Cross Country and Track Adds Quartet on Signing Day
4/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Gonzaga men's cross country and track programs will welcome four new student-athletes in 2015.
Bennett Gagnon
5-9 * Palos Verdes Estates, CA * Palos Verdes High School
Gagnon joins Gonzaga in 2015 as a freshman after a standout career at Palos Verdes High School. He was named First Team All-Area by the Daily Breeze newspaper in 2014. Gagnon placed 18th at the CIF State Cross Country Championships in his senior season. He finished the 5,000-meter course at 15:43. At the 2014 Bay League Championships, he placed fifth with a 15:26 finish over the three-mile course.
"I lived in Spokane for 18 months and spent many summers there as well," Gagnon said. I love Spokane and the surrounding area. When I met Coach Tyson while visiting to watch some friends play in Hoopfest, I was immediately drawn in by him and his program."
Gagnon comes from an athletic family. His sister, Lauren, ran cross country at Cal, his uncle and aunt, Tom and Beth, played soccer at UC San Diego and UC Davis, and, his great uncle ran cross and track at Boston College.
"My parents forced me to run cross country in middle school," Gagnon admitted. "I dropped out of a two-mile race because my mom was beating me, and now I hold one of the fastest times run on that course."
In the classroom, Gagnon was a member of the National Honors Society during his junior and senior years. He was a California Scholarship Federation member all four years of high school. The Model United Nations Chief Ambassador received the Elite Capstone Award in November. He will be receiving Palos Verdes Institute of Technology and Palos Verdes International diplomas in June. He maintains a 4.4 GPA.
"Bennett is a real solid kid with great academics and excellent running potential," Gonzaga Director of Track Pat Tyson said. "His personal bests are 4:19.16 in the pure mile and 9:29.79 over 3,200 meters. This past fall, he was the number two man (18th overall) for Palos Verdes and helped them take home a third place trophy in the California Division 3 State Cross Country Championships. He is extremely jacked to be wearing the jersey for Gonzaga University!"
Scott Kopczynski
5-10 * Spokane ,WA * East Valley High School
A local standout, Kopczynski, stays in Spokane and comes to Gonzaga after his East Valley High School career. He is the defending Washington 2A state champion in the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters. As a junior, he ran a 4:15.81 1,600-meter time and a 9:14.67 3,200-meter time last May at the state championships. He was the district champion in both events as a junior, and a runner-up in both in his sophomore season.
"Gonzaga was the perfect fit for me for many reasons, like how close it was to home, it has my intended major, and when I was on my visit I really felt like it was the place for me," Kopczynski said.
Kopczynski was also a top-five finisher at the cross country state championships. As a junior, he raced to a fourth-place finish with a time of 15:46.06. He then finished third at 15:36.18 as a senior in November. At the 2014 Nike Border Clash, Kopczynski finished the 4,387-meter course at 13:57, placing sixth. He also finished seventh at the Nike Cross Nationals Northwest Regional Championships in 2014, before placing 51st at the NXN Championships.
The senior boasts a 4.0 GPA through all four years of high school. He would like to major in computer science or engineering at Gonzaga.
"Scott is a local young running star," Tyson said. "He is a multiple Washington State AA Champion. He comes in as a scholar in the classroom too. He is a great recruit for the Zags!"
Sam Truax
5-11 * Portland, OR * Central Catholic High School
Truax joins the Bulldogs after a stellar career at Central Catholic High School. He helped CCHS win the 2014 OSAA Class 6A state title as one of three Rams to place in the top 10 at the championships. Truax crossed the line at 15:57 in eighth place. He placed fifth at the 2013 state championships as a junior with a time of 15:53. His best 5,000-meter course time was 15:47.
"I chose Gonzaga because it has an awesome team," Truax said. "I also like Coach Tyson's great coaching and energy!"
The multiple all-state performer was the team captain at CCHS for all four years. As the second man, he helped the Rams qualify for the NXN Championships. On the track, he placed third in the 3,000 meters at the state championships. As a junior, he completed the race with a time of 8:46.67. Just prior to the state championships, Truax placed third in the event at the Mt. Hood Conference Championships at 8:41.01.
"Sam helped lead his team to the Oregon 6A State Championships in Cross Country this fall," Tyson said. He is a great team leader that brings great energy. This young man from Portland will really help the Zags!"
Mason Villarma
6-0 * Port Orchard, WA * South Kitsap High School
Villarma finishes his career at South Kitsap High School this May, after helping the 4x400-meter relay team win the 2013 state title, while breaking the school record. His top 400-meter time is 51.18. He just ran his top mile time, 4:17.51, last week.
"I chose to commit to Gonzaga for the following four reasons: Academically, I feel Gonzaga is unmatched in the Pacific Northwest due to its small class sizes and rigorous courses," Villarma said. "Athletically, the track and cross country programs are very competitive and I am confident that being a part of them will allow me to thrive as a runner and scholar. Additionally, Coach Tyson, is one of the most experienced and distinguished in the NCAA and I look forward to his guidance and expertise as I enter the program. Finally, the location and school atmosphere evoke this sentimental, tight-knit and small-town feel that completely matches my personality and I am excited to experience the social aspect of campus as well."
A standout in the classroom as well, Villarma has a 4.0 GPA. He is the Valedictorian of South Kitsap's 582-student Class of 2015.
"Mason wanted to be a Zag all along," Tyson said. "The senior is one of the best middle distance runners in Washington. He is one of the top 4A leaders this spring in both the 800 meters and 1,600 meters. Mason is the kind of kid who will excel bigtime in the classroom and evolve into a very good runner for Gonzaga! He has great work ethic and is a great young man."
