Montana State head track and field coach Dale Kennedy announced the signing of letters of intent for ten high school standout student-athletes for the 2011 season. The list includes nine students from Montana and one from Alaska.
“This is a good-looking class of recruits for us,” Kennedy said. “Not only are these kids outstanding athletes, but they are successful in academics as well.”
Kennedy said they still have student-athletes yet to sign and will be adding to this recruiting class for the next few months.
Amber Amsbaugh, Big Sandy – high jump and hurdles
Amsbaugh is a three-time state class “C” high jump champion with a personal best of 5'6.25”. She helped lead Big Sandy to three state championships in 2007-09. She is also a varisty volleyball and basketball player and was an all-conference selection in both. In addition, she was a state qualifier in both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Will Dalby, Thompson Falls-javelin
Dalby is a two-time all-state selection in the javelin placing fourth in 2008 and second in 2009. He is a three-sport athlete in addition to garnering Academic All-State and National Honor Society awards. He intends to major in fish and wildlife management at MSU.
Heather Demorest, Hamilton (Darby HS) – cross country and distance
A distance runner with range from the 800 to the 3200, Demorest is a three-time all-state selection in cross country, placing second in 2007, first in 2008, and third in 2009. In outdoor track last year, she won the state mile and two-mile races and was fifth in the 800. She is a member of National Honor Society and is a multiple Academic All-State selection. She plans to major in nursing at MSU.
Sean Ferriter, Butte – throws
Ferriter placed second in the discus at the 2009 state championships, and has a personal best of 167'3”. He was also all-state in football, and plays basketball. He plans to study engineering at MSU.
Seth Garbett, Darby – cross country and distance
Garbett placed third at the state class “B” cross country meet in 2008 and fourth in 2009. He placed third at state in the mile in 2009. In addition, he is a National Honor Society member, vice-president of his class and a four-time Academic All-State honoree. He plans to major in pre-physical therapy.
Sierra Kamplain, Bozeman – cross country and distance
Kamplain was a multiple all-state performer in class “AA” cross country placing fifth her senior year in the fall of 2009. She was a member of Bozeman High's three state championship cross country squads. A four-time Academic All-State selection, Kamplain will see distance duty in track as well.
Jacob Kirk; Anchorage, Alaska – cross country and distance
Kirk is a two-time Alaska state champion in cross country and was Alaska's Gatorade Runner of the Year in 2009. He won the mile and 3200 his junior year in track. He is a member of National Honor Society, a four-time Academic All-State selection and plans to major in mechanical engineering at MSU.
Michael Nguyen, Billings (Skyview) – sprints
Nguyen is the lone men's sprinter in this year's class of track and field recruits. He is a three-sport athlete at Billings Skyview earning all-conference honors as a junior and senior in football and place third in the state class “AA” wrestling meet. In track, he placed fifth in the 100 and 6th in the 400 last season, and was a member of the four-by-100 relay team and the state champion four-by-400 team as well. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Exchange Club and was on Skyview's All-Academic team four years in three different sports. He plans to major in engineering at MSU.
Amy Ostermiller, Billings (Shepherd HS) – throws
Ostermiller won the discus at the 2009 state class “B” championships and has a personal best of 138'10”. She will also compete in the shot put and the hammer throw at MSU, according to throws coach Mike Carignan. She plans to major in business.
Keely West, Great Falls (CMR) – cross country and distance
West is Great Falls' first-ever four-time city champion in cross country. She placed first at the Mountain West Classic and sixth in the 3200 at the Simplot Games in Pocatello. She also placed eighth in the Nike Cross Country Regional Race earning all-region status in Boise, Idaho. She is a member of National Honor Society and president of the French club.
