Photo by: Don Paul
Six Newcomers Join Men’s Cross Country’s Class of 2021
8/4/2017 4:16:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the start of the 2017 cross country season exactly four weeks away, men's head cross country coach Todd Etters has announced six incoming freshman as part of the team's Class of 2021.
Four of the six runners in this year's class hail from the state of Pennsylvania, with two others from Minnesota and Connecticut.
Sean Brown – Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic
A three-time state qualifier for cross country and for track in the 1600m, Sean Brown also earned first team all-conference honors for cross country and track in the 800m, mile, and 4x400. He was a state medalist in the mile and won a district championship in the 1600m. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School as the record holder in the mile and sprint medley relay.
Etters on Brown: "Sean had a very exciting final spring season in track as he made the finals in the 1600 meters at the Pennsylvania State Championships. He has a very nice blend of speed and strength that will provide an impact in our middle distance events in track. While his range will allow him to provide a boost for the XC squad."
Brad DeMassa – Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield
Brad DeMassa competed as one of Ridgefield's top seven runners at the Connecticut class and state open championships as a sophomore in 2014, and scored points to help Ridgefield finish third at the New England Championships that same year. He earned Second Team All-FCIAC accolades as a junior and helped lead the team to the state class and state open meets. He earned all-state honors after finishing ninth overall at the state open meet, finished 33rd overall at New England's and placed 42nd overall (fourth from CT) at the Fook Locker Northeast Regional.
Etters on DeMassa: "It seemed like the higher the level of competition, the better Brad performed. He has shown a lot of range in his racing performances and he built a pretty impressive resume over his high school career."
Eric Kersten – Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury
Eric Kersten comes to Lehigh from Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pa.
Etters on Kersten: "Eric is a later convert to cross country after playing soccer for most of his life. With that I think he will bring a slightly different mentality that will help the team. He doesn't have much experience at some of the longer races, although I expect him to be able to handle them as well as he has handled the shorter races."
Michael Mitchell – Wayzata, Minn./The Blake School
Michael Mitchell was a six-time MSHSL State Cross Country qualifier, where he finished fifth in 2015 and 10th in 2016. A two-time all-state honoree and five-time all-conference honoree in cross country, he was also a two-time MSHSL state track qualifier and a four-time all-conference honoree in track.
Etters on Mitchell: "He is our first-ever cross country runner from the state of Minnesota and I am really looking forward to working with him on a daily basis. He has proven to be a top tier performer in cross country and I think he has a tremendous upside in the type of speed he has shown in track season."
Nick Norton – Columbia, Pa./Hempfield
Nick Norton placed 19th overall at the 2016 PIAA AAA State Cross Country Meet. He was a 2016 First Team Lancaster-Lebanon League pick and the 2016 Lancaster-Lebanon Scholar Athlete. He earned Second Team Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star honors as a sophomore and junior in 2014 and 2015 and graduated as the Hempfield High School cross country course record holder.
Etters on Norton: "Nick was a top 20 performer in the Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championships last fall and really peaked at the right time. I believe we are getting a tough competitor who has a willingness to do all the little things it takes to be a top tier performer at the college ranks."
Seth Slavin – Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley
A four-time Pennsylvania state qualifier in cross country, Seth Slavin medaled after placing 16th at the Pennsylvania state meet, which he co-holds as the highest finish for a runner in Pleasant Valley High School history. He was crowned the 2016 District 11 champion and is a two-time conference champion and three-time district medalist. A two-time Times News Male Cross Country Runner of the Year, Slavin won the Footlocker Northeast Regional freshman/sophomore race in 2014 and 2015 and was a medalist at the 2015 Footlocker Northeast Regional medalist after placing 23rd.
Etters on Slavin: "I love to see the local PA District 11 guys on our roster. Seth has shown steady improvement each season in high school and he really blossomed at the highest-level competitions. He has a great personality and attitude that will serve him well at Lehigh. As a competitor, he is a grinder and the longer the race the stronger he seems to get."
