Indiana University Athletics
Helmer Announces Elite Signing Class
7/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
July 28, 2014
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana track and field director and head coach Ron Helmer has announced 17 members of the 2014-15 signing class, and it’s full of high-level talent. The group won a combined 10 state championships by eight different athletes.
“I am very excited about the group of kids we have committed to our program,” IU head coach Ron Helmer said. “This is a group that has a lot of experience and has performed well in high level situations. I look forward to having them on campus and helping them develop into outstanding student-athletes.”
See all 17 signees on the Signing Class Page, complete with stats and comments from Coach Helmer on each signee: Click Here.
MEN:
Bertoli, Jackson
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute South High School, Terre Haute, Indiana
Distance
2013 Indiana State Cross Country Champion
PR: 3200 9:09.81
1600 4:18.48
Coach Helmer: “Although he has been a bit inconsistent Jackson has enjoyed much success in high school highlighted by his state championship in cross country last fall. Consistent training and time will give him a chance to become an outstanding distance runner at our level.”
Browning, Bobby
Carmel, Indiana
Carmel High School, Carmel Indiana
Distance
7th in the 2013 Indiana State Cross Country Championships and 8th in the State 3200
PR: 3200 9:11.18
1600 4:23.50
Coach Helmer: “Bobby has shown some resiliency and consistency throughout his career. If he can handle the work, and I suspect he can, he has a chance to become a very good 5k-10k runner for us.”
Galas, Paul
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario
High Jump
2014 OFSAA High Jump Champion
PR: High Jump 2.11 (6’ 11”)
Coach Helmer: “Paul has been fairly consistent at 2.05 and above for the last two years and we always are attracted to athletes who find their way to the top at championship time. We won’t necessarily expect him to equal the improvements of our last Canadian high jumper (Olympic bronze medalist Derek Drouin who jumped 7’ 10 ½”) but we do expect that given Paul’s talent and desire to excel he will have an outstanding career at IU.”
Huber, Andrew
Leopold, Indiana
Perry Central High School, Leopold, Indiana
Multi
2014 Indiana State Meet qualifier in both the 110 and 300 hurdles
PR: 110 Hurdles 14.94
300 Hurdles 38.97
Coach Helmer: “Besides the hurdles where he has had most of his success, Andrew has done several of the field events. Coach Jake Wiseman, our multi coach, feels Andrew has both the size and ability necessary to develop into a very good multi athlete in time.”
Kuhn, Daniel
Shelbyville, Indiana
Shelbyville High School, Shelbyville, Indiana
Middle Distance
2014 Indiana State Champion in the 800
PR: 800 1:50.91
400r 47.3
Coach Helmer: “Daniel is an extraordinary talent who was able to win the state championship with an outstanding time while spending most of his time practicing and playing baseball. Obviously he must now adjust to college workouts, or consistent track workouts in general, but we believe he has shown the ability to not only adjust but to ultimately excel.”
Murphy, Joe
Indianapolis, Indiana
Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis, Indiana
Middle Distance
2014 Indiana State Champion in the 1600
PR: 1600 4:11.05
800 1:52.99
3200 9:22.75
Coach Helmer: “Joe had a very impressive run in the 1600 at the state meet. It was a big PR and he showed outstanding closing speed. The ability to close well off of a fast pace is a trait that most high level milers possess and we believe Joe has the ability to join the impressive list of outstanding IU milers.”
Transfers:
Smith, Chrisjaan
Indianapolis, Indiana
Lawrence Central High School, Indianapolis, Indiana (University of Louisville)
High Jump
PR: High Jump 2.14 (7’ ¼”)
Coach Helmer: “CJ is returning to Indiana and IU after having jumped one season for the Louisville Cardinals. He has three years of eligibility remaining and has shown he has the ability to be competitive in the Big Ten as well as on the national level.”
WOMEN:
Beniulis, Danielle
Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Jefferson Township High School, Oak Ridge, New Jersey
Sprints/Hurdles
Third in the 2014 New Jersey Meet of Champions 100
PR: 100 11.95
200 24.93
55 7.29
55 Hurdles 8.26
Coach Helmer: “Danielle came on really well at the end of the 2014 track season. We are looking forward to seeing her continue to improve as she focuses full time on track and field training this fall and into the winter.”
