Click HERE for continued updates on additional signings (Feb. 26)

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head cross country/track and field coach Nate Wolf announced on Friday that 15 student-athletes have signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers at SMSU.

Joining the women's cross country/track teams include Naomi Dalton (Madrid, Iowa), Alene Folz (Spring Grove, Minn.), Melanie Kedl (Lamberton, Minn.), Jen Keohen (Shakopee, Minn.), Katarina Kuhlmann (Dawson, Minn.), Julia Orlow (Jordan, Minn.), Savannah Ramirez (Litchfield, Minn.), Kim Shabino (Spencer, Iowa), Ashley Tschappat (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Macy Violett (Prior Lake, Minn.).

Joining the men's cross country/track programs include Alex Blomquist (Estherville, Iowa), Conner Blosmo, Garretson, S.D. (Garretson HS), Evan Bonneson (Cottage Grove, Minn.), Justin Hill (Sioux City, Iowa) and Cole Jalivay (Eagan, Minn.).

"These young men and women are great students and talented athletes that will continue the building process of our cross country and track and field programs," Wolf said. "We believe these athletes are the foundation of a special recruiting class and we look forward to adding to this group over the next weeks and months."

2014 SMSU women's track & field / cross country signees

Naomi Dalton, Madrid, Iowa (Madrid HS)
Competes for Madrid HS … will compete in track & field at SMSU … holds school record in both the shot put and discus … personal best 40-6 in shot put … personal best 123-11.5 in discus … qualified for Drake Relays in both 2012 and 2013 … three-time state qualifier … finished second in the discus and placed third in the shot put at 2013 state meet … daughter of Martha Furness and Rodney Dalton.

Alene Folz, Spring Grove, Minn. (Spring Grove HS)
Competes for Spring Grove HS … will compete in track & field at SMSU … four-year letterwinner … two-time throwing captain … two-time state qualifier … personal best 37-5 in shot put … personal best 97-11 in discus … multi-year letterwinner in basketball and volleyball … daughter of Paul and Kristy Folz,

Melanie Kedl, Lamberton, Minn. (Red Rock Central HS)
Competes for Red Rock Central HS … will compete in track & field for SMSU … six-year letterwinner in track … team captain … conference champion in high jump … three-year letterwinner in basketball … two-year captain … also played volleyball … academic all-state ... daughter of Jason and Cathy Kedl.

Jen Keohen, Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee HS)
Competes for Shakopee HS … will run both cross country and track at SMSU … two-year letterwinner … ran time of 16:25 in sections … time of 21:49.4 at Roy Griak Invite … daughter of Mary Kaye and Kevin Keohan.

Katarina Kuhlmann, Dawson, Minn. (Dawson-Boyd HS)
Competes for Dawson-Boyd HS … will compete in track & field at SMSU … five-year letterwinner … member of three conference championship teams … all-conference selection … placed in all events at conference meet as a junior … finished third at sections in triple jump as a junior … academic all-state … personal best 33 feet in triple jump … personal best 15-8 in long jump … multi-year letterwinner in volleyball and basketball … daughter of Tom and Kim Kuhlmann.

Julia Orlow, Jordan, Minn. (Jordan HS)
Competes for Jordan HS … will run both cross country and track at SMSU … four-year letterwinner in cross country … three-time all-conference … three-time state participant … team captain and team MVP as a senior … two-time all-section … ran personal best and school record 15:05 in 4k … five-year letterwinner in track & field … state participant ... all-section in the 800m … personal best 2:24 in the 800m … daughter of Dennis and Brenda Orlow.

Savannah Ramirez, Litchfield, Minn. (Litchfield HS)
Competes for Litchfield High School … will compete in cross country and track & field at SMSU ... five-year letterwinner in track & field … member of the school record setting 4x800 meter relay team that posted a time of 9:52 … placed sixth in the 4x800 relay at the Minnesota State High School League state tournament … personal-best 2:24 in the 800 meter, 5:30 in the 1600 meter, and 11:56 in the 3200 meter… five-year letterwinner in cross country … personal best 14:46 in 4000m … section 6A individual champion in cross country in 2012 … four-time state qualifier … two-time all-conference … two-time all-state selection … two-time team captain … daughter of Javier Ramirez Jr., and Margarita Ramirez.

