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MAY
3 — Penn's
Freeman To Bring Talents To Goshen
State
qualifier in high jump event to fill
void in Leafs' track program in 05-06 |
Mishawaka, IN — Despite working
hard to place four athletes to Mid-Central Conference status this
weekend and prepping four athletes to compete in NAIA National
competition in two weeks, the Goshen College track and field program
has found time to work toward the future as well, announcing the
signing of its first 2005-2006 recruit on Tuesday.
Penn High School (Mishawaka, Ind.) senior Betsy Freeman has signed
a letter of intent to attend and continue her track career at Goshen
beginning next fall, giving the Leafs a talented high jumping star
with a history of record-setting performances. In just three full
seasons at Penn, Freeman has set both school and Northern Indiana
Conference
records in the high jump, clearing a height of 5 feet, 4 inches
on multiple occasions. Those efforts led her to a sectional championship
in both 2002 and 2004 while finishing as the runner-up in regional
competition. Freeman also finished undefeated in the event during
regular season
competition as a junior, and has been unmatched thus far as a senior
as well. She is a two-time Penn Track and Field Most Valuable Player,
and qualified for state competition following both her sophomore
and junior seasons.
“Betsy is the type of young lady that we are very pleased
to have become part of our academic and athletic community at Goshen,” said
Rick Clark, Goshen head coach. “She will help fill a void
on our present women’s track team in her event and I also
look forward to the leadership potential that she brings to our
team.”
In addition to Freeman’s high level of performance
on the track, she also has helped Penn’s volleyball program
during her tenure at the school, leading the Kingsmen to a state
runner-up
finish during her sophomore season. She is an eight-year 4H member,
and plans to study nursing once at Goshen. Freeman has been active
in prepping for a future career in that field, working with the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as well as Elkhart General
Hospital’s community outreach programs in both freedom from
smoking and Title One dental fairs. She attended the 2004 Indiana
Vocational Technical College Nursing Assistant program, and was
state certified during her senior year at Penn as a result.
“Betsy is already competing at a level that can translate
into success on the track and this should provide a great deal
of satisfaction
to her and to our program,” Clark said. “I feel that
she will offer a positive influence in both her academic and athletic
endeavors and we feel very fortunate that she will be attending
Goshen next year.”
The defending NIC champion and record-holder in the high jump said
she plans to finish her high school career in strong fashion, and
looks forward to the increased level of competition once at Goshen.
Clark has led the Leafs’ track and field program to unparalleled
levels of success during his 11-year tenure as Goshen’s head
coach, taking 16 different athletes to indoor or outdoor NAIA National
Championship meets over the past five years. Clark has coached
six All-American finishers, and boasted a two-time national champion
in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. For a complete look at current
Goshen women’s track and field news, click here.
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  Betsy
Freeman
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