Bucknell University Athletics
Coach Donner Announces Latest Recruiting Class
6/24/2026 10:14:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Bucknell track & field and cross country head coach Kevin Donner announced the addition of 46 student-athletes to the 2026-27 rosters. The Bison welcome 21 men and 25 women to the Banks of the Susquehanna.
"I am very excited about the arrival of what I consider one of our best recruiting classes ever for both genders," head coach Kevin Donner said. "There are probably six to eight men and six to eight women capable of helping our programs right away as freshmen, and that is not easy to do in the Patriot League. Many others are capable of helping in another year or two with experience and seasoning. Our coaching staff did a great job securing this class, and I want to thank them for their hard work. We cannot wait to get these student-athletes on campus this fall and get to work."
The Bison men finished fourth at the Patriot League Indoor Championships and finished third outdoors for their best showing since 2021. Senior Wade Shomper capped his career with a standout senior season. He reset the school record in the indoor and outdoor shot put, won gold in both events, and became the first Bison male to reach the NCAA Outdoor Championships and earn Second Team All-American since 2013.
The program set 30 top-ten marks, including Shomper's school records, in the all-time lists during the 2025-26 season, one more than the total from 2024-25.
Benjamin BaileyÂ
Blacksburg High School, Va.Â
Top Marks: 1,600 meters 4:25.84; 3,200 meters 9:32.62
Antoine BaylorÂ
Woodbridge High School, Va.Â
Top Marks: 110HH 13.92; 300H 39.90; High Jump 6-4
Jasiri Belote
Tuscarora High School., Md.
Top Marks: 100 meters 10.52; 200 meters 21.58
Hudson Bliss
Union-Allegheny Clarion Valley High School, Pa.Â
Top Mark: Javelin 175-11
Grant Brewer
Greensburg Central Catholic High School, Pa.Â
Top Marks: Pole Vault 13-6; 110HH 16.21
Oliver CurrieÂ
Cardinal Newman High School, N.C.Â
Top Mark: Long Jump 22-6.5Â Â
London EzellÂ
The Hill School, Pa.Â
Top Marks: 300H 39.43; 400H 54.99
Teddy GoebbertÂ
Northern Highlands Regional High School, N.J.Â
Top Marks: 110HH 14.78; 400H 54.06
Malachi HaywardÂ
Northwest Nelson High School, TexasÂ
Top Marks: 110HH 14.45; 300H 38.09; Triple Jump 47-2.5
Rebira Jemama
Lewisburg Area High School, Pa.
Top Marks: Long Jump 21-1; Triple Jump 42-1; High Jump 6-2
Brendan McCullen
Middlesex School, Mass.Â
Top Mark: High Jump 6-6
Abe McElwee
Tusky Valley High School, Ohio
Top Mark: 400 meters 48.40
Ryan Newcomb
Greenwich High School, Conn.Â
Top Marks: 800 meters 1:54.64; Mile 4:22.01; 3,200 meters 9:38.77
Diego Rocchio
The Prout School, R.I.Â
Top Marks: High Jump 6-4; Triple Jump 45-1.5
Ibrahim Soumare
Fern Creek High School, Ky.Â
Top Marks: Long Jump 22-3.75; Triple Jump 48-3.25
Devin Smith
Culver City High School, Calif.Â
Top Marks: 200 meters 22.99; 400 meters 50.79
Aiden SchneebergÂ
Fordham Prep High School, N.Y.
Top Mark: High Jump 6-4
Matt Stebila
Selinsgrove Area High School, Pa.Â
Top Marks: 300H 39.57; Long Jump 21-8; Triple Jump 46-5.75
Liam SweeneyÂ
Bacon Academy High School, Conn.Â
Top Marks: Discus 171-3; Shot Put 60-8; Hammer 12 LB 193-6.75
Kevin Vincent
Holy Cross High School, Pa.Â
Top Marks: High Jump 6-6; Triple Jump 45-0
Sean Wemmlinger
Morris Knolls High School, N.J.
