture, experienced coaching staff that cares for all aspects of their student-athletes, and resources available were what really made me want to compete as a Mountaineer. The Walker College of Business also has the option to concentrate in Sustainable Business while pursuing an MBA, and it is in perfect alignment with my personal and professional passions."
Josh Pote | Distance | Signal Mountain, Tenn. | Signal Mountain HS
Josh Pote will compete on the cross country team and compete in the distance events during track season. The Signal Mountain, Tenn. native is a 1,600 meter and 3,200-meter state champion. He has helped his team to four state cross country championship appearances as well as team runner-up finishes on the cross country course and on the track. Pote holds the school record in the 800 meters, 1,600 meters, 3,300 meters, and 5K. His is a two-time state runner-up in the 3,200 meters and was named Chattanooga Best of Preps for cross country and track.
Pote plans on studying exercise science while competing at App State.
Why Pote Chose App State: "I chose App State because of the cross country and track support system, as well as having a great coach at the school. Being surrounded by great runners every day is a big reason I chose App State. The academics at the school are a huge plus in choosing App State."
Memphis Rich | Distance | Richmond Hill, Ga. | Richmond Hill HS
The Mountaineers will welcome Memphis Rich to its distance squad. The Richmond HIll, Ga. native is a three-time cross country regional champion and helped his team to a state title in 2021. In 2022, Rich clinched the individual cross country state title. He has also collected three Coastal Empire Cross Country Runner of the Year accolades. On the track, Rich is a three-time 1,600 meter and 3,200-meter regional champion. Rich was also part of Coastal Georgia Track Club under the direction of Isiah Taylor.
While at App State, Rich plans on studying criminal justice. He enjoys fishing, spikeball, boating, and watching football.
Why Rich Chose App State: "It's an amazing representation of what I believe in and I wanted to be a part of something that was inclusive and competitive."
Emma Russum | Distance | Kingsport, Tenn. | Dobyns Bennett HS | Chattanooga
Joining the Mountaineers as a graduate transfer is Emma Russum. Russum, who specializes in distance events, previously competed at Chattanooga. The Kingsport, Tenn. native earned SoCon All-Freshman cross country honors in 2021. She also finished fifth in the 3,000 meters and eighth in the 5,000 meters at the 2023 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Russum is also a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree.
During her high school career, Russum was a member of the 2019 TSSAA State Championship Team and was a two-time All-State honoree. She also was a four-time All-Region selection.
Russum intends on pursuing a master of science in accounting to obtain a CPA license and work in public accounting. Her sister, Libby, is on the swim team at Florida Gulf Coast. Russum enjoys reading and hiking.
Why Russum Chose App State: "I grew up close to the Boone area and always loved visiting. App State has a good business school with the graduate program I want to pursue."
Christopher Stewart | Throws | Waxhaw, N.C. | Weddington HS
Specializing in throws for the Mountaineers will be Christopher Stewart. The Waxhaw, N.C. native was named Weddington High School's Field Athlete of the Year in 2023 after Stewart helped the team to a state championship title. He was also named the 2023 Charlotte Thrower of the Year, N.C. Southern Carolina Conference Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, and N.C. Southern Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Stewart set the Weddington school discus record at 165' 3".
Stewart also competed on the Higher Power Athletic Club team under the direction of Shelton Harrison.
Stewart is interested in studying business. He enjoys mountain biking and water skiing. He has also backpacked for 70 miles in the mountains of New Mexico.
Why Stewart Chose App State: Stewart chose App State because of the "culture, educational opportunities, and landscape."
Kendred Walker | Jumps | Greenville, S.C. | Greenville Senior High Academy
Walker will specialize in the long jump and triple jump at App State. The Greenville, S.C. native is a two-time AAU All-American and AAU Junior Olympic Champion. He is also a USATF All-American and has collected All-State and All-Region honors. Walker was also a member of the Greenville Jets Track Club team.
Walker intends on pursuing a degree in accounting. He also has a sister who is a sprinter at Georgia State. Walker enjoys driving, has traveled to almost 20 states, and can do flips.
Why Walker Chose App State: "I really like the business school and believe in its ability to develop my professional career. I love the campus itself and like Coach McLean as a coach. I feel good about where he can advance me athletically."
