Malibu, Calif. — The Pepperdine track and cross country programs announced its full 2021 recruiting class on Wednesday.
The 11 incoming freshmen hail from eight different states. They will join men's distance runners Jakob Knox and Colin Proctor, who signed national letters of intent in December 2020 and February 2021, respectively.
Here is some info on the incoming Waves:
Brooke Bakken
Distance | Norwalk, Wisc. | Tomah HS
Specializes in the 800 and 1600 meters, plus the 5K in cross country … A four-year varsity runner in both cross country and track … Ranks third all-time in Tomah HS history in cross country … Helped the Tomah girls cross country team earn its best team finishes at the conference race as a junior and as a senior … Earned All-Mississippi Valley Conference honorable mention honors in cross country as a sophomore … Won Tomah HS's Scholar Athlete Award all four years.
Bakken says: "I love the atmosphere of Pepperdine and I love that it's a Christian university. I hope to become a better runner alongside my teammates and have fun at the same time."
Sydney Bremer
Distance | Yorba Linda, Calif. | Yorba Linda HS
Specializes in the 1600 meters … Ran with Yorba Linda HS for three years, plus ran with SoCal Quick Track Club in fall 2020 when CIFs were postponed … Holds Yorba Linda's 1000-meter run record … Was part of a program that won league titles and qualified for the CIF State Cross Country Championships each year she was on the roster … Placed fourth at the JV National Championship at Mt. Sac … Won Yorba Linda's Mustang Scholar award for her academic achievement, community service, and extracurricular activities … Plays jazz bass guitar and violin in her spare time.
Bremer says: "Pepperdine's fusion of academics, athletics, and a faith-based community checked all the boxes for me. Continuing to grow and challenge myself as an athlete and balance those challenges while getting a top notch education ensures I'll be equipped to conquer anything life throws at me!"
Lexi Cox
Sprints/Hurdles | Kingwood, Texas | Kingwood Park HS
Specializes in the 100-meter hurdles, plus the 100 and 200-meter dashes … Qualified for the area meet in the 100-meter hurdles as a senior … Ranked top-5 in the district in the 200-meter dash … Helped Kingwood Park qualify for the 2020 Texas Relays … Also was a two-year varsity letter winner in volleyball.
Cox says: "I was drawn to Pepperdine due to its strong mix of elite athletics, academics, and faith-based environment. During my time as a Wave, I hope to make meaningful impacts in all of those areas and leave a meaningful legacy on the track."
Caroline Fleenor
Mid-distance | Alexandria, Va. | Bishop O'Connell HS
Specializes in the 800 and 1,000 meters … Ran at Lake Braddock Secondary HS for three years before transferring to Bishop O'Connell HS as a senior … At Lake Braddock Secondary HS as a freshman, she helped her team's 4x800 relay team place seventh at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet … Also qualified for the 4x400 and the 4x800 at the 2018 Penn Relays … Helped Lake Braddock Secondary HS win a VHSL Class 6 State cross country title as a junior in 2019.
Fleenor says: "I was drawn to Pepperdine by its strong academic reputation, small class sizes, opportunities to grow in my faith, and the numerous study-abroad programs, particularly in the Middle East. In addition, moving across the country will allow me to explore the scenic locations out west."
Megan La Camera
Distance | Burbank, Calif. | Burbank HS
Specializes in the 1600 meters in track and the 5K in cross country … Helped Burbank HS place 10th at the CIF Divison 1 Finals ... Placed fourth at the Pacific League Finals as a junior in 2019 … Part of Burbank's first-ever Pacifc League-winning title team in 2018 … Had a top-50 finish at the 2019 Nike Portland XC Race and helped Burbank place eighth as a team ... Received the team's varsity MVP award as a junior in 2019 … Also enjoys playing the piano and cooking.
La Camera says: "I was drawn to Pepperdine because of its Christian foundation and beautiful campus. I will also be studying sports medicine and Pepperdine has an excellent program. As a Wave, I hope to make lots of friends and pursue Christ as I prepare for my career!"
Eden Mittelsdorf
Distance | Nashville, Tenn. | Brentwood HS
Specializes in the 3200 meters in track and the 5K in cross country … Helped Brentwood HS cap off an undefeated season by winning a state title at the 2020 TSSAA State Cross Country Championships as a senior … Helped Brentwood HS to second-place state finishes as a sophomore in track and a junior in cross country … Qualified for the TSSAA State Track & Field Championships three times … Best finishes at state were 13th in the 3200 meters as a freshman, and 13th in the 1600 meters as a sophomore.
