Huskies Sign Record-Setters, World Junior Champion
UW Athletic Communications
11/10/2022
SEATTLE – Washington made a splash on National Signing Day on Wednesday as Maurica and Andy Powell announced the addition of five stellar prep recruits including possibly the two greatest high school women’s pole vaulters in U.S. history, a U.S. Junior 5,000-meters champ, and two more defending state champions from Washington and California. Since signing day, Washington has picked up one additional commitment to bring the current incoming freshman class size to six.
Superstar local pole vaulters, twin sisters Amanda and Hana Moll, who already have U.S. and World junior titles to their names, are joined by California state hurdles champion Kapiolani Coleman on the women’s side.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Amanda Moll, Hana Moll, and Kapi Coleman to the University of Washington,” said Maurica Powell. “Each of these young women will make an immediate impact on our program at the NCAA level, and all three are fantastic examples of grit, grace, and integrity in their lives as students and as athletes. We can’t wait to welcome them to Montlake next fall!”
The first three men’s recruits are distance standouts: Tyrone Gorze, a U.S. junior champ from Oregon, three-time Washington state champ Will Schneider from right here in Seattle, and 2022 Washington 3A state cross country champion Cruize Corvin, from Lakewood, Wash.
In addition to the prep commits that will be joining the Husky program next fall, two impact transfers will be joining the team this winter in time for Dempsey Indoor competition: Aaron Ahl from Simon Fraser, and Jacob Englar from Washington State.
Ahl is an NCAA D-II All-American mid-distance runner with a 3:57 mile PR, while Englar is the defending Pac-12 Pole Vault Champion who advanced to the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
“I could not be more excited with the recruits we have added over the last six months,” Andy Powell said. “These additions will continue to help us evolve into one of the best track and field teams into the nation.”
WASHINGTON TRACK & FIELD FRESHMAN CLASS OF 2023
Kapiolani Coleman
A major addition for the sprints group is defending California state hurdles champion Kapiolani Coleman. Coleman set a 300-meter hurdles PR of 42.19 as a junior and took the state title last May, also placing third in the 100m hurdles final. She is the daughter of former MLB All Star Vince Coleman, who led the National League in stolen bases six times, and still ranks sixth in MLB history in steals with 752.
Assistant Coach Jeshua Anderson on Coleman
“I am very excited to have the rare opportunity to work with Kapiolani Coleman. She is very smart with elite talent and an amazing work ethic that impresses me the most! She is a perfect fit for our team and I am happy to see the contributions she will make and the great things she will do for years to come.”
Cruize Corvin
Corvin, from Lakewood, Wash. is the son of former Husky Curt Corvin, who earned XC All-America honors in 1986 and remains 10th on UW's 10,000m top-10 list. Cruize had a breakout fall season as he won the Washington 3A state XC title by nearly 10 seconds, improving from a 7th-place finish as a junior. His winning time at state was fastest across all divisions.
Assistant Coach Chris Kwiatkowski on Corvin
Cruize is a fantastic athlete, the Washington state cross country champion with the fastest time of the day at that meet this year which was run in some tough conditions. He's showing great promise for what will come this spring and then as he continues to develop into a strong distance runner for us. The best thing about him is he runs and competes with no fear.
Tyrone Gorze
Out of Central Point, Ore. Tyrone was a Team USA teammate of fellow UW commits the Moll sisters at the World U20 Championships last summer, as he won the U.S. junior 5k title and also took second in the 3k to qualify to compete in both events at Worlds. Gorze just broke the Oregon state cross country course record last week in a dominant win.
Assistant Coach Chris Kwiatkowski on Gorze
“The record Tyrone just broke at the Oregon state meet is a fantastic record. Any time you get into the recordbooks in any state it’s a fantastic accomplishment, but in as storied a place as Oregon it’s a really big deal. Tyrone showed promise from a young age and has been getting better each year. We’re excited about him in the long distance events and really think he will make an immediate impact on our program.”
Amanda and Hana Moll
The twin sisters from Olympia’s Capital High School, have shattered pole vault age records and soared to the medal stand at national and world competitions. Amanda broke the U.S. High School Record this year with a personal-best of 14-9 ½, while Hana captured the World U20 Championship this past summer in Colombia, with Amanda placing fifth. Amanda won the 2022 U.S. U20 title with Hana taking second, both clearing 14-3 ¼.
While Amanda holds the National High School Record, Hana ranks fifth with her best clearance of 14-8, and No. 2 for vaulters younger than 18. Amanda has cleared 14-feet or better eleven times already in her career. All that prior to their senior years of high school.
Associate Head Coach Toby Stevenson on Amanda and Hana Moll
"I am thrilled and humbled to be entrusted with the talented Moll Sisters. It is an exciting time at UW as we continue the rich pole vault tradition here with these two outstanding athletes. Each one of them brings a dynamic force that will resonate throughout the team and University.
Along with being two of the most prestigious pole vaulters to ever come out of high school, their lives consist of more than just athletics. They are both mountain bike and climbing enthusiasts, avid artists and have 4.0 GPA’s in the classroom. We are happy to be adding Hana and Amanda to the Husky family."
Will Schneider
Teaming up with Gorze in the distance events will be Will Schneider, who UW coaches consider the top in-state prospect, out of Seattle’s Bishop Blanchet High School. Schneider won the 2021 3A state cross country title then swept the 1,600m and 3,200m track titles last spring. Schneider’s father, Marc, was a Washington rower in the 1990s and went on to row in two Olympics, earning a bronze medal in 1996 in Atlanta.
Assistant Coach Chris Kwiatkowski on Schneider
“We think Will is the best in the state. Always that’s a priority to get those top kids to come to Washington every year. He’s a great all-around person. A great student, runner, brother and son. His father rowed crew here at Washington. And his mom went to UW and they live a mile and a half from campus so it’s exciting to keep that tradition going. Like Tyrone, Will could contribute from day one.”
WASHINGTON TRACK & FIELD TRANSFER ADDITIONS FOR 2023
Aaron Ahl
Ahl has a mile PR of 3:57.95 set in Boston indoors last January. He’s run in the Dempsey, where he ran his 3k PR last January in 7:53.89. He was part of the DMR second-place squad at the 2022 NCAA D-II Indoor Championships, and placed fourth individually in the 3,000-meters. He made the NCAA D-II Outdoor Championship finals in both the 1,500m and 800m.
Assistant Coach Chris Kwiatkowski on Ahl
Aaron is a D-II All-American several times over. A fantastic middle distance runner. He has really good range, from 400/800 up to 3k/5k. A versatile athlete and certainly we are excited about him strengthening our already strong middle distance corps at Washington.
Jacob Englar
Englar took the Pac-12 men’s pole vault title for Washington State last spring with a make of 16-9 ¼. He then advanced through West Prelims with a make of 17-4 ¼ and cleared 17-4 ½ at his first NCAA Outdoor Championships to place 17th overall, earning All-America honorable mention. Englar made 17-5 ½ at the Fresno State Invite last April for his current PR.
Associate Head Coach Toby Stevenson on Englar
“Jacob's energy and spirit is going to be a great addition to the program when he arrives in January. He’ll spend his final year of eligibility at UW obtaining a post-baccalaureate biology degree. He's already a Pac-12 Champion so we're certainly very excited to get him and we're looking to help him continue his success.”