Belmont senior Kailee Kamps has given a verbal commitment on January 1 to attend the University of Miinnesota. At the 2011 State Meet Kamps finished 2nd in the D3 SP [40' 07.50] and 2nd in the discus [130' 03]. As a sophomore at the 2010 State Meet she was 3rd at La Crosse in the SP and won the Gold Medal in the discus [132' 07]. Kamps is on the Wisconsin Girls All-Time Top 50 List in the discus event.
Kamps was considering UW-Madison, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Minnesota before deciding to compete for the Golden Gophers. Kamp's father David has helped coach Kailee during the season. In the summer Kamps stays competitive by attending the Madison Throws Club.
During the 2011 season Belmont had 4 girls out for track. Each of the athletes participated in multiple events.
Seniors Announce Plans For 2012-13 
National Signing Day ~ National Letter Of Intent
Early signings: November 9-16, 2011. Regular signings: February 1, 2012 - August 1, 2012
Please check back as new athletes will be added when their signing or choice of school is announced
| Aquinas 1 2 | Arrowhead | Belmont | Big Foot | Brodhead-Juda | Brookfield East | Dodgeville-MP | Dominican |
| Ellsworth | Fond du Lac | Homestead | Kaukauna |
| La Crosse Logan | Mad East 1 | Mad West 1 2 | Saint Mary's Springs Academy 1 2 |
| Somerset | Two Rivers | University Lake School | Verona |
| Waunakee 1 2 | Wausau West | West Bend West 1 2 | Whitefish Bay | Whitewater |
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.
Senior Elaina Meurer from D3 Saint Mary's Springs Academy has verbally committed to UW-Eau Claire [1 | 2 | 3]. Meurer qualified for the State 1600m run by recording a 5:22.88 at the Princeton WIAA D3 2011 Sectional.
Meurer is pictured on the left in the 1600m event at La Crosse where she finished 11th. Meuer [right] ran the third leg in the 4x8 relay race helping her team to a Bronze Medal in that event.
She was joined on the 4x8 by her twin sister Grace and teammates Kara Harasha [12] and Abby Busse [11].
Meurer is also a member of her schools cross-country team which after week 8 of the season was ranked second in D3. Her team helped by Elaina's 12th place finish placed 2nd in the 2011 WIAA D3 Cross Country State Championships.
Grace Meurer [Above center-blue jersey, 12] running leg 1 on the Saint Mary's Springs Ledgers 4x8 at La Crosse. Saint Mary's Springs finished in third and return all four runners. Other SMS runners were: Elaina Meurer [12], Kara Harasha [12] and Abby Busse [11].
Arrowhead Senior Camille Gilson has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of Minnesota. Gilson is pictured above and to the right during the 2011 season.
She won the Silver Medal in the D1 PV with a vault of 11' 06 at the 2011 State Meet. Her 2011 'PR' was 12' 03 at the D12 Regional at Menomonee Falls. Gilson is on the Wisconsin Girls All-Time Top 50 List in the PV [#7].
Gilson is pictured above at the 2010 State Meet in which she placed 2nd with a vault of 11' 00. Her 'PR' in 2010 was 11' 03 [D1 Sectional at Homestead].
Molly Seidel a University Lake School High School senior has made an oral commitment to attend Notre Dame University. Followup - Olympics.
Seidel's accomplishments in her first three years of high school track and field competition have been very impressive.
Ninth grade at La Crosse
- 1600m 1st 5:02.52
- 3200m 1st 11:14.35
Sophomore at La Crosse
- 1600m 1st 5:06.39
- 3200m 1st 10:49.98 [D3 Record]
Junior at La Crosse
- 1600m 1st 4:51.54 [D3 Record]
- 3200m 1st 10:33.15 [D3 Record]
In addition Seidel won the D3 XC State Championship four times. On December 10, 2011, she won a National Championship at the Foot Locker Meet in San Diego.
Grace Meurer [12] has been accepted at UW-Madison and will be walking on to the Badger's Womens Track and Field team. Meurer competed in the D3 3200m run [left] at the 2011 State Meet. She is pictured above on the Medal Stand after finishing 6th in the 32k race. Grace finished 10th in the 2011 D3 State Cross Country Meet helping her team to a 2nd place finish.
MOLLY GRIEP TO THROW at UND
Whitewater Whippet, Molly Griep Has Verbally Committed To Attend The University Of North Dakota To Throw For The D1 Fighting Sioux Track And Field Program.
Current Whippet Head Track and Field Coach John Houwers stated: Molly is a great thrower and very competitive. She has worked very hard to get to the level she is at. I am excited to see her continue to develop at UND. I think UND is getting a great athlete that will continue to improve over the next 4 years.
Former Whippet Head Track and Field Coach Mark Maas had this to say about Griep: For as long as I've known Molly she has had a firm understanding of the correlation between working hard and achieving goals. Molly is a perfectionist. She is generally the last one to leave the field during practice and you will often hear her say, 'Please, let me take one more throw'. She has set lofty goals for herself and has only begun to scratch the surface of her ability. The sky is the limit for Molly.
