BANNER ELK, N.C. – Lees-McRae College Head Men's and Women's Track & Field Coach
Ley Fletcher announces the addition of 11 newcomers to his 2020-21 recruiting class. The new incoming class includes Christian Bargaineer (Wedgewood, Fla.), Justice Dorsey (Murphy, N.C.), Aaron Kirby (Hudson, N.C.), Jeffrey Nickerson (Waco, Texas), Spencer Piercy (Hudson, N.C.), Brian Sims Jr. (Trussville, Ala.), Rondale Weaden (Pensacola, Fla.) and Cameron Wilson (Savannah, Ga.). The recruiting class also includes Cameron Adair (Apex, N.C.), Walker Cummins (Satellite Beach, N.C.) and Hunter Sizemore (New Port Richey, Fla.) who will all be competing for the cross country program as well.
"We return athletes who hold 11 school records and who scored 100 percent of our individual points at last year's indoor conference meet, so this class was built to complement our existing student-athletes in order to boost relay teams and build around our core set of returners," said Associate Head Track & Field Coach
Brooks Rexroat. "We focused on two groups of athletes in this class: those with potential for big developmental leaps and those with a history of results on the big stage. Coach Fletcher and Coach
Rachael Rexroat have put immense effort into finding the right people to boost our program and we can't wait to see the incoming class train and compete alongside our returners. We're excited about the future of our program and the ways in which this class will boost our roster as we look to be a perineal competitor on the regional and national stage."
Christian Bargaineer (Wedgewood, Fla. / Pine Forest High School)
From the coaches: "Christian is a big-time athlete with a great attitude. He's everything a coach looks for in a hurdler: he's got strength, speed, balance, and a drive toward mechanical perfection. He is also one of the best triple jumpers in the southeast and will be a cornerstone in multiple event groups for years to come. He's accustomed to performing well against nationally-elite competition, and we are counting on him to translate that experience into a leadership role on and off the track."
Bargaineer comes to Lees-McRae ranked in the top-100 nationally in both the 110-meter high hurdles and the triple jump. A Florida Class 3A state finalist in the 110 hurdles during his junior season, Bargaineer was among the top competitors in the state when his senior season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. He will also be included in the sprint relay pool with the Bobcats and has produced high quality marks in the 300-meter hurdles and long jump during his prep career. An explosive and technically excellent athlete, Bargaineer will elevate multiple event groups at Lees-McRae.
"When I first got to campus, I was instantly amazed by its beauty and I could definitely see myself calling Banner Elk home," said Bargaineer. "As far as athletics, after talking with Coach Rexroat during and before my visit, I was sure he was the type of coach I needed to become a better all-around athlete."
"Christian was a multi-sport athlete who began specifically concentrating on track and field during his junior year of high school," said Pine Forest Head Track & Field Coach Shaun Harris. "He was on his way to becoming an elite hurdler and triple jumper with one year of concentrating on both events as well as being on the state-ranked 4x100-meter relay team. He has not even begun to reach his full potential and will bring a dynamic point scorer to Lees-McRae."
Justice Dorsey (Murphy, N.C. / Murphy High School)
From the coaches: "Justice is a versatile athlete and we've placed a big focus on building a jump squad that can make a big impact at the conference meet and beyond. We are especially excited about his potential as a high jumper and feel he can quickly become a key contributor for the Bobcat track and field program."
Dorsey joins the Bobcats as a dual-sport athlete from Murphy High School, who will be competing as a jumps specialist along with contending for a position on the sprint relays at Lees-McRae. In addition to performing on the track for the Bobcats, Dorsey will be suiting up for Head Men's Basketball Coach
Steve Hardin on the basketball floor as well.
"I chose Lees-McRae because I felt that it is the place that I can get faster than I have ever been and jump high than I ever have," said Dorsey. "I feel that I can be successful here."
"It is really hard to just write one sentence about what Justice will bring to this track program," said Murphy High School Head Track & Field Coach Davis Bryant. "Leadership and hard work to say the least. You ask him to do something and he will do everything in his power to get it done."
Aaron Kirby (Hudson, N.C. / South Caldwell High School)
From the coaches: "Aaron is a tenacious competitor who had tremendous success as a football player and bring that same intensity to the track. We are excited about the enthusiasm he brings for the sport and expect big things from Aaron as his development and growth as a sprinter continues. We feel like he is just cracking the surface of his ability."
Kirby, who comes to Banner Elk after the completion of a decorated high school football career, quickly became a core part of the South Caldwell's sprint squad where he flashed a wide range of ability across the sprint events. At Lees-McRae, Kirby will bring a boost to the short sprints group and will be included in the Bobcat relay pools.
"My decision to choose Lees-McRae to further my track career was based on the belief that we can do great things and further the school's program in the coming years," said Kirby.
"Aaron will bring dedication, hard work, knowledge and competitiveness to the Lees-McRae track and field program," said South Caldwell High School Head Track & Field Coach Dana Smith. "His willingness to learn and succeed will strengthen any college program. Aaron understands that school work comes first and he will benefit the team GPA and reputation of the program. Lees-McRae is lucky to have Mr. Aaron Kirby."
Jeffrey Nickerson (Waco, Texas / La Vega High School)
From the coaches: "Jeffrey exemplifies everything excellent about a Bobcat: he is a fierce competitor, an accomplished scholar and he comes from a family that is deeply invested in service and community building. He will bring a spark for our long sprints group, but even more importantly, he will be an important voice for service in our community and on our campus.
He's got a championship background as a key member of one of the top 4x400-meter squads in the nation and we will lean on him heavily as our long sprint and relay squads work toward the next tier of excellence."
