Wisconsin Track OnLine Feature 2011: Seniors Announce Plans For 2011-12

Seniors Announce Plans For 2011-12

This feature is an ongoing project. Coaches and parents are encouraged to send information to Wisconsin Track Online so that we can share the news about an athletes plans for their future college experience.

According to the NCAA Eligibility Center which oversees the operations of the National Letter of Intent program the National Letter of Intent has many advantages to both prospective student-athletes and participating educational institutions:

Once a National Letter of Intent is signed, prospective student-athletes are no longer subject to further recruiting contacts and calls.
Student-athletes are assured of an athletics scholarship for one full academic year.
By emphasizing a commitment to an educational institution, not particular coaches or teams, the program focuses on a prospective student-athlete's educational objectives.

Most colleges that offer NCAA Division I and II athletic scholarships use the NLI. Ivy League institutions and the service academies (Army, Navy, etc.) participate in Division I athletics but offer no athletic scholarships. No Division III schools, NAIA schools, junior colleges or preparatory schools are members of the NLI Program. However, many NAIA institutions and junior colleges do use a Letter of Intent, implemented either by the national association, their individual conferences, or even individual schools. When athletes announce that they will attend a Division III or NAIA school for athletics Wisconsin Track Online would also like to include that information in the Seniors Announce Plans feature. Send information.

Jamie Lindstrom - Hudson Raiders

Jamie Lindstrom Hudson Raider High School senior is pictured above signing her National Letter of Intent to attend Northern Iowa University. Jamie's grandmother [seated left] and her guardian/aunt Donalee Johnson [seated right] are pictured along with Hudson boys head track coach Tom Klatt and Hudson girls head track coach Jamie Holum. Jamie Lindstrom's mother passed away unexpectedly last winter of complications from the H1N1 flu. Jamie then moved in with her aunt. Despite the loss of her mother Jamie had a successful 2010 season and provided an inspiration to her coaches and teammates at Hudson High School. Lindstrom placed 6th in the D1 SP event at the 2010 WIAA State Meet. She also qualified for the discus event at La Crosse in 2010. Lindstrom threw the shot 41' 08 in the 2010 State Meet and had a best of 43' 01 at the Tartan Indoor at UW-River Falls in April of 2010. Signing February 2, 2011.

Signing photo by Jane Branson - Athletic Secretary, Hudson High School

Laura Popanz - Clinton Cougars

Clinton High School dash athlete Laura Popanz is pictured above signing a National Letter of Intent to attend Augustana College [South Dakota]. Seated L-R: Clinton girls head track coach Kris Wallace, Laura Popanz and Clinton AD and boys head track coach Ray Vance. Back row L-R: Katie Popanz, Lauara's mother Teresa, Clinton assistant track coach Bob Williams, Laura's father Larry, and Randy Popanz. Laura's sister and brother Katie and Randy are twins [ninth grade] and will compete in track for Clinton this season. Laura's older brother Adam [Clinton '09] competed in the throws for the Cougars. Signing February 3, 2011.

Clinton dash athlete Laura Popanz [above at the 2010 State Meet] will attend Augustana College [SD]. Laura competes in the Rock Valley Conference. At the 2010 Conference Meet she finished second in the 100m and 200m dash events. At the 2010 State Meet Popanz was 7th in the D2 100m dash.

Eileen Gehring - Madison Edgewood Crusaders

Eileen Gehring, Madison Edgewood dash athlete has signed a Letter of Intent to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. Above L-R: Edgewood girls head coach Gary Thornton, Eileen's mother Colleen Murphy, Eileen, and Eileens's father Mark Gehring. Signing February 4, 2011.

Signing photo supplied by Mark Gehring.

Madison Edgewood dash athlete Eileen Gehring will attend the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Eileen Gehring is pictured above at the 2010 WIAA State Meet. Gehring won the D2 100m and 400m dash races and finished 6th in the 200m dash.

Danielle Barbian - Hamilton Chargers

Hamilton [Sussex] dash and relay athlete Danielle Barbian has signed a National Letter of Intent to go to Harvard. Left L-R row 1: Ben Nysse-Head girls coach, Danielle, and Danielle's father Craig. Back row: Danielle's mother Darlene.

