Photo by: Don Paul
Utesch Signs Six Student-Athletes To 2028 Class
8/5/2024 3:13:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh women's cross country head coach Debbie Utesch has announced the addition of six first-years to her team ahead of the 2024 season. Chloe Browne, Brenna Dahlgren, Elizabeth Ehrhardt, Kaitlyn Highduch, Kaya Meler and Sadie Millett are set to compete with the Mountain Hawks this fall.
"I'm very excited about this incoming first-year class," said Utesch. "They bring a variety of experiences across events and represent many high performing high school cross country programs from multiple states. I think there is an opportunity for some of these young women to make an immediate impact in our competitive lineup."
Chloe Browne – Wallingford, Pa. – Strath Haven High School
Browne comes to Bethlehem after competing as both a cross country and track athlete in high school. She had an accomplished career, being named a two-time All-Central League Second Team member, a 2023 All-Central League First Team member and a two-time state qualifier in cross country. As a track athlete, Browne was on the 2023 All-Delaware County Indoor Track Team, the 2024 All-Delaware Country Outdoor Track Team as an honorable mention and was a two-time District 1 qualifier. Browne was also named to her school's honor roll four times.
Brenna Dahlgren – Honesdale, Pa. – Honesdale High School
Dahlgren boasts an impressive resume as she heads to Bethlehem in the fall. She is a two-time PIAA District 2 AA Cross Country State Medalist, a five-time Scranton Times All-Star, a four-time Scranton Times All-Regional selection, a ten-time District medalist, Rookie of the Year winner as a freshman and a five-time Most Valuable Runner team award. In track, Dahlgren was the 2023 Most Improved Runner at her school, a District gold medalist in the 1600m run and a state qualifier for that same event. In the classroom, Dahlgren was a part of the National Honor Society, the school honor roll, earned principal recognition and distinguished honors.
Elizabeth Ehrhardt – Valparaiso, Ind. – Valparaiso High School
Ehrhardt brings a wealth of athletic and academic accomplishments to the Mountain Hawks. As a student, she earned an international baccalaureate diploma, was in the top one percent in a class of 550 and was a three-time Academic All-State selection in Indiana. As a cross country runner, Ehrhardt was three-time All-Conference, three-time All-Sectional and three-time All-Regional selection as well as earning All-State and Team MVP recognitions in 2023. As a track athlete, Ehrhardt was a Conference, Sectional and Regional champion in the 1600m and 3200m races as well as All-State in the 4x800 in 2023.
Kaitlyn Highduch – Mohnton, Pa. – Governor Mifflin Senior High School
Highduch will join the Mountain Hawks after an impressive career at Governor Mifflin Senior High School. The Mohnton, Pennsylvania native earned All-Conference nods in cross country three times and All-State Triple A distinction in 2020 and 2023. As a track athlete, Highduch was All-State in the 3200m in 2024 and All-Conference in the same event in 2023 and 2024. She made the honor roll every semester during high school and is a member of the National Honors Society.
Kaya Meler – Tobyhanna, Pa. – Pocono Mountain West High School
Meler competed as a cross country athlete at Pocono Mountain West High School, where she accrued many accomplishments. She was a three-time cross country state qualifier, a member of the EPC Girls Cross Country All-Star Team and was top four in the District AAA 1600m race three times. In the classroom, Meler is a member of the National Honors Society and was an EPC Scholar Athlete.
Sadie Millett – Edwards, Co. – Middlesex School
Millett will make the furthest trip away from home out of this year's class, hailing from Edwards, Colorado. She excelled in both cross country and track at Middlesex School, where she was a three-time All-Independent School League selection, three-time All-NEPSAC selection and a NEPSAC Individual Champion in 2022. In track, Millett was a two-time All-Independent School League selection and two-time All-NEPSAC selection.
Follow Lehigh Cross Country/Track and Field on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"I'm very excited about this incoming first-year class," said Utesch. "They bring a variety of experiences across events and represent many high performing high school cross country programs from multiple states. I think there is an opportunity for some of these young women to make an immediate impact in our competitive lineup."
Chloe Browne – Wallingford, Pa. – Strath Haven High School
Browne comes to Bethlehem after competing as both a cross country and track athlete in high school. She had an accomplished career, being named a two-time All-Central League Second Team member, a 2023 All-Central League First Team member and a two-time state qualifier in cross country. As a track athlete, Browne was on the 2023 All-Delaware County Indoor Track Team, the 2024 All-Delaware Country Outdoor Track Team as an honorable mention and was a two-time District 1 qualifier. Browne was also named to her school's honor roll four times.
Brenna Dahlgren – Honesdale, Pa. – Honesdale High School
Dahlgren boasts an impressive resume as she heads to Bethlehem in the fall. She is a two-time PIAA District 2 AA Cross Country State Medalist, a five-time Scranton Times All-Star, a four-time Scranton Times All-Regional selection, a ten-time District medalist, Rookie of the Year winner as a freshman and a five-time Most Valuable Runner team award. In track, Dahlgren was the 2023 Most Improved Runner at her school, a District gold medalist in the 1600m run and a state qualifier for that same event. In the classroom, Dahlgren was a part of the National Honor Society, the school honor roll, earned principal recognition and distinguished honors.
Elizabeth Ehrhardt – Valparaiso, Ind. – Valparaiso High School
Ehrhardt brings a wealth of athletic and academic accomplishments to the Mountain Hawks. As a student, she earned an international baccalaureate diploma, was in the top one percent in a class of 550 and was a three-time Academic All-State selection in Indiana. As a cross country runner, Ehrhardt was three-time All-Conference, three-time All-Sectional and three-time All-Regional selection as well as earning All-State and Team MVP recognitions in 2023. As a track athlete, Ehrhardt was a Conference, Sectional and Regional champion in the 1600m and 3200m races as well as All-State in the 4x800 in 2023.
Kaitlyn Highduch – Mohnton, Pa. – Governor Mifflin Senior High School
Highduch will join the Mountain Hawks after an impressive career at Governor Mifflin Senior High School. The Mohnton, Pennsylvania native earned All-Conference nods in cross country three times and All-State Triple A distinction in 2020 and 2023. As a track athlete, Highduch was All-State in the 3200m in 2024 and All-Conference in the same event in 2023 and 2024. She made the honor roll every semester during high school and is a member of the National Honors Society.
Kaya Meler – Tobyhanna, Pa. – Pocono Mountain West High School
Meler competed as a cross country athlete at Pocono Mountain West High School, where she accrued many accomplishments. She was a three-time cross country state qualifier, a member of the EPC Girls Cross Country All-Star Team and was top four in the District AAA 1600m race three times. In the classroom, Meler is a member of the National Honors Society and was an EPC Scholar Athlete.
Sadie Millett – Edwards, Co. – Middlesex School
Millett will make the furthest trip away from home out of this year's class, hailing from Edwards, Colorado. She excelled in both cross country and track at Middlesex School, where she was a three-time All-Independent School League selection, three-time All-NEPSAC selection and a NEPSAC Individual Champion in 2022. In track, Millett was a two-time All-Independent School League selection and two-time All-NEPSAC selection.
Follow Lehigh Cross Country/Track and Field on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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