COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland Track & Field team welcomes the incoming 2020 class, Head Coach Andrew Valmon announced Monday. The group of 22 men and women are set to make their Terrapin debut this Winter for the 2021 season.

"I am looking forward to welcoming this hard working group of new athletes to our squad," said Valmon. "I know they are all excited to start on this journey towards big goals ahead."

The class has representation from seven different states and two different countries.

Below is further information on this year's class.

Men


Kobe Simpson – Mandeville, Jamaica – Kingston College
Before Maryland: Lists personal record in the 400m (47.34).  Simpson was looking forward to helping his high school team, Kingston College, secure another title at the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships.  His accolades include a scoring position in both the individual 400m and relays at the champs.  
Personal: Major is Business Management.

 
 
Roshaun Rowe – Portmore, Jamaica – Kingston College
Before Maryland: Lists personal records in the 100m (10.45) and 200m (21.70).  Captain of his high school team, Kingston College (defending champions of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships).  Rowe's performances include accolades as a top performer at the champs in the sprinting events and relays.
Personal: Majoring in Business Management
 

 
Brian Evans Jr. – Atlanta, Ga. – Mississippi State
At Mississippi State: Holds indoor personal records on 200m (21.86), 400m (47.52), 500m (1:04.87)...holds outdoor personal records on  200m (21.53) and 400m (47.69).
Before Maryland: Ran at McEachern High School … Won the 4x100m relay state championship as a senior … Won the Georgia 6A Region 4 Championship in the 400m with a time of 47.92 … Third in school history in the 200m with a personal-best time of 21.65.
Personal: Son of Brian and Maxine Evans … Has a sister, Breah … Earned his degree in Criminology from Mississippi St….Major is Masters of Technology and Entrepreneurship...would like to become a secret service agent.



Jeff Kline – Blandon, Pa.– Fleetwood Area High School
Before Maryland: Three-time Track & Field Team MVP...Fleetwood Area High School Male Athlete of the Year...Four-Time Track & Field Letter Winner...2020 PA Indoor Shot-Put State Champ...2020 New Balance Nationals Shot-Put All-American...2018 Berks County Shot-Put Champ...2018 District 3 AAA Shot-Put Champ...2018 USATF Junior Olympics 15-16 Shot-Put All-American...Three-time PTFCA Indoor All-State Team Shot-Put...Two-time Berks County All-County Team Shot-Put...Two-time All-Division Team Discus...Coached by Trevor Stutzman & Dane Miller of Throws University...Recipient of the Freshman Business Honor Award...Member of the National Honor Society...Member of the National Business Honor Society...Proud Member of the Eagle Scouts...Lists PRs on Shot put (65'7) and Discus (162'7).


 
Peter Capozzoli – Bel Air, Md. – C. Milton Wright High School
Before Maryland: Ran track at C. Milton Wright High School and holds the indoor school record in the 800m...Maryland Indoor 3A Central Region Champion in the 800m...earned the Al Cesky Athlete-Scholar Award...Presidential Award Recipient......named First Team All-County...Posted high school PR: 800m (1:59.60).  Distinguished Honor Roll throughout High School career...Member of National Honor Society (Social Studies and French)...Served as secretary of the Math National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of Christine and Pete Capozzoli, has four sisters...major is Aerospace Engineering...Career aspirations include working for NASA as an aerospace engineer.

 
 
Justin DePinto – Syosset, N.Y. – Syosset High School
Before Maryland: Lists PR in the 1500m (4:12.51)...Thirteen-Time All-County Team...Named State Champion and All-American...Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Son of David and Denise DePinto...Has two siblings, Ryan and Amanda...Majoring in Business.
 


Bryce Middleton – Germantown, Md. – Northwest High School
Before Maryland: Lists PRs on High Jump (6'4) and Triple Jump (45'2.25)...Placed Fifth at Indoor States for High Jump...coached by Robert Youngblood...Certificate of Merit Recipient...Earned AP Scholar Award...member of President's Education Awards Program.
Personal: Majoring in Computer Science..Plans to pursue a career in Cyber Security.

 
 
Kamari Trotz – Greenbelt, Md. – DeMatha Catholic High School
Before Maryland: Named First Team All-Met (outdoor) in 2019...Four-time New Balance National Participant, coached by Buddy Crutchfield in high school...Member of the Student Government Association...Graduated from DeMatha with honors in both Math and Science. Personal bests:
Personal: Son of Gordon and Brenda...has an older sister named Tyana...major is Letters & Sciences...career aspirations include becoming a programmer for Google and creating a programming company.

