ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach Jesse Norman has announced the signing of 11 student-athletes to national letters-of-intent. Norman made the announcement of the signees on Tuesday.

The second-year coach is very excited about his first recruiting class at UNC Asheville.

“The addition of these 10 student-athletes will help with the goal of establishing UNC Asheville as a serious contender for titles within the Big South Conference in the near future,” declared Norman. “Thee student-athletes that we have signed have come from programs that have been very successful. It is my hope that they will bring their winning attitudes and work ethic to UNC Asheville.”

Below is a write-up on each of the 10 signees.

MEN

Dylan Ellison (West Henderson HS/Hendersonville, N.C.) – Dylan helped lead the Falcons cross country program to a runner-up finish in the 2-A state championships. He finished his high school career in track and field with personal bests in the 1600 meters (4:38), 3200 meters (10:50) and 5000 meters (16:52).

Jake Latini (Seneca HS/South Hampton, N.J.) – Jake performed for both the cross county and track and field squads. He had personals bests in the 1600 meters (4:34), 3200 meters (10:11) and 5000 meters (16:33).

Sam Maynard (Medina HS/Medina, Ohio) – Sam was the Division I Indoor State Champion in Ohio in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.92. He also ran a leg on the state championship 4x800-meter relay team. Maynard has posted personal bests in the 800 meters (1:52), 1600 meters (4:24) and 5000 meters (15:39).

Nick Mozzone (St. Pius HS/Atlanta, Ga.) – Nick will compete in the jumps at UNC Asheville. He has a personal best of 6’2” in the high jump in high school.

Kent Rankin  (Medina HS/Medina Ohio) – Kent comes from the same high school of Sam Maynard. He competed in both cross country and track and field. Rankin posted a personal bests in the 800 meters (2:01), 1600 meters (4:34) and 5000 meters (16:30).

WOMEN

Emma Bussard (Carrolton HS/Carrolton, Ga.) – Emma enjoyed an outstanding cross country and track and field career in high school. She finished fourth at the 3-A Georgia State Meet with a time of 5:12 in the 1600 meters and third in the 3200 meters with a time of 11:17. Bussard also had a personal best in the 5000 meters (18:51).

Michelle Busse (John Hersey HS/Prospect Heights, Ill) – Michelle was a standout in middle distance in high school. She posted a personal best in the 400 meters (1:01) and in the 800 meters (2:23).

Emily Pineda (Watauga HS/Boone, N.C.) – Emily had a versatile career in high school. Her specialty is the discus and shot put. She had personal bests in the discus (115’8”) and shot put (30’3”) last spring.

Rebekah Pineda (Watauga HS/Boone, N.C.) – Rebekah is the twin sister of Emily Pineda and will also compete in the shot put and discus at UNC Asheville. Her personal bests last year were in the shot put (32’7”) and discus (107’11”).

Erin Putnam (Jacksonville HS/Jacksonville, N.C.) – Erin was a member of the Jacksonville HS team that won the 3-A state title this past spring. She posted a personal best in the 1600 meters (5:28), 3200 meters (11:44) and 5000 meters (19:54).