Montana State Track & Field Adds Multiple Athletes During Signing Period
12/31/2021 12:28:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Set to join the Bobcats for the fall 2022 semester as freshmen are Alyssa Boshart (Big Timber, Mont.), Sam Ells (Kalispell, Mont.), Peyton Garrison (New Castle, Colo.), Caroline Hawkes (San Clemente, Calif.), Millie Hubbell (Littleton, Colo.), Dylan Lee (Albuquerque, N.M.), Lindsey Paulson (Belt, Mont.), Jakob Webinger (Laurel, Mont.) and Jaeden Wolff (Billings, Mont.)
BOZEMAN, Mont. – The Montana State track and field and cross country program has received National Letters of Intent from a variety of current high school senior student-athletes, while several others have submitted paperwork to Montana State and are expected to bring depth to the Bobcat men's and women's teams next fall since the national signing period began on Nov. 10.
Set to join the Bobcats for the fall 2022 semester as freshmen are Alyssa Boshart (Big Timber, Mont.), Sam Ells (Kalispell, Mont.), Peyton Garrison (New Castle, Colo.), Caroline Hawkes (San Clemente, Calif.), Millie Hubbell (Littleton, Colo.), Dylan Lee (Albuquerque, N.M.), Lindsey Paulson (Belt, Mont.), Jakob Webinger (Laurel, Mont.) and Jaeden Wolff (Billings, Mont.).
Ells and Paulson will each join MSU's men's and women's distance groups, respectively. MSU's Dale Kennedy Director of the track and field and cross country program, Lyle Weese, will serve as the main coach for the two runners bringing multi-sport backgrounds into their college careers at Montana State.
Ells is a senior at Glacier High School in Kalispell who also competes in soccer for the Wolfpack. Ells capped his cross country prep career this fall earning individual first-place finishes in five of the six races he competed in, while he completed a personal-best time of 15:41.4. His junior season of track and field last spring featured the distance runner advancing to the MHSA Class AA State Track and Field Championships in three events. He placed third in the 1600 with a time of 4:18.37 and fourth in the 800 crossing the line in 1:59.37.
"Sam Ells has shared his time between cross country and fall soccer, as well as track & field and spring soccer," Weese said. "Even with his time split, he had a breakout junior track season. He followed that up this fall when he had a great cross country season and was a standout soccer player for his team that competed in the state championship game.
"Sam is a spectacular student with incredible potential to excel in college when he can focus on mid-distance and distance training."
Paulson is a standout for Belt High School in track and field, cross country, volleyball and basketball. On the track, Paul is a two-time qualifier for the MHSA State Track and Field Championship meet and qualified in three events for the Class C meet as a junior for the Huskies. Paulson took first in the 1600 (5:13.98), second in both the 800 (2:16.61) and the 3200 (11:50.60) and third in the 400 (59.97). She's had an impressive cross country tenure as well claiming the Class C title back-to-back titles and won the 2021 championship by nearly a full minute.
"Lindsey Paulson is a great student and has excelled in cross country, track & field, basketball, and volleyball at the high school level," Weese said. "Lindsey often was competing in multiple sports during the same season. It is exciting to think of what she can accomplish with her overall athletic ability once she gets to the collegiate level and focuses on track & field and cross country."
Garrison, Hawkes, Wolff, Wekinger, Boshart and Hubbell will be members of MSU's sprints/hurdles event group headed by coach Jay Turner.
Garrison is a native of New Castle, Colo., and attends Coal Ridge High School. The Titans standout claimed three Class 3A Colorado State Track and Field Championship titles as a junior as she took first in the 100, 200 and the 400. Her performance helped lead Coal Ridge to its first girls team title in school history.
Garrison is a two-time all-conference runner, has earned all-conference honors in volleyball and was the Colorado 3A Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the 2020-21 school year. She made her first state championship appearance as a freshman in 2019 and was a contributor to 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads that made state podiums while she also took third in the 200 and fourth in the 100. Her lifetime bests are 12.16 in the 100, 24.63 in the 200 and 56.23 in the 400.