 
 
Brandon Turpin – Bowie, Md. – DeMatha Catholic High School
Before Maryland: Holds the school record at DeMatha Catholic in the 55m Hurdles...Personal Records in high school: 55m hurdles (7.54), 60m hurdles (8.18)...was coached by Malcolm Drewery and Victor Blackett...Graduated from DeMatha with highest honors in both Math and Science...member of the National Honor Society.
 
 
 
Hayden Tobias – Fishers, Ind. – Fishers High School
Before Maryland:  NBN Qualifier… Competed in the IHSAA state meet ...Lists PRs in Shot put  (62'6) and Discus (169'6)
 

WOMEN 

 
Madison Depry – Silver Spring, Md. – Wheaton High School
Before Maryland: Earned her place on the Montgomery County All-Decade Track & Field Team...Earned first place at the Francophone Nationals in Belgium (under 18) in the 100m and second place in the high jump...2020 Maryland State Champion (indoor) in 55m...placed third in the Emerging Elite at NBNI in 2018...Personal records include: 55m (7.18), 100m (12.13), 200m (24.54) and HJ: 5'8...Graduated from Wheaton High School with a 4.0...was involved in the French Immersion Program.
Personal: Daughter of Michael and Sharon, both Maryland track alums...major is Kinesiology...aspires to work with athletes as either a physical therapist or nutritionist.

 
 
Marisa DiGia – Harrington Park, N.J. – Northern Valley Regional High School Old Tappen
Before Maryland: Named Northern Valley Regional OT Female Athlete of the Year…Earned her place on the First Team All-North Jersey Track Team...New Jersey SMOC No. 2 in 2019 and 2020...Earned All-County Team Honors in her Senior year...New Jersey Group Three No. 1 in her Junior and Senior Seasons...New Jersey Sectional No. 1 in her Junior and Senior seasons...Member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Christine and Larry...has two brothers, Nick and Andrew...Majoring in Kinesiology…plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.

 
 
Angel Nkwonta – University of Washington 
Before Maryland: Lists Prs in Shot Put (51'10), Weight (69'8) and Hammer (182'6)... At Washington was the 2020 MPSF Weight Throw Runner-Up...Set the school record at Washington in the Weight throw and was ranked #20 in the NCAA… Pac-12 scorer and West NCAA Prelims qualifier in the shot put.
Personal: Born in Portland, Oregon … parents are Adi and Francis Nkwonta … has one older brother, Kingsley, one younger brother, Kamcy, and two younger sisters, Ginika and Kosie.

 

Kami Jo Hickson – Turnersville, N.J. – Neumann Goretti High School
Before Maryland: Five-Time State Champion...Four-Time All-American...Lists PRs in the 800m 2:08.58 and the mile 5:10.34...Member of the National Honor Society...Graduated high school with honors. 
Personal: Daughter of Donald and Carmella Hickson...has one sibling, Brandon...Majoring in Kinesiology...aspirations include a career as a Physician's Assistant.

 
 
Amanda Eliker – Elkridge, Md. – Howard High School
Before Maryland: Two-time Howard County Cross Country Runner of the Year...Two-time Howard County Cross Country Champion...Regional Cross Country Champion...Member of State Cross Country Championship-winning team...Placed first in the 1600m and the 3200m in Outdoor Counties and Regionals...Placed second in the 1600m and the 3200m in the Outdoor States...LIsts PRs in 1600m (5:02.86) and 3200m (11:05.98)...Member of the National Honor Society...
Personal: Major is Public Health...aspirations include a career as a Physician's Assistant.

 

Katie Ericson – Annapolis, Md. – Annapolis High School
Before Maryland: Placed sixth in the 1600m at the 2020 Maryland State Indoor Track Meet in the 4A Division...Placed sixth in the 3200m at the 2020 Maryland State Indoor Track Meet in the 4A Division...Placed sixth at the 2019 Maryland State XC Meet in the 4A Division...2019 All-County Cross Country Team...2019 Second-Team All-Metro...Coached by Laura Coffin...Served as Outdoor Track Captain 2019-2020...2019 Cross Country and Indoor Track MVP...Lists PR of 1600m (5:13.15)...International Baccalaureate Candidate in High School...National Honor Society Member...Graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Personal: Daughter of Ken and Beth Ericson...has one sister, Sarah...While in High School, ran XC, Indoor Track, and played Lacrosse...Majoring in Kinesiology...plans to work in the Medical Field.


