To be one of the best. It's the reason athletes compete at the NCAA Division III level. And at George Fox, athletes get the opportunity to pursue their passion for sports at a nationally ranked Christian college with a storied athletic tradition that includes both individual and team national championships. We're excited about the quality of student-athletes who will join us for the 2020-21 academic year as we pursue our vision of being "the team to beat." In April, we hosted a virtual Commitment Day to celebrate their decision* and are proud to introduce our newest Bruins to you.
Cross Country and Track & Field Recruits
Name: Patrick Adkisson
High School: Ellensburg High School (Ellensburg, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): Long Distances
Height / Weight: 5'11" / 150 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Was named team’s track MVP his sophomore year and ran varsity track and cross country all four years of high school; recipient of team’s “Commitment Award” as a junior and senior in cross country; served as a team captain in both cross country and track his final two years; twice broke the school record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (junior and senior year) and is the school’s cross country record holder in the 5K (15 minutes, 42 seconds), set his senior year; took 25th as an individual and was member of eighth-place team at Washington state cross country meet his junior year, as well as 12th at state in track in the 1,600 and 4X400 relay that same season; was ninth as an individual and part of third-place team at state cross country meet his senior season
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose Fox because of the faith-centered environment that is integrated into high-level athletic and academic programs.”
Name: Kaleb Bustamante
High School: N/A
Sport(s): Cross Country
Position(s):
Height / Weight:
High School Highlights:
Why I chose George Fox:
Name: Austin Canchola
High School: Oregon City High School (Oregon City, Oregon)
Sport(s): Football and Track & Field
Position(s): Free Safety and Decathlon
Height / Weight: 6'0" / 175 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Was an all-league honorable mention safety his junior and senior seasons
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because of the relatable culture on the football team as well as the educational opportunity.”
Name: Marina Carroll
High School: Homer High School (Homer, Alaska)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): High Jump
Height / Weight: 5'8"
High School Highlights:
None provided
Why I chose George Fox:
“I think it will be a great place to further my education and play sports, and I like the smaller Christian atmosphere.”
Name: Shaylee Cooper
High School: Oregon City High School (Oregon City, Oregon)
Sport(s): Cross Country
Position(s): Distance
Height / Weight: 5'0"
High School Highlights:
Was team’s most improved runner in 2018 and served as a team captain her senior year; named her team’s “Most Inspiring” athlete in 2019; posted 5K time of 21 minutes, 26 seconds as a junior and a 20:52 mark as a senior
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose Fox because of the welcoming Christian community.”
Name: Ellena Corwin
High School: Redmond High School (Redmond, Oregon)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Throws
Height / Weight: 5'8"
High School Highlights:
A four-year varsity athlete, she served as team captain her final two years and was a Class 5A state competitor in the shot put and javelin
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because of its emphasis on community. The culture at George Fox is very welcoming, and the Be Known promise makes me feel like I can achieve a personalized college experience.”
Name: Isabella Dean
High School: Trout Lake High School (Trout Lake, Washington)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Jumps / Combined
Height / Weight: 5'8"
High School Highlights:
Scored most points on her team her junior year, when she placed second in the pole vault, second in the 4X200 relay, fourth in the triple jump and fifth in the 100-meter hurdles at state; as a sophomore at state, took fourth in the triple jump, fourth in the pole vault and third in the 300 hurdles; as a freshman, placed second in the pole vault and seventh in the 4X100 relay at state
Why I chose George Fox:
“I wanted to be able to continue both my education and athletic career in a Christ-filled environment surrounded by supportive and positive people.”
Name: Alex Driesner
High School: Earl Wooster High School (Reno, Nevada)
Sport(s): Soccer / Track and Field
Position(s): Outside back/Midfielder (Soccer); 110 Hurdles (Track)
Height / Weight: 6'1" / 155 lbs.
High School Highlights:
None provided
Why I chose George Fox:
“I have the opportunity to get a quality education and participate in the sports that I love.”
