Kearney, Neb. - Nebraska-Kearney head track & field coach Brady Bonsall today announced the names of seven women and nine men who will compete for the Lopers next year.

In March, UNK brought in 11 high school seniors (five women and six men).

Coming aboard on the women's side is Jordan Bloesser (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Morgan Darden (Smith Center, Kan.), Kenzie Helmink (Fairbuy H.S.), Andrea Howe (Beatrice H.S.), Katie King (Millard West H.S.), Emily Retzlaff (Thayer Central H.S.) and Jenna Stremmel (Dodge City, Kan.).

The new Loper men include Corbin Blede (Brady H.S.), Kevin Carder (Boone Central H.S.), Michael Currin (Kearney H.S.), Justin Ellis (Thornton, Colo.), Ethan Epley (Kearney H.S.), Louis Kaelin (Grand Island H.S.), Chance Miller (Ogallala H.S.), Jordan Smith (Loup City H.S.) and Chase Svoboda (Kearney H.S.).

Stremmel comes in from Barton County C.C. in Kansas and will have two years of eligibility remaining. The rest of the newcomers are high school seniors.

Darden, Howe, Retzlaff and Stremmel (Dodge City H.S.) are all throwers. Retzlaff was a Class C state meet qualifier in the shot while Stremmel made the national JUCO meet in the weight throw (indoors) and hammer (outdoors). For Beatrice, Howe was a Class B state medalist in the discus with Darden being the 2010 Class 3A Kansas State Champ in the discus. She also placed third in the shot.

Next, Bloesser was a Class 5A state qualifier in cross country for Doherty High with Helmink being a two-time Class B state runner up in the 300 meter hurdles. Finally, King is a sprinter who qualified for the Class A state meet in three events, picking up a medal in the 4 x 100 relay.

Blede and Ellis (Mountain Range H.S.) are the new throwers on the men's side with Ellis earning a state medal this year in Class 5A in the shot. Smith is the Class D state champ in the triple jump while finishing third in the long jump. Epley also is a talented jumper, qualifying for the state meet in the high jump.

On the track, Miller was the Class C state runner up in cross country with Carder also medaling in the same race. In track, Carder is a Class B state qualifier at 3,200 meters. Also, Kaelin – who will play football for the Lopers in the fall – qualified for three events at the state meet, earning medals at 100 meters and by being a member of the 4 x 100 relay team.

Finally, Currin earned a state medal at 800 meters with Svoboda being a state qualifier as a member of the 4 x 800 relay team. They joined Epley to help the Bearcats win the Class A state title in 2008 and 2009 and finish as runner up in 2010.

In 2009-10, the UNK men won the RMAC outdoor title with the women finishing runner up in both the RMAC indoor and outdoor meets.