"This was a major coup for us signing the top returning sprinter from the state of Colorado," Turner said. "Peyton was the 2021 sprint triple crown champion at her state meet. We were looking for versatility in all sprint events and Peyton certainly will provide that for us."
Hawkes made finals appearances at the CIFSS meet this past June earning sixth-place finishes in both the 200 and 400. Her junior season of track and field featured personal bests of 24.89 and 55.84, respectively, in both races. Her personal-best time in the 400 came at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational. Hawkes claimed first-place showings at her league finals in both events as a junior and took second in each as a freshman.
"In recent years, we have not had much success pulling elite sprinters from the state of California," Turner said. "Bringing Caroline to Bozeman was another major get for the sprints group. An objective for this group was to sign student-athletes who can make an immediate impact at the Big Sky Conference level. Caroline will be a huge addition to our relays as well."
Wolff has been a multiple-time champion for Billings West High School at the MHSA Class AA State Track and Field meet. The Golden Bears standout earned a gold medal individually as a junior in the 100. She placed second in the 200 with a personal-best time of 25.56 while she added a gold in the 4x100 relay. Wolff completed a lifetime-best mark of 12.26 in the 100 during the year. She had previously qualified for the Class AA Championships as a freshman, a season in which she also helped claim a gold medal in the 4x100 relay.
"It is always a goal of ours to make sure we're getting the best athletes the state of Montana has to offer every year," Turner said. "Jaeden was ranked first in the state in the 100-meter and third in the 200-meter from the 2021 season. Jaeden has a very high ceiling as someone who I think the best is yet to come. I believe Jaeden will shine at the collegiate level."
Boshart joins the Bobcats as an impact performer for the Sweet Grass County Sheepherders. The Big Timber product took first in the 100, second in the 200, third in the 400, fifth in the 100 hurdles, along with a first-place 4x100 relay finish at the MHSA Class B meet as a junior. She helped lead her team to a state title.
"Alyssa is another in-state student-athlete we felt we had to get to Bozeman," Turner said. "The 2021 Class B champion in the 100 and runner-up in the 200, Alyssa is another athlete who we'll take our time to develop behind a very good veteran group of short sprinters."
Hubbell is a native of Littleton, Colo., who attends Chatfield High School. Hubbell put together a strong showing at the 5A Colorado State Track and Field Championships as a junior. The standout for the Chargers placed third in the 300 hurdles (44.80) and sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.41) behind personal-best times.
"Millie is another student-athlete who I believe the best is yet to come," Turner said. "A late bloomer, Millie will join a hurdles group that will allow her to take her time and learn from, develop, and adjust from 300 to 400 hurdles at the collegiate level. Millie finished the 2021 season ranked sixth in the state of Colorado in the 300 meter hurdles."
Webinger has been a high performer for Laurel High School on the track and in football. As a junior, Webinger placed second in the 100 and 200 at the MHSA Class A State Track and Field Championships, while he earned gold in the long jump. He earned personal bests in all three events of 10.88 in the 100, 22.33 in the 200 and 21-05 in the long jump in 2021. He also contributed last spring to a gold-medal winning 4x100 relay squad and a bronze medal 4x400 relay.
"Jakob is a young man we have had our eye on for a very long time," Turner said. "Not only a talented athlete, but an excellent person, Jakob is a huge addition to the men's sprints and hurdles group. Jakob finished the 2021 season ranked second in the state of Montana in the 100."
Lee is a signing for jumps coach Dustin Cichosz. Lee attends La Cueva high school in Albuquerque, N.M., and is a multi-sport athlete. A member of the football and wrestling teams during his prep career, Lee has been a standout in track and field for the Bears. Last June he took third in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump at the NMAA 5A State Track and Field Championships. He also was a member of third-place 4x100 and 4x200 relays at the state meet. He previously qualified for the state championships as a freshman in 2019 in the long jump.
"Dylan has many of the attributes we look for in our future Bobcats," Cichosz said. "He is a studious, multi-sport athlete, and it looks like he will positively contribute to the team-focused culture here at MSU. We are always excited to add someone who is as enthusiastic to be part of our program as Dylan."