Name: Emma Forbes
High School: Meridian High School (Bellingham, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): 10K and Middle Distances
Height / Weight: 5'1"
High School Highlights:
High School Highlights: Was a state cross country participant in 2016 and 2018; named her team’s “Most Inspirational” athlete her final two seasons (2018 and 2019) and was recipient of “Coaches Award” as a senior; earned a varsity letter in cross country in 2016, 2018 and 2019 and a varsity letter in track 2017, 2018 and 2019; posted personal-best time of 22 minutes, 22 seconds in the 5K her senior year
Why I chose George Fox:
“When I first visited Fox I felt at home after being on campus for just a few minutes. Every student and faculty member that I spoke to seemed to genuinely love the university and their role in it. The professors seemed passionate about both their academic area of interest, but also helping each student succeed and making sure that Christ was at the center of their classroom. My time on campus also showed me that the "Be Known" promise is not simply something that George Fox uses to promote themselves, but is actually an action that every member of the Fox staff has decided to commit to in order to demonstrate the love of Jesus.”
Name: Austin Gappa
High School: Mount Si High School (Snoqualmie, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): Distances
Height / Weight: 6'3" / 170 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Named team’s Most Improved his senior year, when he qualified for state; qualified as a team for state his junior and senior years; ran the 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 47 seconds as a senior; placed 19th at the state cross country meet his final season; posted times of 9:39 (3,200 meters), 4:31 (1,600) and 16:32 (5,000) as a junior
Why I chose George Fox:
“I loved the genuine excitement of all of the faculty and coaches for the incoming students each time I visited campus.”
Name: Kerby Hartzell
High School: McMinnville High School (McMinnville, Oregon)
Sport(s): Football and Track & Field
Position(s): Running Back (Football); 200 meters, 400 meters, 4X100 relay, 4X400 relay (Track)
Height / Weight: 5'10" / 156 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Was a team captain and a three-year varsity letter winner in football; a two-way starter in football, he earned all-conference honorable mention honors; in his first game as a senior, he rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns in one quarter
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because of the coaching staff and the excitement around the future of the program.”
Name: Cassidy Hendren
High School: Century High School (Hillsboro, Oregon)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): Distances
Height / Weight: 5'8"
High School Highlights:
None provided
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because I felt an immediate connection to the students, staff and environment.”
Name: Amy Holmes
High School: Amador High School (Ione, California)
Sport(s): Cross Country
Position(s): N/A
Height / Weight: 5'3"
High School Highlights:
None provided
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because I really wanted to pursue my education at a small, Christian school so I could continue to grow my faith as I pursue nursing in a great program. I loved the Be Known promise and just felt that God wanted me at Fox from the first time I stepped foot on campus.”
Name: Elisabeth Jensen
High School: Colorado Springs Christian School (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Triple jump
Height / Weight: 6'1"
High School Highlights:
None provided
Why I chose George Fox:
"I chose George Fox because of its holistic education."
Name: Alvin Lai
High School: Westside Christian High School (Tigard, Oregon)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): 100 meters to 400 meters; Long Jump
Height / Weight: 5'8" / 147 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Was part of a team that placed third at the Class 3A-SD1 Special District 1 Championships and 13th at the Class 3A State Championships; as a junior, placed second in the 4X400 relay and third in the long jump at the district championships
Why I chose George Fox:
“I wanted to be part of a passionate, God-centered community that gave me a fulfilling academic and athletic experience.”
Name: Joshua Lull
High School: Scappoose High School (Scappoose, Oregon)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): 400 and 800 meters
Height / Weight: 6'2" / 160 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Earned both all-state and all-league honors his freshman through junior seasons; served as a team captain all four years of high school
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose Fox because I love the committee of people here. Of the handful of times I've visited, each time I felt more welcomed than the previous visit. My brother graduated from Fox while doing track and field as well, so it seemed like a perfect fit for me to follow in his footsteps and make something of my own in the next four years. I'm excited to call myself a Bruin and make new memories with my future teammates.”