Top Marks: 1,600 meters 4:12.39; 3,200 meters 9:16.11; Mile 4:13.37
Michael Yardis
Greenwich High School, Conn.Â
Top Marks: 3,200 meters 9:38.95; Mile 4:30.38
The Bison women placed fifth at the Patriot League Indoor Championships but rebounded to finish fourth at the Outdoor Championships. The Orange & Blue added 62 top-10 marks to the all-time lists, an increase of 30 slots over the 2024-25 output, while establishing nine school records.
U.S. National Champion and heralded javelineer Evelyn Bliss elevated her performance in 2026. She won six events, established six facilities records, repeated as Patriot League Champion for the third consecutive year, and placed second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the highest finish in Bucknell women's history.
Alexandra Lea further cemented her place as the top sprinter in program history by repeating as Patriot League champion in both the 200 and 400 meters, returning to the NCAA East First Round, and finishing 36th in the 400 — 12 spots above her seed.
Javelin thrower Brylee Tereska concluded her career by becoming the program's first thrower to earn four NCAA qualifications and matching her career-best finish of 17th at the NCAA East First Round.
Teagan Bandholz
Poolesville High School, Md.
Top Marks: Discus 147-3; Shot Put 44-3
Anna Casciano
The Hun School, N.J.Â
Top Marks: Discus 125-1; Shot Put 44-11.25
Joni Chapko
Moosic Valley High School, N.Y.
Top Marks: Discus 133-1; Hammer 155-2
Amarachi Chukwu
Mill Creek High School, Ga.Â
Top Marks: 100H 14.05; 300H 44.56; Long Jump 19-4
Gianna DeVito
Kiski Area High School, Pa.
Top Marks: High Jump 5-6
Emily Gallo
Middletown South High School, N.J.
Top Marks: 800 meters 2:22.42; 1600 meters 5:13.19
Carly Giebel
Brighton High School, N.Y.
Top Mark: Discus 144-4
Sophia Herf
Cherry Creek High School, Co.Â
Top Mark: Pole Vault 11-6
Elena Johnson
Southern Lehigh High School, Pa.Â
Top Mark: High Jump 5-3
Ella Majeran
Shaker High School, N.Y.
Top Marks: 100H 15.00; 60H 8.98; Long Jump 16-8
Martelle McBrideÂ
Exeter High School, N.H.Â
Top Marks: Long Jump 17-5, 400 meters 59.11
Dylan Melcher
Haddonfield High School, N.J./Virginia Tech Â
Top Marks: 1,600 meters 5:20.39; 3,200 meters 11:28.45
Caroline Morris
Fairfield Ludlow High School, Conn.
Top Mark: Long Jump 16-11.75
Madison Moyers
Lewisburg Area High School, Pa.
Top Marks: 100 meters 12.32; 200 meters 25.36
Taylor Neese
North Allegheny High School, Pa.
Top Mark: Shot Put 41-10.5
Morgan O'Hara
Upper Perkiomen High School, Pa.
Top Marks: Discus 122-1; Javelin 148-10
Emmy O'Hearn
Union Catholic High School, N.J.
Top Marks: 1,600 meters 5:03.63; 3,200 meters 10:46.05
Chloe Scanish
Trinity High School, Pa.
Top Marks: Long Jump 17-9; Triple Jump 35-0
Chesnee Smith
Hempfield High School, Pa.Â
Top Marks: 400 meters 57.07; 800 meters 2:10.13; 1,600 meters 5:00.92
Savina Steele
Notre Dame Green Pond High School, Pa.
Top Marks: 400 meters 57.06; 300H 44.64
Hailey Sward
Downingtown West High School, Pa.
Top Marks: 200 meters 25.69; 400 meters 56.60
Courtney Toy
Cranford High School, N.J.
Top Marks: 800 meters 2:09.36; 1,600 meters 4:56.54
Emma Tuxbury
Wellesley High School, Mass.Â
Top Mark: Mile 5:06.79
Jacquelyn Waddell
Central Bucks South High School, Pa.
Top Mark: Pole Vault 10-6
Hope Walker
Lakeland Regional High School, N.J.
Top Mark: 800 meters 2:28.34
