V-Hawks News
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 - [Cross Country]
La Crosse, Wis. - Viterbo University Men's and Women's Cross County coach John Metelko announced today the addition of seven student-athletes for the 2010 season. These additions include two runners on the men's team, Amado Amezquita-Santos (Providence, RI), and Armando Zuniga (Apache Junction, Ariz.), and five runners to the women's' team, Andrea Ilgen (Mauston, Wis.), Taima La Fountain (Necedah, Wis.), Jessica Lawrence (Wonewoc, Wis.), Tanya Kaufmann (Stoddard, Wis.) and Lauren Ann Rehrauer (Las Vegas, Nev.).
A two sport athlete, Amezquita-Santos lettered two years in cross country and track and field for the E Cubed Academy at Hope High School after moving from Las Vegas. Amezquita-Santos was named the Blue Wave's most improved runner for both of his cross country and track and field teams his senior year. Besides athletics, Amezquita-Santos was also Vice President of the Hope High School Spanish Club and was a member of the Key Club. Amezquita-Santos will major in Psychology at Viterbo.
Zuniga will join the men's cross country team this fall after graduating from Apache Junction High School. A three sport athlete for the Prospectors, Zuniga lettered two years in cross country, basketball and track. Throughout his senior season cross country, Zuniga was one of the Prospectors top runners and he competed in the 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs in track. Zuniga will study Sports Management at Viterbo.
"Armando Zuniga and Amado Amezquita-Santos are two motivated student-athletes who will help to challenge our current runners in practice and in completion," said coach Metelko. "Both Amado and Armando have shown themselves to be strong runners on the high school level, and I believe their work ethics will help each of them to be successful in college."
Incoming freshman Ilgen will join the women's cross country team after graduating from Mauston High School. Ilgen lettered in cross country and track for the Golden Eagles. Besides athletics, Ilgen also participated in Key Club and FFA. Ilgen will double major in Spanish and Ministry.
Necedah High School graduate La Fountain will join the women's cross country team this fall. La Fountain is a four year letter winner in track and a letter winner in volleyball for the Cardinals. In track La Fountain was a four year qualifier for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletes Association track championship, and is part of the school record holding relay teams in the 3200 meter, 1600 meter and 400 meter relays. La Fountain is also a recipient of the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award. La Fountain has also had success in the classroom as she was a member of National Honor Society and her class valedictorian. La Fountain is pursuing a degree in Biopsychology.
Lawrence was a four year letter winner in track, volleyball and basketball at Wonewoc-Center High School where she was also her class salutatorian. Lawrence was the captain of her track and field team her senior year and is the school record holder in the 1600 meter run. Lawrence is also part of the school record relay teams in the 3200 meter and 1600 meter relays. Besides athletics, Lawrence was involved in band, choir and the Spanish club at Wonewoc-Center. Lawrence is double majoring in Nursing and Spanish at Viterbo.
De Soto High School graduate Kaufmann will also join the women's cross country team this fall. A letter winner in track and basketball, Kaufmann will study either Dietetics or Psychology at Viterbo after transferring from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse where she was a student this past year. Besides excelling for the Pirates in track, Kaufmann is also De Soto High School's all-time leading scorer in basketball.
The final addition to the women's cross country team, Rehrauer will run cross country this fall after competing for the V-Hawk's women's soccer team last year. A graduate of the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, Rehrauer is double majoring in Organizational Communication Studies and Criminal Justice. Rehrauer has competed in half-marathons and marathons in Nevada and South Dakota and has been a member of the Las Vegas Running Team.
"The additions of Andrea, Taima, Jessica, Tanya and Lauren Ann will help add to our depth and will definitely have an impact on our program, not only on the course, but also off," said coach Metelko. "Each of these ladies are strong runners who will only get better at the college level. Off of the course, they are outstanding students as well".
The men's and women's cross country teams will kick off their 2010 campaign Saturday, September 4th at the 17th Annual Mustang Gallop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
