La Crosse, Wis. - Viterbo University Cross Country Head Coach, John Metelko, announced today that Sandy Gebhart (New Holstein, Wis.), and Amanda Shield (Medford, Wis.) will join the women's cross country team and Anthony Guagliardo (Hartford, Wis.) will run for the men's team.

Guagliardo is currently a senior at Hartford Union High School. While at Hartford Union, Guagliardo has been a contributing member to the Orioles cross country and track teams. In cross country, Guagliardo has lettered three times and won his team's "Tough Man" award his senior year. Guagliardo will study English Education at Viterbo.

"Anthony's positive attitude will help him contribute to our team," stated Coach Metelko. "Anthony knows that cross country is hard work, and he is not afraid to shy away from the challenge." Guagliardo will be joining a men's cross country team which finished fourth in the Midwest Collegiate Conference this past season.

Gebhart and Shield meanwhile will be joining a women's cross country team which is coming off a banner year which included victories at the Wisconsin Private Colleges Championship and at the Mount Mercy Mustang Gallop. Gebhart, a senior at Chilton High School is coming off a strong senior season for the Tigers. Gebhart has lettered in cross country, track and field and volleyball while at Chilton. In cross country Gebhart earned second team All-Olympian conference honors her junior and senior years and was a sectional qualifier in track her junior year. Besides being a stand out athlete, Gebhart has also excelled in the classroom. She is a member of the National Honor Society and is ranked near the top of her class. Gebhart will major in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Shield will join the women's cross country team this spring after completing her first semester at Viterbo. A graduate of Medford High School, Shield earned letters in track and field and swimming. In track, Shield lettered three years and competed in distance events. In swimming she lettered four years and set a new school record in the 100 yard breaststroke. Shield is majoring in Nursing.

"Sandy Gebhart and Amanda Shield are both talented student-athletes who will add depth to our women's team", stated Coach Metelko. "Both have already shown to be very capable of racing successfully at the high school level, and I think that when they step up to the college level, they will both show that they are capable of successfully racing 5k's and 6k's."