Name: Scott McBride
High School: Bickleton High School (Bickleton, Washington)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Shot Put, Discus, and Hammer Throw
Height / Weight: 5'10" / 270 lbs.
High School Highlights:
Served as co-captain and as flag bearer on a 2019 Bickleton High team that won a WIAA Boys 1B Track and Field State Academic Championship; individually, made the WIAA State Track and Field semifinals in the shot put in 2019 and qualified for state in both 2017 and 2019; has posted marks of 126 feet, 6 inches in the discus and 43 feet in the shot put; was a participant in the United States Track & Field Junior Olympic Championships for shot put during the summer of 2018; was a District 5 shot put champion (2019) and discus champion (2017); won District 5/6 titles in the shot put and discus in 2019; served as a virtual team captain in 2020; also earned honors in basketball (District 5 All-Opponent nominee in 2020) and cross country (Most Improved Runner in 2016 and 2018, and Most Inspirational Runner in 2019)
Why I chose George Fox:
"I chose George Fox because it is a well-respected university where I acquired a feeling of satisfaction that I could find nowhere else. I saw how the professors and administration take a vested interest in helping the students prepare for their future, how all of the coaches and professors really encourage the value of following Jesus, and how this university has a sense of family of which I am honored to be a part of. Go Bruins!"
Name: Kendall McKibbon
High School: Newberg High School (Newberg, Oregon)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): 800, 1,500 and 3,000 meters
Height / Weight: 5'5"
High School Highlights:
Earned all-league honorable mention honors twice in cross country and was named team’s Most Improved Runner; earned all-league second-team honor and named Most Inspirational while also receiving Scholarship Award in cross country; MVP of team and team captain in cross country, and earned Varsity Award in both track and cross country; as a senior, set 5K PR of 19 minutes, 57 seconds; as a junior, set PR of 2:31 in 800 and 5:20.77 in 1,500
Why I chose George Fox:
“The coaches seem so supportive, and the school is incredibly welcoming. George Fox offers me all of the tools I need to accomplish my goals, and I couldn't imagine going anywhere else.”
Name: Alex Mills
High School: Lakes High School (Lakewood, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track & Field
Position(s): 5K, 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters
Height / Weight: 5'9" / 135
High School Highlights:
A four-time state cross country competitor; earned second-team all-league honors in track in the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters as a junior; named first-team all-league in cross country as a junior and senior; helped team place second at district as a freshman; posted a 5K time of 16 minutes, 43 seconds as a junior and 16:06 as a senior; posted a 4:33 time in the 1,600 and a 9:55 in the 3,200 as a junior
Why I chose George Fox:
“I really connected with the team, I loved the campus, and they had all the programs I was looking for.”
Name: Breeauna O’Rear
High School: Raven Homeschool (North Pole, Alaska)
Sport(s): Soccer / Track and Field
Position(s): Midfielder (Soccer); Long Jump and High Jump (Track)
Height / Weight: 5'11 ¾ "
High School Highlights:
Was a first-team and all-state soccer player as a junior and served as captain of her North Pole High School team her junior and senior years; named school’s Most Valuable Jumper as a junior track competitor, when she placed fourth at the state long jump competition; took second place in the high jump at the Brian Young Invitational as a sophomore
Why I chose George Fox:
“It is a smaller, faith-based school with strong academic and athletic programs. Everyone at George Fox welcomed me and made me feel like I belonged.”
Name: Brynna Rooklidge
High School: Centralia High School (Centralia, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): Distances (6K, 1,500, 3,000, 5,000)
Height / Weight: 5'4"
High School Highlights:
As a senior in cross country, placed seventh among medium-school individuals at Seaside Invitational and took 19th in girls’ race at Capital Invite; took sixth in league and 27th at district to qualify for state as a junior
Why I chose George Fox:
“I was looking for a college that would allow me to grow in my walk with God while also equipping me with a strong education with which I can build my future career. The more I learn about George Fox, the more I have found that it matches exactly what I'm looking for in a college. I'm also excited to be able to continue my running career at George Fox University!”