Mittelsdorf says: "Out of all of the schools I looked into, Pepperdine checked off the most boxes. Not only is it a fabulous university, but it also allows me to deepen my relationship with Christ, while being a student-athlete. The team was so welcoming and made the recruiting process easier during these uncertain times. I am looking forward to growing closer to my new teammates and becoming a stronger runner throughout the next four years.
Maddy Ortman
Hurdles | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Valor Christian HS
Specializes in both the 100 and 300-meter hurdles … Ran on the nation's top shuttle hurdle relay team in 2019 that not only won the Arcadia Invitational, but also ran a time that ranks No. 12 all-time in the United States … Anchored Valor Christian's state champion 4x400 team as a sophomore in 2019 … Helped Valor Christian win back-to-back CHSAA 5A state outdoor track titles in 2018 and 2019 … Placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and eighth in the 100-meter hurdles at state as a sophomore in 2019.
Ortman says: "What drew me to Pepperdine was not only the opportunity to compete as a D1 track athlete, but also the location, community and culture of the program at Pepperdine. I have always wanted to live near the beach, and I would love to be a part of such a tight-knit, faith-based community that Pepperdine provides. As a Wave, I really hope to contribute to my team to compete and win at the highest level, all while encouraging my teammates on and off the track."
Kaley Peterson
Sprints | Sunnyvale, Calif. | St. Francis HS
Specializes in the 100, 200 and 400 meters … Won WCAL district titles in the 100 and the 200 meters as a sophomore … Helped St. Francis win the WCAL district track title in 2019 … Several relatives on her dad's side of the family played tennis at USC and Washington … Also played club volleyball for seven years.
Peterson says: "I was drawn to Pepperdine by the coaching staff and also the academics. I wish to break school records and become a better athlete while also supporting my teammates."
Alaina Pisello
Distance | Winter Park, Fla. | Trinity Preparatory School
Specializes in the 800 meters … Helped Trinity Preparatory School place third at the 2019 FHSAA 2A Cross Country State Finals as a junior … In track, qualified for the state meet in the 800 and 4x800 relays as a freshman and as a sophomore … Ran on Trinity Preparatory School's school-record-setting 4x800 relay … Best individual finish at the state meet was 10th in the 800-meter dash as a freshman ... Her sister Sophia also attends Pepperdine.
Pisello says: "When I visited Pepperdine for the first time it just felt like home. The atmosphere at Pepperdine is definitely the best place for me to grow into the person I want to be. Being a part of the team will definitely help me to accomplish my ultimate goal of making lifelong friendships and walking out as a more well-rounded individual."
Lauren Rocco
Distance | Port Orange, Fla. | Spruce Creek HS
Specializes in the 300-meter hurdles … A four-year varsity runner in cross-country and track … Helped Spruce Creek HS win districts, conference and qualify for regionals in all four years … Also helped Spruce Creek qualify for state three times during her career … Best finish was 15th at the 4A District 4 race as a senior … In track, placed in the top 10 at districts in both the 100 and the 300-meter hurdles as a senior … Qualified for the FHSAA 4A State Track and Field Championships in the 4x400-meter relay as a senior … Helped her team win districts three times and conference twice during her four years of track … Earned Central Florida Spectrum Sports Scholar Athlete honors … Also lettered in cheerleading … Won Athlete of the Month at Spruce Creek HS … Her older sister Kendall attended Pepperdine.
Rocco says: "The athletic opportunity, location, prestige, and faith-based community all in one. God pointed me in the direction of Pepperdine and I hope to grow in my faith, expand my networking, and meet my athletic capabilities and hopefully make it on Pepperdine's all-time rankings for track."
Elias Spence
Distance | Shippensburg, Pa. | Shippensburg Area Senior HS
Specializes in the 3200 meters in track and the 5K in cross country … Helped Shippensburg Area HS win league cross country titles as a junior and as a senior … In track, helped Shippensburg Area HS win league titles in 2018, 2019 and 2021 … Won the 3200 meters at the 2021 Mid Penn Championship … Son of Shippensburg University head cross-country coach Steve Spence, an Olympic marathon runner who placed third at the 1991 World Championships and 12th in the 1992 Olympics … Older sister, Neely Spence Gracey, is a professional runner who won eight Division II titles, placed ninth in the 2016 Boston Marathon and eighth in the 2016 New York City Marathon.
Spence says: "In addition to the location, what drew me to Pepperdine was the superior academic and athletic programs the school has to offer. Additionally, the Integrated Marketing Communications major Pepperdine offers to undergraduates drew my interest the moment I began looking at the school. I feel that this unique major fits perfectly into my plans for the future."