Montana State track and field continues its 2021-22 indoor season on Jan. 14 when it hosts the Bobcat Challenge. Montana State serves as host of the Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships which will be held from Feb. 24-26 in Worthington Arena.
Set to join the Bobcats for the fall 2022 semester as freshmen are Alyssa Boshart (Big Timber, Mont.), Sam Ells (Kalispell, Mont.), Peyton Garrison (New Castle, Colo.), Caroline Hawkes (San Clemente, Calif.), Millie Hubbell (Littleton, Colo.), Dylan Lee (Albuquerque, N.M.), Lindsey Paulson (Belt, Mont.), Jakob Webinger (Laurel, Mont.) and Jaeden Wolff (Billings, Mont.).
Ells and Paulson will each join MSU's men's and women's distance groups, respectively. MSU's Dale Kennedy Director of the track and field and cross country program, Lyle Weese, will serve as the main coach for the two runners bringing multi-sport backgrounds into their college careers at Montana State.
Ells is a senior at Glacier High School in Kalispell who also competes in soccer for the Wolfpack. Ells capped his cross country prep career this fall earning individual first-place finishes in five of the six races he competed in, while he completed a personal-best time of 15:41.4. His junior season of track and field last spring featured the distance runner advancing to the MHSA Class AA State Track and Field Championships in three events. He placed third in the 1600 with a time of 4:18.37 and fourth in the 800 crossing the line in 1:59.37.
"Sam Ells has shared his time between cross country and fall soccer, as well as track & field and spring soccer," Weese said. "Even with his time split, he had a breakout junior track season. He followed that up this fall when he had a great cross country season and was a standout soccer player for his team that competed in the state championship game.
"Sam is a spectacular student with incredible potential to excel in college when he can focus on mid-distance and distance training."
Paulson is a standout for Belt High School in track and field, cross country, volleyball and basketball. On the track, Paul is a two-time qualifier for the MHSA State Track and Field Championship meet and qualified in three events for the Class C meet as a junior for the Huskies. Paulson took first in the 1600 (5:13.98), second in both the 800 (2:16.61) and the 3200 (11:50.60) and third in the 400 (59.97). She's had an impressive cross country tenure as well claiming the Class C title back-to-back titles and won the 2021 championship by nearly a full minute.
"Lindsey Paulson is a great student and has excelled in cross country, track & field, basketball, and volleyball at the high school level," Weese said. "Lindsey often was competing in multiple sports during the same season. It is exciting to think of what she can accomplish with her overall athletic ability once she gets to the collegiate level and focuses on track & field and cross country."
Garrison, Hawkes, Wolff, Wekinger, Boshart and Hubbell will be members of MSU's sprints/hurdles event group headed by coach Jay Turner.
Garrison is a native of New Castle, Colo., and attends Coal Ridge High School. The Titans standout claimed three Class 3A Colorado State Track and Field Championship titles as a junior as she took first in the 100, 200 and the 400. Her performance helped lead Coal Ridge to its first girls team title in school history.
Garrison is a two-time all-conference runner, has earned all-conference honors in volleyball and was the Colorado 3A Track and Field Athlete of the Year for the 2020-21 school year. She made her first state championship appearance as a freshman in 2019 and was a contributor to 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads that made state podiums while she also took third in the 200 and fourth in the 100. Her lifetime bests are 12.16 in the 100, 24.63 in the 200 and 56.23 in the 400.
"This was a major coup for us signing the top returning sprinter from the state of Colorado," Turner said. "Peyton was the 2021 sprint triple crown champion at her state meet. We were looking for versatility in all sprint events and Peyton certainly will provide that for us."
Hawkes made finals appearances at the CIFSS meet this past June earning sixth-place finishes in both the 200 and 400. Her junior season of track and field featured personal bests of 24.89 and 55.84, respectively, in both races. Her personal-best time in the 400 came at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational. Hawkes claimed first-place showings at her league finals in both events as a junior and took second in each as a freshman.