Kim Shabino, Spencer, Iowa (Spencer HS)
Competes at Spencer HS … will compete in track & field at SMSU … four-year letterwinner in track … three-year state qualifier in track … seven-time award winner at state track … finished sixth place at state meet as a junior in the 200-meter … placed seventh at state meet as a junior in 4x400 … personal best 7.81 in 55-meter and 8.34 in 60-meter … personal best 26.33 in 200-meter … also a four-year letterwinner in soccer … daughter of David and Staci Shabino.

Ashley Tschappat, Sioux Falls, S.D. (Washington HS)
Competes for Washington High School … will compete in track & field at SMSU … anchored the 4x200 meter South Dakota State High School Athletics Association champion relay team … ran Washington's second fastest 400 meter with a time of 59.01 and the fifth fastest 200 meter with a time of 26.44 … AP scholar … academic letter winner … SDCCATCA Academic All-State award recipient … Regent Scholar award winner … plans to major in computer science … also participated in cross country, softball and taekwondo … daughter of Bethany Tschappat.

Macy Violett, Prior Lake, Minn. (Prior Lake HS)
Competes for Prior Lake High School … will compete in track and soccer at SMSU … 2013 Athena Award for High School Female Athlete of the Year nominee … four-year letterwinner in track and field for head coach Scot Jaenicke … Millenium Honor roll student … four-time all-conference in track … four-time all-state selection … named team captain of the track and field team … three-time state participant … ran 56.7 second split as anchor of 4x400 … ran 2:15 as anchor of 4x800 … three-year letterwinner in soccer for head coach David Graham … three-year starter … named all-conference honorable mention … scored six goals and recorded 12 assists in her prep career … four-year letterwinner in nordic skiing … daughter of Lynne Violett.

2014 SMSU men's track & field / cross country signees

Alex Blomquist, Estherville, Iowa (Estherville Lincoln Central) (North Iowa Area CC)
Competed at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, for two years … prepped at Estherville Lincoln Central … ran cross country and track & field at NIACC … two-time all-region in cross country at NIACC … two-time national qualifier in track & field at NIACC … placed ninth and set the NIACC school record in the outdoor 4x800 with a time of 7:55 … two-time state qualifier at the prep level in the distance medley relay, 4x800 and 800 meter events … posted personal-best times of 50.5 in the 400m, 1:59 in the 800m, 4:36 in the 1600m and 27:40 in 8k cross country … son of Robin Moore.

Conner Blosmo, Garretson, S.D. (Garretson HS)
Competes at Garretson HS … will compete in track & field at SMSU … team MVP as a junior ... named all-conference ... state qualifier in 100m, 200m, 4x100m and medley during junior season ... personal best 10.91 in 100m and 22.9 in 200m ... three-year letterwinner in football ... also letterwinner in baseball and basketball ... son of Jason and Angie Blosmo.

Evan Bonneson, Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park HS)
Competes for Park HS … will compete in track and cross country at SMSU … all-conference honoree in cross country … ran 16:16 in 5k … captain in cross country, track and Nordic ski … son of Dan and Roxanne Bonneson.

Justin Hill, Sioux City, Iowa (East HS)
Competes for Sioux City East HS … will run both cross country and track and SMSU … all-conference honoree … ran season best 17:02 at Sioux City Heelan meet … invited to Iowa Senior meet … member of National Honor Society … also in football and soccer … son of Koby and Adra Hill.

Cole Jalivay, Eagan, Minn. (Rosemount HS)
Prepped at Rosemount HS for coach Jeff Erdmann … will compete in track & field and also play football at SMSU … three-year letterwinner in football … member of state runner-up team in 2013 and state semifinalist in 2012 … five-year letterwinner in track … tru-team finalist in long jump and tru-team finalist in 2012 … tru-team state qualifying long jump of 20.3 … career best 40-0 in triple jump … two-time junior Olympic AAU track and field in hurdles and long jump … son of Ray and Kathy Jalivay.