Joe Frontier, Griep's Throws Coach with the Madison Throws Club stated: Molly has been a pleasure to coach for the past 4 years. She is a dedicated and gifted athlete who will continue to excel as she takes her skills and focuses them on Track and Field at UND. I look forward to watching Molly's senior season and following her college throwing career, as crazy as it sounds, I think she is just getting started.
Griep had this to say about her opportunity to compete at North Dakota: I'm honored and humbled by the opportunity UND Throws Coach Miller is affording me. I will be a large part of the ground force in a developing Throws program. Coach Miller has convened a talented group of athletes and I look forward to competing in the Big Sky Conference. I've been blessed with supportive family, incredible teammates and influential coaches without whom, this opportunity would not have been possible.
Below: Griep at the W/TFA Indoor Championships held at UW-Whitewater, April 9, 2011.
At the 2011 State Meet Greenwood qualified for the 800m and 1600m events. In the 800m she won the Bronze Medal with a time of 2:16.19. Ten of the top eleven 800m D2 runners from La Crosse return for the 2012 season.
In the 1600m run at La Crosse Greenwood competed against a very talented group of runners finishing 6th. Twelve of the top 14 D2 1600m runners from La Crosse will return for the 2012 season.
In the 2011 Eastern Wisconsin Conference Meet at Kewaskum Greenwood displayed her versatility by finishing 2nd in the 400m dash, 1st in the 800m run, anchored the Two Rivers 4x4 to a second place finish, and placing first in the TJ event.
Kellie Greenwood - 1600m at La Crosse 2011
Kellie Greenwood - 800m at La Crosse 2011
Molly Seidel, National And State Gatorade XC Country Runner of the Year
Molly Seidel a senior at University Lake School [Hartland] was named National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year. The Gatorade Company honors elite athletes in 12 sports. Seidel also was the Wisconsin State Winner.
ESPN Story
ULS Cross Country Coach Mike Dolan [left] conducted the signing ceremony. Seidel is pictured above signing her National Letter of Intent to attend Notre Dame University.
In elementary school Molly began running in elementary school cross country meets. At that time she wrote a note to her parents that included her goals for the future. Her running goal was to be an Olympic Runner.
Molly [above] shares a special moment with her grandmother before the signing ceremony began. On display were the Gatorade Awards for State Runner of the Year and National Runner of the Year. A large group of students, friends, coaches from other schools, and ULS faculty attended the signing.
Kailee Kamps is pictured above signing her NLI on February 1, as her younger sister Keegan and parents David and Jackie look on. Photograph provided by D Kamps.
On February 1, Kellie Greenwood signed her NLI for Marquette University. Above L-R: Kellie's father Dave Greenwood, Two rivers girls head track and field coach Amy Gallagher, and Kellie's mother Joyce Aerts. Go to the Herald Times Reporter article for more. Signing photographs by Barb Jandrin.
Above: Kellie is pictured with her mother and stepfather Steve Aerts.
Above: Kellie is pictured with her father, her stepmother Lori Greenwood, and her sister MaKenzie Greenwood.
Fighting Sioux Thank You Speech
by Molly Griep
Hello everyone. I would like to thank you all for attending and celebrating my commitment to The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Of the many offers I received, North Dakota is the best fit. UND's outstanding Education Program and the move from D2 to D1 have afforded a great opportunity in the track and field program.
First and for most, I would like to thank my parents. They have allowed me to participate, succeed, and fail, while constantly keeping in perspective a humble reality which has developed the individual who stands before you today. They are huge part of my life and I wouldn't be here without them. Thanks mom and dad.
Secondly, I would like to thank my track coaches, Mark Maas, John Houwers, Joe Frontier, Dan Hytinen, Joe Schneider, Cedar Brown, and Jessa Luebke. They all have contributed unique perspectives and constant support through this journey. Mark Maas initiated the simple thought of me throwing, when he asked my dad, while driving the bus to the State Track Meet in Lacrosse, if I would throw in high school. Now, mind you, when this question was asked, I was only in 4th grade! Joe Frontier likely remains the most influential coach I have had. He has been the constant in my development as a thrower. Joe Frontier, I thank you with all my heart, for without you, I would not be the thrower I am today!
I would also like to thank District Administrator Eric Runez, Principal Doug Parker, and Athletic Director Jeff Behrens, for providing an athletic program that allows athletes to attain their goals and compete at any level.
I would further like to thank my throwing teammates. We typically compete in the far away corners of the competition field, and often get overlooked by spectators. So it is the throwing family that motivates, encourages, and supports each other.
In closing, I would like to thank my extended family of friends, coaches, and teachers, for their support and encouragement throughout this process. Their stellar influence, knowledge, example and faith remain lifelong blessings!
I have been and always will be proud to be a Whippet!
Thank you!.
Left: Molly Griep signing her National Letter of Intent to attend the University of North Dakota. In 2011 Molly was the Rock Valley Conference discus champion and finished 2nd in the SP event.
Signing photographs by Tom Ganser ~ Southern Lakes Newspapers
Signing photographs used with permission of MyWalworthCounty.com
