HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech Cross Country/Track & Field head coach Robert Young has announced the addition of 15 student-athletes for the 2024 Signing Class. The recruiting class comes to Michigan Tech from far and wide, hailing from eight states.
"I am very excited about this incoming class." Head coach Robert Young said. "These six men represent some of the fastest-ever recruits for the program and yet we feel they are likely to get much faster. I think there is a good chance they are at the core of some very good teams, and high individual finishes in the coming years. Within our nine women lies a ton of quality and potential as well. Each of these women has shown us that they are likely to be able to step in and bring some needed depth to our women's ranks. I'm also excited about the character within this class. Through our recruiting conversations, I've discovered that each of these athletes is bringing something special to the university, which will benefit more than just our team."
Derin Apul | Distance | Sylvania, Ohio | Sylvania Southview High School
High School: Apul is a two-time Ohio State Championship qualifier in cross country (2023) and indoor track & field (2024) in the 3,200m and was a part of the 4x800m relay. He helped the Cougars win the NLL Conference Championship in 2023 and an NLL Conference runner-up finish in 2024. He holds personal-bests of 9:25 for 3,200m and 15:46 over 5,000m in cross country.
Personal: Derin is the son of Tolga Apul and Defne Apul and has one sibling. He plans to earn a degree in Electrical Engineering while at Tech.
Michael Dennis | Distance | Saint Johns, Michigan | Lansing Community College
Lansing Community College: Dennis comes to Michigan Tech after two years at Lansing Community College. In his sophomore campaign, he was named NJCAA Division II National Runner of the Week twice in cross country. He is a four-time National Qualifier while at LCC. He was the National Runner-Up at the NJCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, clocking 24:54.8. He also competed in the 5k and 10k at the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He holds personal-bests of 24:54.8 for 8k in cross country, 32:00.85 for 10,000m, 14:40.85 for 5,000m, 4:01.10 for 1,500m and 2:04.16 for 800m.
Personal: Michael is the son of Amy and Christian Dennis and has two siblings. He plans to earn a degree in Computer Science while at Tech.
Grace Folkema | Distance | Fremont, Michigan | Muskegon Western Michigan Christian High School
High School: Folkema concluded her high school career helping the Warriors to two team state championships–2021 cross country and 2022 track & field–she was also a part of four Regional Championships, two in track & field (2022 & 2024) and two in cross country (2021 & 2023). She holds a cross country 5k personal-best of 19:50 and was a six-time Academic All-State, three in track & field and three in cross country.
Personal: Grace is the daughter of Ryan and Rebecca Folkema and has three siblings. She plans to earn a degree in Chemistry while at Tech.
Adeline Gobble | Distance | Lincolnshire, Illinois | Adlai Stevenson High School
High School: Gobble is a two-time North Suburban All-Conference and an IHSA State Qualifier in the 800m in 2023. Academically, she was a three-time North Suburban Conference All-Academic and a three-time IHSA Scholastic Achievement award winner. She holds personal-bests of 18:46 for 3 mile cross country, 12:29 for 3,200m, 5:38 for 1,600m, 2:20 for 800m and 1:02 for a 4x400m relay split. She also finished 26th in the 800m at the IHSA 3A State meet.
Personal: Adeline is the daughter of Danielle and Troy Gobble and has two siblings. She plans to earn a degree in Geology and Anthropology while at Tech.
Linnea Gray | Distance | Eagle River, Alaska | Eagle Rivers High School
High School: Gray was a three-time State Championship qualifier–individually in the 3,200m in 2023 and as a part of the Eagle River 4x800m relay in 2022 & 2024–She also earned the Track & Field State Championships Good Sport Award in 2023. She holds personal-bests of 21:15 for cross country 5k, 12:31 for 3,200m and 5:45 for 1,600m.
Personal: Linnea is the daughter of Carrie and Jason Gray and has one sibling. She plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering while at Tech.
Erica Kazin | Distance | Maple Plain, Minnesota | Delano High School
High School: Kazin is the Delano High School record holder in the 5k for cross country, 3,200m and a part of the 4x800m relay. Kazin also helped the Tigers to three cross country conference championships and three cross country sectional championships, while being All-State in 2021. She holds personal-bests of 18:56 for cross country 5k, 11:16 for 3,200m and 5:22 for 1,600m.
Personal: Erica is the daughter of Jennifer and Jeff and has two siblings. She plans to earn a degree in Chemistry while at Tech.
Brielle Kero | Distance | Hancock, Michigan | Hancock Central High School
High School: Kero is a three-time All-State honoree and was a three-time WestPAC All-Conference performer (400m, 800m & 4x800m relay) and was named the 2024 Team MVP and 400m school record holder. She holds personal-bests of 2:27.69 for 800m and 58.65 for 400m.