 
Seun Sule –Columbia, Md. – Oakland Mills High School
Before Maryland: Three-Time State Champions...Four-Time Regional Champion...Member of the National Honor Society...member of the Student Government Association...Lists PRs in Long Jump (17'8) and Triple Jumps (37').
Personal: Majoring in Public Health...older brother, Doyin Sule played football at the University of Idaho...aspires to work in Sports Medicine.

 
 
Kirstin Nichols – Crofton, Md. – Arundel High School
Before Maryland: Named to Capital Gazette First Team All-County Cross Country in 2017 and for Indoor Track & Field in 2020…Anne Arundel County and Maryland 4A East Region 3200m Champion for Indoor Track & Field 2020...Multi-year High School team captain...Set PRs in the 800m (2:23), 1600m (5:06), and 3200m (11:28.88)...Served as President of National Honor Society...Was a member of the English National Honor Society and Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society...
Personal: Daughter of Jonathan Nichols who competed as a member of the University of Delaware's soccer and track teams...Aunt Christy Nichols-Gelineau holds the MPSSAA 3200m indoor and outdoor track records and ran cross country and track for NC State. Mom, Susie, graduated from the University of Maryland...also has a younger sister, Cassidy...major is Journalism...aspires to conduct and publish research on social issues.

 
 
Sophia Zell – Severna Park, Md. – Severna Park High School
Before Maryland: Part of 4A Maryland State Championship-winning team...4x800 team (outdoor 2019)
placed third in 800m race at 4A Maryland State Championship...Holds SPHS Indoor 3200m record (11:27.17)...Qualified for NBNO 2019 in the 4x800 and 4x mile...Placed second at Anne Arundel County XC Championships in 2019...Lists PRs on 800m (2:18.57) nad 1600m (5:14.47)...AP Scholar with Distinction (2019)...Earned Maryland Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and English...Principal's Honors all four years...Member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.
Personal: Major is Mechanical Engineering...sister Madeline runs XC at the Naval Academy...aspires to work as a mechanical engineer.

 
 
Brooke Walz – Elkton, Md. – Bohemia Manor High School
Before Maryland: Five-time 4x800 Relay Regional Champion...Three-time 800m Regional Champion...Two-time 1600m Regional Champion... Named the 2020 1A Indoor 1600m State Champion...Placed third at the 2020 DMV Meet of Elite in the 800m...Named the 2020 Cecil County Indoor Track Runner of the Year and 2019 Cecil County Outdoor Track Runner of the Year...2019 1A Indoor 1600m State Champion...2019 1A Outdoor 1600m State Champion...2019 1A 2019 Outdoor 800m State Champion...Lists PRs on 800m (2:18.03) and 1600m (5:11.81)...Member of the National Honor Society...Served as NHS President...Carson Scholar...STEM Academy Member.
Personal: Daughter of Curtis and Lauri...Father, Curtis Walz is a Maryland Track & Field Alum...has two sisters, Kristin and Julia...sister Kirstin is also on the Maryland Track & Field/XC team...Majoring in Biological Sciences: Ecology and Evolution...plans to pursue a career in rehabilitating animals.
 

 
Niya Torres – Odenton, Md. – Arundel High School
Before Maryland: Reigns as the current Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS) Champion...earned third place at 4A Maryland State XC Meet (19.08)...earned her place on the All-Metro XC team...Placed eighth at Indoor States in the 1600 and seventh in the 800m...Holds PR in 1600m – (5:14.23)...Maintained Principal's honors throughout high school...Awarded the National Hispanic Scholar Recognition Award...member of the National Honor Society and English National Honor Society.
Personal: Daughter of Jesus and Alissa, has one brother, Nevan and two dogs, Teddy and Chase...majoring in Bioengineering...plans to earn her Master's degree in Biomedical engineering and make advancements in medical devices to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

 
 
Jessica Sutter – Hillsborough, N.J. – Hillsborough High School
Before Maryland: Named Outdoor Track & Field MVP in 2018...Lists PR on Javelin 133'8...Member of the French Honor Society…
Personal: Majoring in Dietetics...aspires to become a sports nutritionist.