Milwaukee Women's Track Adds Six With NLIsMILWAUKEE, Wis. (June 12, 2007) - Four high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and compete with the women's track and field team, head coach Pete Corfeld announced today. The four seniors join Hannah Willis from Sheboygan, Wis., and Chelsea Von Ruden from Sparta, Wis., who signed NLIs in the fall. Tanaiya Fisher of Milwaukee, Kristi Wasserburger of Poynette, Wis., Angie Kaufmann of Bonduel, Wis., and Kalen Sumnicht of Neenah, Wis., will join the Panther women beginning in 2007-08. Willis is the younger sister of current Panther freshman Erin Willis. A distance runner from Sheboygan North High School, she is a two-time state qualifier in cross country and competed at the state track meet in the 1600m during her junior season. As a sophomore, she won an individual conference cross country championship and placed 63rd at state. Von Ruden is a decorated high jumper out of Sparta High School. She was state runner-up in the event as a junior and placed third this season. During her sophomore year, she tied for fifth in the high jump and ran at the state meet with both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Younger sister to former Milwaukee standout Tenia Fisher (2003-06), Tanaiya Fisher is poised to follow in her sister's footsteps. She also hails from Rufus King High School, competes in the 400m and 800m events and runs cross country. Tanaiya has competed at the state track her last three years at King, taking third with the 4x400m relay as a junior. This year, she competed in the 800m, 4x400m and 4x800m events, helping the 4x400m relay to a third-place state finish. Tenia is currently the school record holder in all of the 400-800m events.
"Tanaiya has already surpassed her sister's times in both track and cross country and track at King," Corfeld said. "She'll come in here and continue the family tradition and we'll look for similar results." Wasserburger did not start running cross country until her sophomore year at Poynette High School and is currently in her first track season. She has competed at state all three years in cross country, taking 10th at the Division 3 state meet as a sophomore. In the fall, she was 11th at the Division 2 meet. This season, she split her time between track and softball, where she is an all-state centerfielder. The Indians were state softball champions in 2005. "Kristi is a unique person. She did cross country and softball, but not track," Corfeld said. "She is doing track this season in addition to softball and will come out for cross country and track when she gets here. She is an all-around athlete and tough individual." Kaufmann has competed at the Wisconsin state meet in each of her last three years at Bonduel High School, capping her career with a state championship in the 400m earlier this month. She also placed fourth in the 200m after taking fourth in the 400m and fifth in the 200m as a junior. As a sophomore, Kaufmann ran at the meet with two relays, including the runner-up 4x200m relay. "In addition to the strength in her open events, Angie can also step in and help us with all of our relays," Corfeld said. "We were impressed by her strength at the state meet with the times she was able to run for the prelims and the next day for the finals." Sumnicht comes to UWM from Neenah High School, where she is one of the top hurdlers in the state. She took second in the 100m hurdles at the state meet this season. As a junior, she placed third in the event after also competing at the state meet as a sophomore. "We are excited about adding Kaylan to our group of hurdlers," Corfeld said. "She is a talented hurdler and we are excited to work with her next year." |