Calder, Brenna
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Beaver Dam High School, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Distance
Ninth in the 2013 Wisconsin State Cross Country Meet
PR: 1600 5:00.95
800 2:14.31
3200 11:17.04
Coach Helmer: “Brenna has had some injuries pop up off and on during her career but has consistently run solid times without the benefit of stringing together month after month of solid training. If we can get the training in place I believe the results will come as she is a talented young lady.”
Mather, Rachel
Noblesville, Indiana
Noblesville High School, Noblesville, Indiana
High Jump/Pole Vault
2014 Indiana State Champion in the high jump and 3rd in the pole vault
PR: High Jump 5’ 9”
Pole Vault 12’ 9”
Coach Helmer: “The fun thing with Rachel will be watching her develop in both events and seeing which one can ultimately take her the farthest in the sport. She is very talented and a very composed and tough competitor who will make an impact in the Big Ten very quickly.”
Reynolds, Amelia
Owensboro, Kentucky
Daviess County High School, Owensboro, Kentucky
Distance
Third in the 2013 Kentucky State Cross Country Meet and 4th in the 2013 State 1600
PR: 3200 11:17.90
Mile 5:11.49
Coach Helmer: “Amelia had a very good 2013 cross country campaign and was consistent on the track. More work and time should allow her to develop into a competitive Big Ten distance runner.”
Roush, Samantha
Columbia City, Indiana
Columbia City High School, Columbia City, Indiana
Distance
Fifth in the 2013 Indiana State Meet 1600 and 7th in the 2011 State Cross Country Meet
PR: 1600 5:00.33
Coach Helmer: “Samantha was very good at an early age and while she was able to duplicate her early performances each year she was unable to take significant steps forward. We look forward to the challenge of helping her do just that and watching her run the times her early talent suggested she can.”
Warzyniak, Alex
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington South High School, Bloomington, Indiana
Distance
Second in the 2013 Indiana State Meet 1600 and All State in the 2013 State Cross Country Meet
PR: 1600 4:57.68
800 2:15.61
Coach Helmer: “Alex is another athlete who ran very well early in her career and was consistent throughout. I think once her training elevates to the appropriate level her talent will allow outstanding things to happen.”
Whitman, Jill
Columbia, Illinois
Cor Jesu Academy, St. Louis, Missouri
Distance
2013 Missouri State Champion in the 3200, 2013 State runner up in Cross Country
PR: 3200 10:40.04
Mile 4:54.67
Coach Helmer: “Jill has won or been very competitive in numerous high level races while in high school. When that is coupled with the fact that every year she has gotten better and better we believe the trajectory she is on will continue on into her collegiate years. She could impact our team immediately.”
Wiles, Kendell
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg High School, Blacksburg, Virginia
Sprints/Middle Distance
Three time state champion including the 2014 400 and 2013 & 2014 indoor 500
PR: 500 1:14.20
400 56.31
300 40.63
Coach Helmer: “Kendell spent much of the past year training as a middle distance runner and ran on the state championship 4 X 800 relay. The willingness to do that work added to the speed she has shown throughout her career should give her a chance to ultimately develop into a very good 600/800 runner at this level.”
Transfers:
Daphne Chambers
Eugene, Oregon
Springfield High School, Springfield, Oregon (University of Oregon)
Multis
2011 Oregon State 5A Champion in the 100 Hurdles
2014 2nd in heptathlon (5251) at Oregon Relays
PR: Heptathlon 5251
Hammer 51.86
Coach Helmer: “Daphne comes to us with a solid heptathlon mark and the desire to do much better. Our challenge will be to identify a couple of events where she has the ability to make some dramatic improvements going forward and allow them to propel her to bigger and better multi totals.”
Olivia Hippensteel
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Carroll High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana (Belmont University)
Middle Distance
Third in the 2013 Indiana State Meet 800
PR: 800 2:10.54
Mile 5:11.25
Coach Helmer: “Olivia had a very good state meet her senior year, getting 3rd in the 800 running her PR. She has not progressed from there but appears to have the motivation necessary to do so and I suspect once she starts training with a group that includes individuals much better than she is currently, she will respond appropriately and become a contributor for us.”
Players Mentioned
