Track & Field Inks Six in Early Signing Period

Nov. 26, 2014

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin head track and field coach Phil Olson has announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period. Both the men's and women's teams welcome three new Lumberjacks/Ladyjacks to their respective rosters for the 2015-16 season - all coming from Texas high schools.

Katherine Chavez (Justin, Texas) will join the distance team, Brie Dewbre (Morton, Texas) will join the throwers and Dawnshae Evans (Cedar Hill, Texas), D'Lance Sharp (Commerce, Texas), Garrett Moore (Mansfield, Texas) and Isaiah Pittman (Taylor, Texas) are all set to join the sprint team next year.

"We are excited to have signed some very quality individuals who also happen to be good student-athletes during this early period," said Olson. "We will be able to immediately fill some key losses to graduation as well as bolster what already are strengths in our program. Our coaches did a wonderful job of identifying and evaluating these young men and women early in the process, and then getting them here onto our campus was the final key in their recruitment. They simply loved our team, our staff, and SFA."

Katherine Chavez is set to join a rising distance program at SFA and will compete in both cross country and track and field at the collegiate level. She has posted impressive times at numerous distances in her career at Justin Northwest High School, including personal records in the 800 (2:19), mile (5:06.49), three-mile (17:22.30) and 5K (18:14.10).

In cross country, Chavez qualified for the state meet in 2011 and 2012, finishing 18th and 13th respectively. In 2012, she turned in the fastest time at the regional meet while posting the second-best mark in districts.

Chavez has also made it to state in track and field, taking fifth place in the 3,200-meter race in 2011.

"Katherine is going to be a great asset to our women's squad," said head cross country coach and assistant track and field coach Cody Clark. "I am super excited about her and the results she has run in her stellar high school career. Katherine is one of the top recruits, from a result standpoint, that we have ever signed on the distances. I look forward to her immediate impact in cross country and continuing on in track season. Katherine will cover cross country and 3k-5k in track."

Brie Dewbre will join a talented group of throwers at SFA after experiencing a wealth of success at the high school ranks. As a junior at Morton High School, Dewbre was a state, regional and district champion in the shot put and boasts a personal-best throw of 41'9 ¼''. She was also an area champion two years and a runner-up one year while being a finalist at regionals three straight years. Dewbre, who will be coached by Olson, is a three-time district champion.

"I believe that Brie is really under the radar as far as her talent goes," said Olson. "She has good strength, but I think that most of that is natural strength. She will really develop under Coach Boyd's system in the weight room, and I believe her technique will greatly improve through constant repetition. I am excited to see how she does this year and then match that with our offseason training through the fall of 2015.

"SFA was a great fit for her academically because she is interested in a degree in Agri-Business. She comes from a family of farmers and decided to come to SFA in order to learn the business side of farming, as well as pursue her goals as a collegiate thrower."

The four additions to the SFA sprint crew have already made their marks at the state level in Texas.

"We are very excited about the athleticism of our early signers," said sprints/hurdles coach Sean Lonergan. "We feel like we have added some great athletes who have the proven ability to win."

Dawnshae Evans is a strong relay runner from track powerhouse Cedar Hill High School. She joins the Ladyjacks after being a member of the 2014 state champion mile relay.

"Dawnshae is a great addition to our Ladyjack sprint squad and we feel like she will become a valuable member of our sprint team and mile relay," said assistant coach Michael Courtney. "She is a state champion and we're always happy to bring in someone that has proven she knows how to win."

On the men's side, D'Lance Sharp comes to Nacogdoches as a 400-meter state qualifier and a great multi-sport athlete from Commerce High School.

"D'Lance is a very versatile athlete who is capable of running every one of the sprint events at a high level," said Courtney. "He is also a great football and basketball player and we feel very fortunate to have made him a part of our family here at SFA."

Garrett Moore is also set to join the sprint group in 2015. From Mansfield Legacy, Moore is a state qualifier in the hurdles.

"Garrett is a young man that will be able to come right in and fit in with the great hurdle program that coach Lonergan has established here," Courtney said. "We also look forward to watching him develop into a leg for our outstanding mile relay here at SFA."

The final addition to the men's sprint family is Isaiah Pittman. Pittman is a state qualifier as a member of the mile relay at Taylor High School and is also a great jumper.

"Isaiah is someone who can come in and immediately help out our jump squad," said Courtney. "We are excited that he will be joining our Lumberjack family and look forward to watching him develop into a key contributor in the jumps and sprints."

The 2015 indoor season will begin on Jan. 9 as SFA will send athletes to the Akron Pole Vault Convention in Akron, Ohio and the Arkansas Tri-Meet in Fayetteville, Ark. The outdoor season officially kicks off on March 14.

-SFA-

Katherine Chavez

Garrett Moore