Larson Posts Record Recruiting Class

MOORHEAD, Minn. (7/02/18)---Garrick Larson announced his record-setting recruiting class for the 2019 indoor and outdoor seasons. The incoming group features 31 student/athletes. The class also boasts 13 state championship meet competitors and three state champions.

Larson is confident that his record recruiting class will help the Cobbers get to the top half of the MIAC in the next four seasons.

"Track and field requires a large team and high quality athletes to make an impact in the MIAC Championship," Larson said. "If a team is going to compete for a top finish in the MIAC it's going to take at least 35-40 qualifiers."

The Cobbers are poised for a top finish in the conference in the next four seasons thanks to the 31 new student/athletes which will join a crew of 29 returning members of the team.

The incoming class is mainly made up of Minnesota athletes as 25 hail from the state of 10,000 lakes. Larson also has a trio of athletes from North Dakota, two from Arizona and one from South Dakota.   

The new crew of Cobber freshmen includes Jesse Middendorf from Melrose, Cal Wright of Mora and Colin Schuller from Lincoln HS in Sioux Falls, S.D. who all won state championships this year.  Middendorf claimed the title in the 800 meters at this year's Class A state championship meet with a time of 1:56.62. Wright raced to a 48.92 in the 400 meters at the state meet in the spring to capture the Class A crown. Schuller was a part of the 4x200-meter relay team which clocked a 1:27.92 to win the finals at the South Dakota State Class AA meet.    

Both Middendorf and Wright's times would have qualified them for the finals at the MIAC Outdoor Championship Meet and both would have earned All-Conference honors. Schuller also placed in the Top 6 in the 400 meters at the South Dakota meet as he recorded a time of 50.40 in the prelims and went on to finish sixth in the finals.  

Larson was excited about the process that brought the new class to Concordia.

"Largely the recruiting process was similar to prior years, sometimes you just connect with a lot of great prospective students in one year," Larson commented. "The Concordia admissions staff was also very responsive in working with our program. I also appreciate the collaboration with coaches from basketball, football, and soccer which were key to securing 10 two-sport athletes beyond track & field and cross country. The Concordia coaches have been really encouraging and supportive of multi-sport student-athletes as they continue to compete in the sports they love while also pursuing a high quality education. A high school athlete doesn't need to leave one sport to focus on another. A sport like Track & Field provides key athletic development that is crucial to all sports."

The Cobber indoor track and field season begins in the middle of January while the outdoor campaign starts in April.

Below is a list of the current Cobber recruits to commit for the 2019 season.