JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Dec. 28, 2017) – In an effort to introduce its newcomers, the ETSU track and field team has created “ETSU Track and Field Thursdays” to feature 21 student-athletes new to the program, which began last week.

This week, the track and field team will turn the spotlight to its throwers. Six newcomers highlight the incoming class, with four female throwers from either Tennessee or Virginia and two from the New York/New Jersey area.

“This group of young ladies was a much needed addition to the women’s track and field team,” said ETSU head coach George Watts. “Although I believe they will have success during the indoor and outdoor seasons, a year of experience is going to pay huge dividends beyond 2018.

“As a side note, this group made a huge impact on the distance runners as they attended almost all of the cross country meets this fall. They are very team oriented and fun to be around.”

Meet the Athletes:

Camryn Bowman – Fr. – Signal Mountain, Tenn. (Signal Mountain HS)

The multi-talented Bowman comes to ETSU from Signal Mountain High School, where she lettered in four different sports: track and field, volleyball, softball and basketball. Her personal throwing records in high school include 40 feet in shot-put, 136’ 5’’ in discus, 49’ in weight throw and 177’ in hammer throw.

Coach’s Comments: “Camryn is from Signal Mountain HS where she had very successful career and brings high expectations for herself to ETSU,” Watts said. “She has a pleasant, easy going personality who makes an effort to get along with everybody. Camryn is versatile enough of a thrower that she will become a factor in several events at championship meets. How she handles the ups and downs of a freshman year will determine how quickly she succeeds.”  

Symphony Buxton – Fr. – Knoxville, Tenn. (Hardin Valley Academy)

Buxton was a four-year letterman at Hardin Valley Academy prior to ETSU, where she earned All-State three years in a row from 2015-17. She was also rewarded the school MVP award her freshman and sophomore seasons, impressing with personal records of 41’ 11’’ in shot-put and a 90’ in discus.

Coach’s Comments: “Symphony was well coached at Hardin Valley Academy and comes in with some very fine credentials,” Watts said. “With patience, she has a chance to be successful early on in her career. Symphony is unique in that she can be successful in all of the throws. As her confidence continues to grow and she becomes a complete student-athlete, the sky is the limit for Symphony. I look forward to seeing her mature throughout her career.”

Jaden Finch – Fr. – Glen Aubrey, N.Y. (Maine Endwell HS)

A 10-hour trek from Johnson City, Jaden Finch hails from the small town of Glen Aubrey, N.Y. and brings with her an interesting background. Finch lettered in track and field, football and cheerleading in high school, playing as a two-year letterman on the defensive line while serving on the cheer squad’s backline for four years. Finch also found success as a thrower, becoming a state runner-up in the discus throw. Her personal bests include a 38’ 7’’ mark in shot-put and 133’ 11’’ in discus.

Coach’s Comments: “Jaden is a very serious young lady who is a complete Student-Athlete,” Watts said. “She will be successful because of sheer determination. Jaden brings an understanding of the technical side of the throws and soaks up as much information as she can during practice. As she refines her mental approach to competition she has a chance to be very good. Jaden has gotten off to a great start academically and I look forward to her continued success on and off the field.”

Sydney Hawks – Fr. – Pearisburg, Va. (Giles HS)

Another multi-sport athlete out of high school, Hawks comes to ETSU from Pearisburg, Virginia as a former volleyball player while continuing her track and field career at ETSU. The Giles High School standout earned individual all-conference honors her sophomore, junior and senior seasons while also helping her school win back-to-back region championships in 2016 and 2017. Her personal bests include 36’ for shotput and 90’ for discus.

Coach’s Comments: “Sydney comes to ETSU with untapped potential that will ultimately surface once she learns the technical side of the throws,” Watts said. “She is another one of our new throwers who can become successful in several events. She has a quiet determination and combined with her athletic ability and desire to simply get better she will quickly become a factor on the team and in the conference. The key to her success will be in a ‘one day at a time’ approach.”    

Atlantis Warren – Fr. – Memphis, Tenn. (Germantown HS)

A standout track and field performer at Germantown High School in Memphis, Warren comes to ETSU with personal bests of 128’ 11’’ in discus and 35’ 8.5’’ in shot-put. Both of those marks, along with other top performances, were good enough to earn Warren the school records at Germantown, as well as MVP awards and TSSAA AAA Section 4 Championships her junior and senior years.

Coach’s Comments: “Atlantis comes to practice every day with a smile on her face and ready to get better,” Watts said. “Although her best event is the discus, she has shown steady improvement throughout the fall in all events. Her calm demeanor will make a difference, especially in championship competition. As Atlantis continues to grow, I believe she has the personality to become a team leader. She will find a way to be successful.”

Alyssa Whipkey – Jr. – Pennsville, N.J. (Georgian Court University)

The lone transfer out of the throwers, Whipkey comes to ETSU as a junior from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey. The javelin specialist competed in the NCAA Division II Nationals each in 2016 and 2017 while leading her team to conference championships each season. Whipkey’s personal bests for javelin throws include 142’ 2’’ in 2016 and 142 ’6’’ recorded in 2017.

Coach’s Comments: “Alyssa is a pleasant addition to the ETSU throws group,” Watts said. “She has big meet experience at her previous school and brings a personal best in the javelin that will rank her near the top of the conference list. Alyssa has a very good understanding of the event and knows what she needs to be successful in competition. She will likely not compete indoors, but with the extra training time she will be ready to go once March rolls around.”

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