Special to The Sentinel
McPherson College has announced the addition of 16 incoming freshmen to the football program for the fall semester of the 2010-2011 school year.
Joining the Bulldog program next fall are Lenton Abram (Inglewood, Calif.), Jacob Bauman (Wichita), Taylor Beilman (Norwich), Tyler Bruton (Burrton), Evan Clary (McPherson) Dean Cook (Wichita), Jameal Farrison (Wichita), Joshua Fliedner (Englewood, Colo.), Brian Gahagan (Terrell, Texas), Aaron Hayes (Aurora, Colo.), Sean LaBelle (Ashland), Jason Litt (Lake Dallas, Texas), Cole Long (Medicine Lodge), Taylor Mendoza (Hutchinson), Nick Sampson (Aurora, Colo.), and Jonathan White (Aurora, Colo.).
“With our incoming freshmen, we feel we addressed our needs at specific positions,” McPherson head coach Brian Ward said. “This may prove to be the class with more potential than any class we have had since I have been here. Every one of these players was recruited by several other programs, so we feel very fortunate to have them become a part of the Bulldog program. We can’t wait to see the freshmen in the fall.”
Here are thumbnail sketches of the signees:
• Lenton Abram (5-9, 190, LB, Inglewood, Calif., Taft High School) was a two-year letterwinner under Taft High School coach Matthew Kerstetter. Following the end of his senior season, Abram was named to the 2010 All-City Team. He received the same honor in 2008. Lenton completed his prep career with 300 tackles, four interceptions and six fumble recoveries.
• Jacob Bauman (6-4, 290, OL, Wichita, Wichita East High School) was an All-City honorable mention award winner following his senior season. Bauman is a three-year letterwinner under coach Brian Byers.
• Taylor Beilman (5-11, 170, FS, Norwich, Cheney High School) was nominated to the CPL first team as a defensive back, while receiving selection to The Wichita Eagle’s 4A honorable mention team. Beilman, a two-year letterwinner in both football and basketball, tallied 48 total tackles his senior season, including 22 solo stops, seven interceptions and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
• Tyler Bruton (5-11, 175, LB, Burrton, Burrton High School), a three-time All-State honorable mention linebacker, was twice named to the All-League first team as a linebacker and once as a running back and special teams member. In his senior season, Bruton recorded 158 tackles, four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns, while rushing for greater than 1,000 yards (1,100). In the classroom, Tyler is a 2009-2010 National Honor Socitey member, along with being a finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman. He played for his father, Terry, one of the all-time great players in Mac history.
• Evan Clary (6-3, 212, DE, McPherson, McPherson High School) was a three-year letterwinner in football and track, while lettering one season in wrestling at McPherson High School. On the football field, Clary recorded 46 tackles, including nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss during his senior season. Following his senior campaign, he was selected honorable mention All-State by The Wichita Eagle and The Topeka Capital-Journal, along with a first-team All-Conference nomination by the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League.
• Dean Cook (6-1, 185, S, Wichita, Wichita East High School), an All-City honorable mention squad member following his senior season, lettered twice in football and track and field at Wichita East High School.
• Jameal Farrison (5-8, 170, DB, Wichita, Wichita East High School) was an All-City honorable mention wide receiver following his senior season under coach Brian Byers. Farrison is a two-year letterwinner at Wichita East High School.
• Joshua Fliedner (6-0, 270, OL, Englewood, Colo., Littleton High School) was a two-time All-League team member under head coach Chad Koepke, including a first-team selection in 2009. He lettered three times in football at Littleton High School.
• Brian Gahagan (6-1, 275, DL, Terrell, Texas, Dallas Madison High School) finished his senior season with 46 solo tackles, three sacks and four forced fumbles. The 6-1, 275-pounder received honorable mention honors following his senior campaign and has been named to the Dallas Madison High School Honor Roll multiple times.
• Aaron Hayes (6-2, 205, LB, Aurora, Colo., Overland High School) was a 4A state honorable mention award winner at Overland High School. Hayes received three varsity letters during his prep career.
• Sean LaBelle (6-2, 185, LB, Ashland, Ashland High School) is a three-time All-League award winner for his play at the linebacker position. During his senior season, he was also named to The Hutchinson News’ 8-man second team and to the All-State honorable mention squad. He is a three-year letterwinner in football.
• Jason Litt (5-11, 295, OL, Lake Dallas, Texas, Lake Dallas High School) recently received All-District second-team honors at his offensive lineman position. As a junior, Litt earned an honorable mention All-District award. Along with football, Litt has won numerous awards as a weightlifter and is currently in contention for the 2010 state championship.
• Cole Long (6-1, 220, DL, Medicine Lodge, Medicine Lodge High School) is a two-time unanimous selection to the CPL All-League team as both an offensive and defensive lineman. The 6-1, 220-pound Long, following his junior and senior season, was named 3A All-State honorable mention.
• Taylor Mendoza (6-2, 240, LB, Hutchinson, Trinity Catholic High School) was a two-time All-League award winner as a linebacker. Following the 2009 season, Mendoza was received honorable mention All-State honors. An excellent student, Mendoza earned a spot on the honor roll at Trinity Catholic High School from 2005 to 2009.
• Nick Sampson (6-2, 230, LB, Aurora, Colo., Overland High School) was named to the All-Conference second team as a junior. Sampson bookended his second-team award with honorable mention status during his sophomore and senior seasons.
• Jonathan White (6-0, 180, Ath., Aurora, Colo, Gateway High School) lettered two seasons under coach Justin Hoffman at Gateway High School. White followed an All-Conference honorable mention junior season with a first-team All-Conference senior year. White received both awards at the wide receiver position.
McPherson, Kan. —
