Humboldt State University head men’s/women’s cross country coach Jamey Harris has announced this year’s recruiting class for the Lumberjacks.  This year’s class includes nine new members to the men’s cross country team and two to the women’s cross country team.

 This year’s class is highlighted by Charles Becker-Ellison, Preston Breeze, Charles Chelberg, Brian Mendoza, Melissa Pinter, Dominic Raffetto, Ian Rusk, Sophie Smith, Kaleb Traficante, Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel and Jacob Zerecero.

 “This was an odd recruiting year,” said Harris.  “We couldn't have normal recruiting visits, so I met the majority of our recruits in person for the first time when they showed up for our first day of practice, and our team hadn't seen any of them outside of Zoom. Most of them had very limited competitive opportunities over the last year and a half, so it's been really tough to judge this group until I could see them train in person. Now that they're here, I think it's safe to say that I am very pleased. Melissa and Sophie are willing to do the work that will make them great additions to the team, and I think this is going to turn out to be the best men's recruiting class I've had so far.”

 Charles Becker-Ellison

Becker-Ellison graduated this past Spring from Vista Del Lago High School.  The Folsom, Calif., native is a four-time Scholar-Athlete and was the 2021 Distance Runner of the Year at Vista Del Lago HS.  The four-year letter-winner was the 2018 Sophomore of the Year.

 Preston Breeze

Breeze just like Becker-Ellison graduated this past Spring from Vista Del Lago High School.  The three-time varsity letter-winner for cross country also was a letter-winner for track and field this past year.  In 2017, the Folsom, Calif., native was the Freshman of the Year. 

 Charles Chelberg

Chelberg was a two-time Team Most Valuable Runner for El Dorado High School.  He graduated this past Spring from El Dorado HS.  The Pollock Pines, Calif., native was a team leader from 2018 to 2021.  The 2020 Sierra Valley Conference and El Dorado County Champion is the son of John and Becky Chelberg

 Brian Mendoza

Mendoza graduated this past Spring from El Camino High School.  The Oceanside, Calif., native was the 2020 Most Dedicated and Junior of the Year for El Camino and a three-year letter-winner.  The year before, Mendoza was named the 2019 Sophomore of the Year.  For track and field, he was the Team Captain and a four-year letter-winner.  He earned High Honors in 2018-19.

 Melissa Pinter

Pinter was a two-time Coaches Award recipient for cross country for Trabuco Hills High School.  He was a Scholar Athlete and a Team Captain for the cross country team. The two-time All-SHE performer graduated from Trabuco Hills HS this past Spring.  The Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., native was the 2021 Team Captain for track and field and the recipient of the Orange County Athletics’ Director Award and the Trabuco Hills Presidential Award.

 Dominic Raffetto

Raffetto was a two-time Most Valuable Runner for cross country at El Dorado High School.  In 2017, the three-time All-League honoree was the 2017 Coaches Award recipient for cross country and in 2018 a Team Leader.  The Placerville, Calif., product was a two-time Most Valuable Athlete for track and field.

 Ian Rusk

Rusk graduated from Rowland High School and was a member of the cross country and track and field team during his interscholastic career.  He is transferring to Humboldt State University from Cal State Los Angeles and prior to that attended Fullerton College. While at Fullerton College, he was a member of the cross country and track and field teams.  In 2019, he earned First Team All-Conference honors in cross country and placed second in the conference meet in the 5000 and 10000.  Rusk was a Second Team All-Conference honoree in 2018 in cross country.

 Sophie Smith

The Portland, Ore., native graduated from Lincoln High School where she was a member of the cross country and track and field teams.  She ran a 19:27 in the 5000-meter run in the 2019 Hole in the Wall Invite.  Smith was a member of Lincoln High School’s 2019 team that qualified for the Nike Cross Nationals.

 Kaleb Traficante

Traficante is transferring to Humboldt State University from Butte College.  He graduated from the Inspire School of Arts and Science in Chico, Calif.  His best times are in the 5000 (17:30), 3200 (9:56); four-mile (21:03); 1600 (4:45) and 800 (2:20).  Prior to Butte he attended the College of the Redwoods where he won the Golden Valley Conference title in 2019.

 Sebastian Vaisset-Fauvel

Vaisset-Fauvel earned 2019 First Team All-DAL honors as well as Second Team All-DAL honors in 2018. The two-time team Most Valuable Runner is the school’s record holder in the three-mile and part of the DMR 4x800 school record holder. The Pleasant Hill, Calif., native was a member of the Honor Roll at College Park High School and was on the NCS Presidents’ List.

 Jacob Zerecero

Zerecero graduated this past Spring from Vista Murrieta High School.  The Murrieta, Calif., native earned 2020 All-League honors for cross country.  The three-year letter-winner ran a career best 9:46 in the 3200 this past year at the league finals. 

 The Lumberjacks’ first invitational of the 2021 season will be on September 18 when they host the Humboldt Invitational at the Baywood Golf & Country Club in Arcata, Calif.  This will be one of four invitationals that the Lumberjacks will participate prior to the CCAA Championships on October 23 at San Marcos, Calif.