Danielle was the anchor of the Gold Medal winning D1 4x2 relay at the 2010 State Meet. Barbian is shown below left anchoring the 4x2 in the State Finals.

Below right: Barbian takes the baton from Ashley Holicek at the 2010 Brookfield East Sectional 4x1 competition. Hamilton finished second in the D1 4x1 at the 2010 State Meet.

Signing photo by Hamilton AD Mike Gosz

Sarah McMahon - Colfax Vikings

Sarah McMahon has recieved a scholarship to run cross country and track at division 1 Bradley University. At the 2010 State Meet McMahon ran three very demanding races. She finished second in the D3 1600m and 3200m [below left] races and 4th in the 800m [below right] run. McMahon is pictured above at her signing with Bradley University. L-R:Colfax Girls Cross Country Head Coach Joe Doucette, Sarah's mother Denise McMahon, Sarah McMahon, Sarah's father Todd McMahon, and Colfax Girls Track and Field Head Coach Ryan Krall. Signing February 3, 2011.

Signing picture by Marlys Kruger of the Colfax Messenger

Allie Woodward - Notre Dame Tritons

Notre Dame Academy’s Allie Woodward signed her National Letter of Intent on February 2, 2011, and accepted an invitation to run for the University of Oregon. Woodward is pictured above with her family. Update-February 27. Signing photographs by John Gard.

In Woodward's one and only year of high school cross country she:

was the first Wisconsin girl to ever win the FootLocker Midwest Regional and finished 6th in the National final (first Wisconsin girl in top ten since Suzy Favor)
won the Nike Heartland regional and finished 14th in National Final
won the Wisconsin Division 2 State Title by over 30 seconds and became one of only 2 girls to ever break 14:00 minutes in the 4000m state race.
won the Roy Griak Invite at the University of Minnesota
received the Gatorade Runner of the Year in Wisconsin
was named co-runner of the year by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association

Woodward became the first Wisconsin runner to earn FootLocker and Nike All- American honors in the same year this past December. “I feel privileged and honored to have an opportunity to run for Oregon. It was a dream of mine and I am thankful for this great honor,” said Woodward, “I am excited to join a program with so much tradition and such tremendous teammates. I’m thrilled to have a chance to be a Duck.”

“We are very proud of Allie and believe the best is yet to come,” said Notre Dame Academy CC Coach John Gard, “She is just scratching the surface of her talent and we believe she will excel at Oregon. They have a great coaching staff, a terrific program and it is a great fit for everyone."

Green Bay Notre Dame De La Baie Academy High School senior Allie Woodward will join the tradition rich University of Oregon track program next season. Woodward who ran to two Gold Medals in the D2 1600m and 3200m races at the 2010 State Track and Field Meet also finished first in the D2 Cross Country 2010 Championsips. 2010 was her first year of cross country competition. Woodward impressed nationally with a strong finish at the Footlocker 2010 Championships. Woodward will run at the famous Hayward Field Track [above and below] located on the campus of the University of Oregon. Hayward Field photos by D. Figi.

Katie Tolan - Brookfield East Spartans

Brookfield East senior Katie Tolan will be competing in Track and Field at Marquette. Tolan is a four year letter winner in Cross Country and Track. She has been a State Qualifier each of the past two seasons as a Middle Distance runner in Track. She has served as a Team Captain for the Spartan Cross Country team each of the past two seasons leading the team to a Greater Metro Conference Championship each year. Tolan is pictured above left at the Brookfield East 2010 Sectional where the Spartans set a school record in the 4x8.

She has also served as Captain for two seasons in track where she is a six time Conference Champion and a member of the team currently holding the school and GMC record in the 3200m Relay. “She is just starting to realize her potential and will make a fine addition to the track program at Marquette University.”, says Head Track Spartan Track Coach Jeff Ferguson [shown below with Katie Tolan]. February 2, 2011. Signing photographs by Dave Tolan.