Name: Kahleia Rose
High School: Canby High School (Canby, Oregon)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): 800 meters and 1,500 meters
Height / Weight: 5'10"
High School Highlights:
Was a varsity runner all four years of high school in track and a two-year varsity runner in cross country, starting her junior year (did not run cross country freshman and sophomore years)
Why I chose George Fox:
“I chose George Fox because of the positive community, and the people that are a part of it are kind and very welcoming.”
Name: Jacoby Sherman
High School: Richland High School (Richland, Washington)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track & Field
Position(s): Distance
Height / Weight: 6'1" / 165
High School Highlights:
Served as cross country team captain in 2019, when he placed fourth at the district meet.
Why I chose George Fox:
“I am looking forward to bettering myself and becoming closer to God.”
Name: Jenessa Teachout
High School: Sam Barlow High School (Gresham, Oregon)
Sport(s): Cross Country and Track and Field
Position(s): Middle and long distances
Height / Weight: 5'3"
High School Highlights:
Competed as a varsity runner all four seasons; qualified for state in cross country her sophomore, junior and senior seasons; served as cross country and track team captain her final two years of high school; named cross country team’s “Most Valuable” as a sophomore, junior and senior; named track team’s “Most Inspirational” as a junior
Why I chose George Fox:
“It exceeds all of my academic needs along with having a wonderful faith-based community. The atmosphere surrounding George Fox is absolutely amazing, and every time I walk onto campus, I feel a sense of belonging to a place where I can carry out my passions while strengthening my faith.”
Name: Grace Umfleet
High School: Newberg High School (Newberg, Oregon)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): 200 and 400 Meters
Height / Weight: 5'6"
High School Highlights:
Was a varsity athlete all four years and served as team captain her senior year; went to state as a freshman with 4X400 relay team and again as a junior as the district champion in the 400; also qualified for state as a member of her school’s 4X100 and 4X400 relay teams her junior season
Why I chose George Fox:
“I wanted to be a part of a school that I know I will feel at home at but also grow at. Everything at George Fox, from the culture, values and community, feels right to me. I want to be a part of something greater than myself and make a difference. I know I will be surrounded by amazing, amazing people and opportunities here. I can’t wait to start this new adventure!”
Name: Kailee Walker
High School: Oregon City High School (Oregon City, Oregon)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Thrower (Discus and Shot Put)
Height / Weight: 5'9"
High School Highlights:
Named honorable mention all-league in both the discus and shot put in 2019; threw the discus 120 feet, 8 inches and the discus 37-2 as a junior
Why I chose George Fox:
“I love the values that the school has and the community it seems to have built. I love the atmosphere and all the adventures I have to look forward to!”
Name: Beth Wegener
High School: Wegener Academy (Cascade, Idaho)
Sport(s): Track and Field
Position(s): Pole Vault and Long Jump
Height / Weight: 5'5"
High School Highlights:
Earned a varsity letter in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and qualified for state each year; named team's "Hardest Worker" in 2018; won the state pole vault competition while also qualifying for state in the 100-meter dash in 2019; took fifth in the pole vault and also competed in the long jump and 100-meter dash at state in 2018; made it to state in the pole vault and 800-meter relay in 2017
Why I chose George Fox:
"I appreciate how George Fox provides an atmosphere for students to grow academically, athletically and spiritually. I am excited to be a part of the George Fox Honors Program and to be challenged as a part of its faith-based community. I look forward to developing myself athletically and building relationships with my teammates as a member of its supportive and uplifting track program. Most of all, I chose George Fox because it feels like a place I can call home."
* Student-athletes listed above have accepted George Fox University's written offer of admission and/or financial aid. George Fox University is a member of the NCAA Div. III.