Personal: Brielle is the daughter of Dale and Joan Karo and has nine siblings. She plans to earn a degree in Business while at Tech.
Alex Li | Distance | Springfield, Missouri | Central High School
High School: Li was the Ozark Conference Champion in the 5k in cross country and the 1,600m along with being a two-time cross country state qualifier. She holds personal-bests of 19:16 for 5k, 11:53 for 3,200m and 5:25 for 1,600m. Li was a five-time Ozark Conference All-Academic honoree–three times in track & field and twice in cross country–she was named the 2024 Central High School Bulldog of the Year.
Personal: Alex is the daughter of Cheryl Li and has one sibling. She plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering while at Tech.
Julia Moxey | Distance | Grand Rapids, Michigan | East Kentwood High School
High School: Moxey was a member of the East Kentwood team that won four (2020-2024) track & field Regional Championships and 2024 track & field Conference Champions. She was a cross country All-Conference Honorable Mention in her senior season and holds personal-bests of 19:41.3 for cross country 5k, 5:24.41 for 1,600m and 2:20.4 for 800m.
Personal: Julia is the daughter of Hope and Jon and has one sibling. She plans to earn a degree in Finance while at Tech.
Grace Riddle | Distance | Midland, Michigan | Midland High School
High School: Riddle is a four-time Saginaw Valley League track & field All-Conference honoree and Second Team All Saginaw Valley League in cross country (2022 & 2023). She helped the Chemics to a track & field SVL Championship in 2021 and holds personal-bests of 19:49 for cross country 5k, 12:07 for 3,200m, 5:35 for 1,600m, 2:29 for 800m and 1:06 for 400m from a relay split.
Personal: Grace is the daughter of Mark and Kristin Riddle and has two siblings. She plans to earn a degree in Computer Science while at Tech.
Sam Shaver | Distance | Grand Blanc, Michigan | Grand Blanc High School
High School: Shaver was a three-time cross country All-Conference honoree and a four-time track All-Conference honoree for the Bobcats while being All-Conference Academic all four years for Grand Blanc High School. She holds personal-bests of 19:43 for cross country 5k, 5:17.28 for 1,600m and 2:20.39 for 800m.
Personal: Sam is the daughter of Drake and Kelli Shaver and has one sibling. She plans to earn a degree in Biological Sciences while at Tech.
Aiden Shulfer | Distance | Crystal Lake, Illinois | Crystal Lake Central High School
High School: He helped the Tigers to three state meets in cross country and was All-conference four times and All-Sectional his senior year in track & field. He holds personal-bests of 15:39.6 for 3 miles, 9:53.81 for 3,200m and 4:37.99 for 1,600m.
Personal: Aiden is the son of Amy and Joe and has two siblings. He plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering while at Tech.
Brayden Sobecki | Distance | La Porte, Indiana | La Porte High School
High School: Sobecki was a three-time state qualifier in cross country, earning All-Conference, All-Section and All-Region accolades and the 2022 Duneland Athletic Conference 3,200m Champion. He helped the Slicers to two sectional and one regional championship in track & field. He holds personal-bests of 16:00 for 5k in cross country and 9:36.88 for 3,200m.
Personal: Brayden is the son of Jennifer and Jeremy Sobecki and has one sibling. He plans to earn a degree in Environmental Engineering while at Tech.
Finnian Stringer | Distance | Madison, Wisconsin | Madison East High School
High School: Stringer helped Madison East to a Section Cross Country Championship in 2023. He was a two-time All-State Second Team (2022 & 2023) while being named East High Schools Cross Country MVP. He holds personal-bests of 15:44 for 5k in cross country, 9:29 for 3,200m, 4:39 for 1,600m, 4:20 for 1,500m and 2:07 for 800m.
Personal: Finnian is the son of Ann Terlaak and Jason Stringer and has three siblings. He plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering while at Tech.
Liam Walters | Distance | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Grand Rapids Public Museum High School
High School: Liam was a four-time all-conference cross country honoree while being all-conference three times in track & field, along with a 2024 cross country conference champion. He was a part of the Ottawa Kent 4x800m relay that earned All-State in 2022. He holds personal-bests of 15:50 for cross country 5k, 9:37.31 for 3,200m, 4:23.77 for 1,600m, 156.27 for 800m and 51.9 for 400m.
Personal: Liam is the son of John and Amy Walters and has one sibling. He plans to earn a degree in Mechanical Engineering while at Tech.
