BOCA RATON, Fla. – (September 23, 2019) – Florida Atlantic University track & field head coach Alex Smolka has welcomed nine student-athletes to the 2019-20 squad. In Smolka’s 15th season leading the Owls, his signing class features five mid-distance/distance runners, three sprinters/hurdlers and a long jumper.
“We are very excited about our new team members,” said head coach Alex Smolka. “We have a great mixture of experienced transfers and freshmen joining our squad. Everyone who arrived new on campus will be able to contribute right away, and the team chemistry and energy is already awesome!”
Dahlia Barnes
Events: Long Jump
Hometown: Margate, Florida
High School: Island Academy International School
Major: Health Science
Favorite Meal: Seafood pasta
Favorite Color: Turquoise
Dream Place to Visit: Not a specific place, but would love to travel the world
Barnes joins FAU with an array of accomplishments under her belt, such as MVP honors at the International School Championship in 2016 and being a national member of the Antiguan carifta team from 2016-17. Her accomplishments in the classroom matchup, as she received the science award, technology award and citizenship award at her graduation from Island Academy International School.
Why FAU?
“I chose FAU because it was closer to home, the Caribbean, and I also have family 20 minutes away. My mom thought [FAU] was the best option and felt secure knowing I was not too far away. Also, Loren Seagrave recommended the school, as he knew Coach [Willie] Randolph and how he is such a good coach.”
Nina Endt
Events: XC/Distance
Hometown: Bottrop, Germany
Previous School: Willy-Brandt-Gesamtschule
Major: Biological Sciences
Favorite Meal: Pizza
Favorite Color: Blue and green
Dream Place to Visit: Wants to visit as many places as she can
Endt ran for Willy-Brandt-Gesamtschule and credits her top accomplishment as being awarded the Nordrhein-Westfalen Champion in the 3000m and 10K.
Why FAU?
“The coach is really nice and I like the heat in Florida.”
Alexis Hill
Events: XC/Distance
Hometown: Clermont, Fla.
High School: East Ridge
Major: Exercise Science & Health Promotion
Favorite Meal: Angel hair pasta with marinara sauce and chicken meatballs
Favorite Color: Aqua blue
Dream Place to Visit: Hawaii or somewhere else tropical
Hill joins the Owls after a successful career at East Ridge High School where she holds school records in the 3200 meters (11:49), 1500 meters (5:24), 2K steeplechase (8:50) and 3 mile (20:15). She was recognized as the East Ridge HS Athlete of the Year and graduated with Latin honors and summa cum laude.
Why FAU?
“I really liked the location and the school itself. I also felt that FAU would be right for my major and I liked the opportunities that I was presented with.”
Nyeira Gordon
Events: Hurdles/Sprints
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Previous School: Kingsborough Community College
Major: Exercise Science
Favorite Meal: Steamed red snapper with okra and callaloo with fried dumplings
Favorite Color: Pink
Dream Place to Visit: Jamaica
Gordon began her collegiate career at Kingsborough Community College, where she received five gold medals at the 2018 Outdoor NJCAA Championships. She also led KCC to take home the 2018 NJCAA National Championship and became the runner-up this past year. To wrap up her sophomore season, Gordon was named CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete in May 2019.
Why FAU?
“I chose FAU because I wanted to experience a new environment for my last two years in school and be in a warm climate for track. They also had my major and great opportunities within the school.”
Marie Groppel
Events: XC/Mid-Distance/Distance
Hometown: Melbourne, Fla.
High School: Satellite
Major: Criminal Justice
Favorite Meal: Any type of pasta with garlic bread and a salad with it too every once in a while
Favorite Color: Any shade of purple
Dream Place to Visit: Wants to eventually travel through Europe
Groppel joins FAU after running for coach Doug Butler at Satellite High School. As one of the leaders for the Scorpions, Groppel received All-Conference honors for cross country during three consecutive seasons.
Why FAU?
“I chose FAU because the area is very similar to where I live and I love how the campus is really easy to navigate.”
Kendall Kirkland
Events: Sprints/Hurdles
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
High School: William M. Raines
Major: Psychology
Favorite Meal: Can’t pick a favorite
Favorite Color: Maroon (especially with gold)
Dream Place to Visit: The movies (don’t ask her what her favorite movie is because she’s too indecisive)
Kirkland was captain of the All-Conference team at Paxon School for Advanced Studies, where she was also awarded team MVP two years in a row.
Why FAU?
“FAU was close enough to home to be reached, but far enough to not be smothered and the school specializes in phycology and science. I connected with the coaches on a spiritual level. Their vibes alone sold the school and made me feel at home before I even stepped foot on campus.”
Casey O’Connor
Events: XC/Mid-Distance
Hometown: Wantagh, N.Y.
High School: Wantagh
Major: Graphic Design
Favorite Meal: Chicken parmesan, chocolate, peanut butter or oatmeal
Favorite Color: Yellow
Dream Place to Visit: Ireland
O’Connor was an All-Conference, All-County and All-State runner at Wantagh High School. She was recognized as the most outstanding junior and senior athlete, qualified for state in the 4×800 relay and was awarded captain her senior year. Outside of running, O’Connor was recognized to the Merit Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year starter on the varsity soccer team.
Why FAU?
“When I visited, I honestly didn’t know a lot about the school, but my dad told me about it and how nice the area was and how he thought I would like the school because it was basically everything I wanted. The moment I visited and met the track team, I felt really content and happy with everything I saw, especially when I met the coaches. Now that I’m here, I’ve been so happy and wouldn’t choose any other school if I had the choice. I love the school so far! I can’t wait to see what else it has to offer!”
Lyric Schmalz
Events: Hurdles/Sprints
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Previous School: Jacksonville
Major: MBA Sport Management
Favorite Meal: Chicken parmigiana
Favorite Color: Teal
Dream Place to Visit: Italy
Schmalz will be closing out her collegiate career at FAU after spending the last four years at Jacksonville, where she earned First Team All-ASUN honors in the 4×400-meter relay, Second Team in the 400-meter hurdles and Third Team in the 100-meter hurdles. At the 2019 ASUN Indoor Tack & Field Championships, Schmalz contributed to a silver finish in the 4×400 relay. Schmalz credits being able to recover from hip surgery as her top accomplishment in addition to making the academic dean’s list.
Why FAU?
“I was looking to transfer and find a new program for a fresh start in a new atmosphere. I will be able to grow as a women even more by accepting new challenges.”
Jordan Stevens
Events: XC/Distance
Hometown: Altamonte Springs, Fla.
High School: Lake Brantley
Major: Exercise Science and Health Promotion
Favorite Meal: Chicken piccata
Favorite Color: Baby pink
Dream Place to Visit: Bahamas
Stevens was an All-Conference Team recipient and holds records in the 4×800 relay, 4×1600 relay and the distance medley relay at Lake Brantley High School. She got off to a great start in her collegiate career, claiming sixth place in the 5K at the FAU Cross Country Invitational.
Why FAU?
“I chose FAU because I felt the environment was a positive place filled with teammates and a coach who would push me to become a better person and runner.”
– FAUSports.com –
Florida Atlantic University Athletics:
FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student-athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, volleyball, beach volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA and the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) (beach volleyball, men’s swimming). The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and are a perfect 3-0 in bowl games, the most recent being a 50-3 victory over Akron in the 2017 Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally. FAU cheer won a national championship in 2016.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.
