LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska Wesleyan Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Derrick McKenzie and head cross country coach Chad Berens announced today that 35 athletes will join the Prairie Wolves team in 2026-27.  

"From state champions to immediate impactful transfers, I'm fired up about getting the opportunity to develop this group and add them to our program," said Derrick McKenzie, who recently wrapped up his third season as director of the program. "Coming off a year where we added nine more All-Americans to our program and graduating some high level seniors, this group will step right in and make an immediate impact in many ways!" 

"We're really excited about this recruiting class, on the women's side we've brought in one of our strongest classes in recent memory" said Chad Berens, who led the Prairie Wolves cross country teams in his third season at the helm. In 2025, the men's team finished eighth at the NCAA Midwest Regional, their best finish since 2018. On the women's side, the Prairie Wolves finished three spots higher than the year prior. "These student-athletes will add tremendous depth and talent for our group. We're looking forward to seeing what this team can accomplish in the coming years."

Women's Signees
Avery Barnes • Erie High School • Erie, CO
Events: 60/100/200 meters

Addison Blaha • Ord High School • Ord, NE
Events: Pole Vault

Madysen Carlson • Hitchcock County High School • Trenton, NE
Events: Long Jump/Triple Jump

Ana Esono • Lincoln Northwest High School • Lincoln, NE
Events: Long Jump/Triple Jump

Addison Gillespie • De Soto High School • Lenexa, KS
Events: Distance

Melissa Gomez-Vazquez • Columbus High School • Columbus, NE
Events: Distance

Emma Gottberg • Lincoln East High School • Lincoln, NE
Events: Long Jump

Raegan Hinds • Columbus Lakeview High School • Columbus, NE
Events: Long Jump/Multis

Addison Hopper • Fruita Monument• Fruita, CO
Events: 60/100/200/400 meters

Brynn Martin • Millard South High School • Omaha, NE
Events: 60/100 hurdles

Brooke Starman • Grand Island Northwest High School • Grand Island, NE
Events: 60/100/200/400 meters

Kelsey Van Waart • Gretna High School • Gretna, NE
Events: Distance

Sydney Wendt • Lincoln High School • Lincoln, NE
Events: Distance

Natalie Williams • University of Nebraska-Kearney (transfer) • Ord, NE
Events: Long Jump/60/100/200 meters

LilyAnn Willing • Tekamah-Herman High School • Tekamah, NE
Events: Throws

Men's Signees
Caleb Black • Exeter Milligan/Friend High School • Friend, NE
Events: Pole Vault

Ayden Bohaboj • Fremont High School • Fremont, NE
Events: Pole Vault

Brody Clevenger • Elkhorn High School • Elkhorn, NE
Events: 60 hurdles/110 hurdles/400 hurdles

Hudson Davy • University of Nebraska-Kearney/Southeast Community College (transfer) • Lincoln, NE
Events: Distance

Cody Gesick • Greeley West High School • Greeley, CO
Events: 400/800

Rowan Hill • Creighton Prepatory School • Omaha, NE
Events: 400/800

Braun Kane • Broomfield High School • Broomfield, CO
Events: 60 Hurdles/110 Hurdles/ 400 Hurdles/200

Kingston Kelly • Shawnee Mission West High School • Lenexa, KS
Events: 60/100/200 meters

Hudson Koellner • Holyoke High School• Holyoke, CO
Events: Throws

Malachi Maly • Lincoln East High School • Lincoln, NE
Events: Pole Vault

Andre Martin • Howells-Dodge High School • Howells, NE
Events: 60 hurdles/110 hurdles/400 hurdles/High Jump

Noah Murphy • West Franklin High School • Pomona, KS
Events: 60/100/200 meters

Quintin Pinkerton • Hershey High School • Hershey, NE
Events: Throws

Riley Revere • Katy High School • Brookshire, TX
Events: 400 meters

Jackson Sorben • Waverly High School • Waverly, NE
Events: Distance

Jacob Wall • Waverly High School • Waverly, NE
Events: Pole Vault

Cooper Westering • Gretna East High School • Gretna, NE
Events: Throws