"In recent years, we have not had much success pulling elite sprinters from the state of California," Turner said. "Bringing Caroline to Bozeman was another major get for the sprints group. An objective for this group was to sign student-athletes who can make an immediate impact at the Big Sky Conference level. Caroline will be a huge addition to our relays as well."
Wolff has been a multiple-time champion for Billings West High School at the MHSA Class AA State Track and Field meet. The Golden Bears standout earned a gold medal individually as a junior in the 100. She placed second in the 200 with a personal-best time of 25.56 while she added a gold in the 4x100 relay. Wolff completed a lifetime-best mark of 12.26 in the 100 during the year. She had previously qualified for the Class AA Championships as a freshman, a season in which she also helped claim a gold medal in the 4x100 relay.
"It is always a goal of ours to make sure we're getting the best athletes the state of Montana has to offer every year," Turner said. "Jaeden was ranked first in the state in the 100-meter and third in the 200-meter from the 2021 season. Jaeden has a very high ceiling as someone who I think the best is yet to come. I believe Jaeden will shine at the collegiate level."
Boshart joins the Bobcats as an impact performer for the Sweet Grass County Sheepherders. The Big Timber product took first in the 100, second in the 200, third in the 400, fifth in the 100 hurdles, along with a first-place 4x100 relay finish at the MHSA Class B meet as a junior. She helped lead her team to a state title.
"Alyssa is another in-state student-athlete we felt we had to get to Bozeman," Turner said. "The 2021 Class B champion in the 100 and runner-up in the 200, Alyssa is another athlete who we'll take our time to develop behind a very good veteran group of short sprinters."
Hubbell is a native of Littleton, Colo., who attends Chatfield High School. Hubbell put together a strong showing at the 5A Colorado State Track and Field Championships as a junior. The standout for the Chargers placed third in the 300 hurdles (44.80) and sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.41) behind personal-best times.
"Millie is another student-athlete who I believe the best is yet to come," Turner said. "A late bloomer, Millie will join a hurdles group that will allow her to take her time and learn from, develop, and adjust from 300 to 400 hurdles at the collegiate level. Millie finished the 2021 season ranked sixth in the state of Colorado in the 300 meter hurdles."
Webinger has been a high performer for Laurel High School on the track and in football. As a junior, Webinger placed second in the 100 and 200 at the MHSA Class A State Track and Field Championships, while he earned gold in the long jump. He earned personal bests in all three events of 10.88 in the 100, 22.33 in the 200 and 21-05 in the long jump in 2021. He also contributed last spring to a gold-medal winning 4x100 relay squad and a bronze medal 4x400 relay.
"Jakob is a young man we have had our eye on for a very long time," Turner said. "Not only a talented athlete, but an excellent person, Jakob is a huge addition to the men's sprints and hurdles group. Jakob finished the 2021 season ranked second in the state of Montana in the 100."
Lee is a signing for jumps coach Dustin Cichosz. Lee attends La Cueva high school in Albuquerque, N.M., and is a multi-sport athlete. A member of the football and wrestling teams during his prep career, Lee has been a standout in track and field for the Bears. Last June he took third in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump at the NMAA 5A State Track and Field Championships. He also was a member of third-place 4x100 and 4x200 relays at the state meet. He previously qualified for the state championships as a freshman in 2019 in the long jump.
"Dylan has many of the attributes we look for in our future Bobcats," Cichosz said. "He is a studious, multi-sport athlete, and it looks like he will positively contribute to the team-focused culture here at MSU. We are always excited to add someone who is as enthusiastic to be part of our program as Dylan."
Montana State track and field continues its 2021-22 indoor season on Jan. 14 when it hosts the Bobcat Challenge. Montana State serves as host of the Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships which will be held from Feb. 24-26 in Worthington Arena.
2022 Big Sky Outdoor Championships
Monday, May 16
Track and Field Big Sky Championships
Monday, February 18
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 11, 2013
Tuesday, February 12
Coach Kennedy - Feb. 4, 2013
Tuesday, February 05
