Lions announce additional signees

Head men’s track & field coach Tom Rutledge has announced that several more high school track & field/cross country standouts have signed on with the Missouri Southern State University programs.

Five of the new signees are from Missouri –– Jimmy Akins (DeSoto), Ryan Arthur (Clinton), Kyle Davis (Potosi), John Tom Isenmann (Jasper) and Nick Patrick (Carthage). Two more, Gene Eggman (Rogers, Ark.) and Brandon Wheeler (Fort Smith, Ark.), join the Lions from the state of Arkansas.

Akins was a four-year all-district performer in cross country at DeSoto High School for the Dragons of coach Rich Charbeneau. He’s a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track and has been an all-state performer in the 800-meter run in track & field under coach Charles Kidwell. The 5-foot-10 and 145-pound Akins, who will major in music at MSSU, is the son of Bryant and Barbara Akins.

Arthur, 5-7 and 125 pounds, has won four letters in track & field and three more in cross country while at Clinton High School. He’s a three-time first-team all-conference performer in cross country and has twice been a district champion and all-state performer. Arthur holds the school record cross country 5K record of 16:04. The son of Robert and Merri Arthur, he has also been an all-conference 1600-meter runner in track. Arthur intends to study kinesiology at Southern.

Davis, 5-9 and 135 pounds, led Potosi High School to back-to-back Missouri Class 3 state cross country championships as a junior and as a senior. This past season, Davis, a three-time all-state runner, won the individual title with a time of 16:25.55 over the 5K course. He finished third individually in 2002 and 20th as a sophomore in 2001. Davis also has been a conference and district champion in cross country. In track, Davis has been a state runner-up in the 1600 and 3200 meters and helped the Trojans’ 4x800-meter relay squad to a state crown. The son of Steven and Deborah Davis, he intends to major in biology (pre-physical therapy) at MSSU.

Isenmann is a four-year letterman in track & field at Jasper High School. He’s also a four-year honoree as a center on the Eagles football team. The 5-10 and 225-pounder earned all-conference and second-team all-district honors as a senior center following the 2003 football campaign. He’s the son of Tom and Jane Isenmann and plans to major in criminal justice at Southern.

Patrick, 5-11 and 175 pounds, is a four-year letterman in track & field at Carthage High School under coach Andy Youngworth. He’s a four-time all-district performer in track & field and a three-time all-sectional pick. Patrick, who also started two years at tailback for the football Tigers of coach Art Capstick, holds the school record in the 400-meter dash (49.37 seconds). He’s the son of Gene and Dorothy Patrick.

Eggman comes to Southern from Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Ark., where he has been a two-year letterwinner in track & field and cross country. In cross country, he has finished among the top 35 at the Arkansas 3A meet in each of the last two years, leading Shiloh Christian to two top-eight finishes. He is the son of Gene and Anita Eggman and plans to major in business at Southern.

Wheeler is a two-time member of the Arkansas High School All-Star Cross Country Team. He placed fifth as a senior at the 2003 state cross country championships with a time of 16:21.68 over the 5K course. Wheeler, 6-0 and 160 pounds from Fort Smith Northside High School, is a middle distance runner in track & field and is part of the school record-setting 3200-meter relay squad. He’s the son of Brad and Cindy Wheeler and intends to major in computer forensics.

The seven newest additions to the Lions squad join Russell Ellis (Norman, Ark.), Chris Farmer (Carl Junction, Mo.), Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Nick Vince (Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland) as signees for the Missouri Southern men’s cross country/track & field programs since the April 14 signing date.

Rutledge has led the Lions to four consecutive MIAA cross country championships and, this past February, guided Southern to its first MIAA men’s track & field championship of any kind, indoors or outdoors, as MSSU hosted the league indoor meet at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.


	April 28, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lions announce additional signees Seven more sign on with Rutledge’s cross country/track Lions Head men’s track & field coach Tom Rutledge has announced that several more high school track & field/cross country standouts have signed on with the Missouri Southern State University programs. Five of the new signees are from Missouri –– Jimmy Akins (DeSoto), Ryan Arthur (Clinton), Kyle Davis (Potosi), John Tom Isenmann (Jasper) and Nick Patrick (Carthage). Two more, Gene Eggman (Rogers, Ark.) and Brandon Wheeler (Fort Smith, Ark.), join the Lions from the state of Arkansas. Akins was a four-year all-district performer in cross country at DeSoto High School for the Dragons of coach Rich Charbeneau. He’s a four-year letterwinner in both cross country and track and has been an all-state performer in the 800-meter run in track & field under coach Charles Kidwell. The 5-foot-10 and 145-pound Akins, who will major in music at MSSU, is the son of Bryant and Barbara Akins. Arthur, 5-7 and 125 pounds, has won four letters in track & field and three more in cross country while at Clinton High School. He’s a three-time first-team all-conference performer in cross country and has twice been a district champion and all-state performer. Arthur holds the school record cross country 5K record of 16:04. The son of Robert and Merri Arthur, he has also been an all-conference 1600-meter runner in track. Arthur intends to study kinesiology at Southern. Davis, 5-9 and 135 pounds, led Potosi High School to back-to-back Missouri Class 3 state cross country championships as a junior and as a senior. This past season, Davis, a three-time all-state runner, won the individual title with a time of 16:25.55 over the 5K course. He finished third individually in 2002 and 20th as a sophomore in 2001. Davis also has been a conference and district champion in cross country. In track, Davis has been a state runner-up in the 1600 and 3200 meters and helped the Trojans’ 4x800-meter relay squad to a state crown. The son of Steven and Deborah Davis, he intends to major in biology (pre-physical therapy) at MSSU. Isenmann is a four-year letterman in track & field at Jasper High School. He’s also a four-year honoree as a center on the Eagles football team. The 5-10 and 225-pounder earned all-conference and second-team all-district honors as a senior center following the 2003 football campaign. He’s the son of Tom and Jane Isenmann and plans to major in criminal justice at Southern. Patrick, 5-11 and 175 pounds, is a four-year letterman in track & field at Carthage High School under coach Andy Youngworth. He’s a four-time all-district performer in track & field and a three-time all-sectional pick. Patrick, who also started two years at tailback for the football Tigers of coach Art Capstick, holds the school record in the 400-meter dash (49.37 seconds). He’s the son of Gene and Dorothy Patrick. Eggman comes to Southern from Shiloh Christian School in Springdale, Ark., where he has been a two-year letterwinner in track & field and cross country. In cross country, he has finished among the top 35 at the Arkansas 3A meet in each of the last two years, leading Shiloh Christian to two top-eight finishes. He is the son of Gene and Anita Eggman and plans to major in business at Southern. Wheeler is a two-time member of the Arkansas High School All-Star Cross Country Team. He placed fifth as a senior at the 2003 state cross country championships with a time of 16:21.68 over the 5K course. Wheeler, 6-0 and 160 pounds from Fort Smith Northside High School, is a middle distance runner in track & field and is part of the school record-setting 3200-meter relay squad. He’s the son of Brad and Cindy Wheeler and intends to major in computer forensics. The seven newest additions to the Lions squad join Russell Ellis (Norman, Ark.), Chris Farmer (Carl Junction, Mo.), Anthony Reed (Carl Junction, Mo.) and Nick Vince (Polmont, Falkirk, Scotland) as signees for the Missouri Southern men’s cross country/track & field programs since the April 14 signing date. Rutledge has led the Lions to four consecutive MIAA cross country championships and, this past February, guided Southern to its first MIAA men’s track & field championship of any kind, indoors or outdoors, as MSSU hosted the league indoor meet at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.