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Four of the six runners in this year's class hail from the state of Pennsylvania, with two others from Minnesota and Connecticut.
Sean Brown – Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic
A three-time state qualifier for cross country and for track in the 1600m, Sean Brown also earned first team all-conference honors for cross country and track in the 800m, mile, and 4x400. He was a state medalist in the mile and won a district championship in the 1600m. He graduated from Roman Catholic High School as the record holder in the mile and sprint medley relay.
Etters on Brown: "Sean had a very exciting final spring season in track as he made the finals in the 1600 meters at the Pennsylvania State Championships. He has a very nice blend of speed and strength that will provide an impact in our middle distance events in track. While his range will allow him to provide a boost for the XC squad."
Brad DeMassa – Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield
Brad DeMassa competed as one of Ridgefield's top seven runners at the Connecticut class and state open championships as a sophomore in 2014, and scored points to help Ridgefield finish third at the New England Championships that same year. He earned Second Team All-FCIAC accolades as a junior and helped lead the team to the state class and state open meets. He earned all-state honors after finishing ninth overall at the state open meet, finished 33rd overall at New England's and placed 42nd overall (fourth from CT) at the Fook Locker Northeast Regional.
Etters on DeMassa: "It seemed like the higher the level of competition, the better Brad performed. He has shown a lot of range in his racing performances and he built a pretty impressive resume over his high school career."
Eric Kersten – Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury
Eric Kersten comes to Lehigh from Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, Pa.
Etters on Kersten: "Eric is a later convert to cross country after playing soccer for most of his life. With that I think he will bring a slightly different mentality that will help the team. He doesn't have much experience at some of the longer races, although I expect him to be able to handle them as well as he has handled the shorter races."
Michael Mitchell – Wayzata, Minn./The Blake School
Michael Mitchell was a six-time MSHSL State Cross Country qualifier, where he finished fifth in 2015 and 10th in 2016. A two-time all-state honoree and five-time all-conference honoree in cross country, he was also a two-time MSHSL state track qualifier and a four-time all-conference honoree in track.
Etters on Mitchell: "He is our first-ever cross country runner from the state of Minnesota and I am really looking forward to working with him on a daily basis. He has proven to be a top tier performer in cross country and I think he has a tremendous upside in the type of speed he has shown in track season."
Nick Norton – Columbia, Pa./Hempfield
Nick Norton placed 19th overall at the 2016 PIAA AAA State Cross Country Meet. He was a 2016 First Team Lancaster-Lebanon League pick and the 2016 Lancaster-Lebanon Scholar Athlete. He earned Second Team Lancaster-Lebanon League All-Star honors as a sophomore and junior in 2014 and 2015 and graduated as the Hempfield High School cross country course record holder.
Etters on Norton: "Nick was a top 20 performer in the Pennsylvania State Cross Country Championships last fall and really peaked at the right time. I believe we are getting a tough competitor who has a willingness to do all the little things it takes to be a top tier performer at the college ranks."
Seth Slavin – Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley
A four-time Pennsylvania state qualifier in cross country, Seth Slavin medaled after placing 16th at the Pennsylvania state meet, which he co-holds as the highest finish for a runner in Pleasant Valley High School history. He was crowned the 2016 District 11 champion and is a two-time conference champion and three-time district medalist. A two-time Times News Male Cross Country Runner of the Year, Slavin won the Footlocker Northeast Regional freshman/sophomore race in 2014 and 2015 and was a medalist at the 2015 Footlocker Northeast Regional medalist after placing 23rd.
Etters on Slavin: "I love to see the local PA District 11 guys on our roster. Seth has shown steady improvement each season in high school and he really blossomed at the highest-level competitions. He has a great personality and attitude that will serve him well at Lehigh. As a competitor, he is a grinder and the longer the race the stronger he seems to get."
Follow Lehigh Cross Country on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
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