Nickerson, who is a two-time Texas state champion and second team All-Texas academic honoree, comes to Lees-McRae as an anchor for the long sprints group for the Bobcats. A tenacious performer on the track, Nickerson graduated from Wace La Vega High School with an associate's degree already under his belt after a rigorous schedule of early college courses.
Spencer Piercy (Hudson, N.C. / South Caldwell High School)
From the coaches: "Spencer kicked off this signing class for our men's team and he has been involved in connecting with his teammates and fellow recruits, showing special leadership capabilities from the very beginning. He has intense sprint speed and we are excited about the ability he brings to our short sprint group."
Piercy joins the Bobcats from South Caldwell High School as a short sprint specialist whose development during his junior year led to a pair of Northwestern Conference Championships in the 100 and 200-meter. He will specialize in the short sprints for the Bobcats and figures to be a contender for the relay squads early in his Lees-McRae career. Piercy also has experience in the horizontal jumps and will have the opportunity to contribute to that event group as well.
"I'm excited to be a Bobcat because of all of the competing I will be able to do in a very good conference," said Piercy. "I cannot wait to race this year while learning from upperclassman, as well as the coaches. I fell that it is an environment where I can thrive and can accomplish some conference championships in the coming years."
"Spencer is a tremendous student-athlete that will bring leadership, determination, intelligence and integrity to the Lees-McRae program," said South Caldwell Head Track and Field Coach Dana Smith. "Spencer is a trustworthy person that will show full respect for his coaches, teammates and opponents. He knows how to win and lose the same way, with his head up and the capability to learn from both a victory and a defeat."
Brian Sims Jr. (Trussville, Ala. / Ramsay High School / Clayton State University)
From the coaches: "Brian is a nationally-elite athlete who has performed at a high level throughout his career and we are excited about what he brings to the team athletically, academically and as a leader. He has taken the initiative to connect with teammates during the summer and has already emerged as a leader of the team. His focused, positive attitude and love for the sport shine through and we cannot wait to see what Brian accomplishes on the track and in the classroom at Lees-McRae."
Sims Jr. comes to Banner Elk as a dual-sport transfer from Clayton State University and will also be suiting up for Head Men's Basketball Coach
Steve Hardin on the court. During his high school career, Sims Jr. was among the most decorated and versatile sprinters in Alabama. He finished his career with a to-50 mark in the 400-meter dash and a top-200 national mark in the 200-meter dash. At Clayton State, he was named a first-team All-Peach Belt Conference for his role in the PBC champion 4x400-meter relay team. At Lees-McRae, Sims Jr. will compete in short and long sprints as well as contribute to the Bobcat relay squads.
"I am so excited about joining the Lees-McRae program because this will be a fresh start for me," said Sims Jr. "I am ready to get to work and I look forward to bringing success to the school."
"Lees-McRae will be receiving a well-rounded young man that is academically and athletically inclined," said Ramsay High School Head Track & Field Coach Lorenzo Bright. "Brian is an around-the-clock hard worker. He will be an outstanding choice for this school and an example of greatness."
Rondale Weaden (Pensacola, Fla. / Pine Forest High School)
From the coaches: "Rondale is a fun guy with gallons of personality and he is going to fit in perfectly with our family of wonderful young men and women. We are excited about his athletic future, being a newcomer to the sport and with him having ample room for growth. However, when you cap off your first season in the sport with a Florida 3A state finals appearance in a marquee event, there is a big future on the way. We are excited that that future is at Lees-McRae."
Weaden comes to Lees-McRae as a relative newcomer to track & field, who burst onto the scene as a jumps specialist in 2019 and earned a podium finish at the Florida 3A State Championship meet that season. During the shortened 2020 season, he continued to solidify himself as one of the top horizontal jumpers in Florida and by joining fellow high school teammate Bargaineer to help boost the Lees-McRae jump squad. He is also a powerful short sprinter who figures to compete for a spot on the Bobcat sprint relay teams.
"I decided to sign with Lees-McRae because I wanted to go to a school where I could instantly make an impact," said Weaden. The Bobcats recruited a great 2020 class and I feel that we are going to build a great culture at Lees-McRae and bring many championships."
"Rondale will bring excellent leadership skills and motivation skills to the Bobcat track & field program," said Pine Forest High School Head Track & Field Coach Shaun Harris. "He will challenge his teammates at every practice and track meet. He is a complete team player and will be a great asset to the team."
Cameron Wilson (Savannah, Ga. / Woodville Thompson High School)
From the coaches: "Cameron has immense physical gifts and is relatively new to the sport. We look forward to playing a role in his growth on the track and we fell that he can quickly develop into a top-tier collegiate sprinter. We expect huge contributions from him in both the short sprints and the high jump in this first season in Banner Elk."
Wilson joins the Bobcats after completing his high school career as one of the top sprinters in Georgia's competitive second region and was poised to make his mark statewide when his senior season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He will specialize in the short sprints at Lees-McRae, as well as the high jump and long jump. He will also be a key candidate for the print relays.
"I chose Lees-McRae because I felt the energy and team just made me feel like I was at home," said Wilson.
As mentioned above, Cameron Adair (Apex, N.C.), Walker Cummins (Satellite Beach, N.C.) and Hunter Sizemore (New Port Richey, Fla.) are also part of the 2020-21 Track & Field recruiting class and will be competing for the cross country programs at Lees-McRae as well.
Learn more about the incoming Lees-McRae cross country athletes here:
https://www.lmcbobcats.com/news/2020/8/12/mens-cross-country-cross-country-teams-finalize-their-2020-recruiting-class.aspx
For more information about Lees-McRae, follow us on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics) and on Instagram (@leesmcraeathletics).
