ROME, GA – Coaches Luke Syverson and Paul Deaton announced on Wednesday their men's recruiting class for the 2021-22 season. The class includes 19 incoming Berry freshman and one transfer student-athlete set to join the Vikings in August.  
 
"This is our largest incoming class since restarting the program in 2015" head coach Syverson said.  "It is not only our largest class, but also probably our most accomplished and deepest in talent.  Many of these men will be able to come in and contribute to our SAA Conference placing as freshman.  We are really excited to see what this group will be able to accomplish over the next four years!"
 
Brief bios on the newcomers can be found below:
 
Parker Behrends
Clarksville, GA – Habersham Central High School
Throws (46'8" Shot Put; 116' Discus)
 
Parker is the son of Ray Behrends and grandson of Mary Behrends. He was coached by Jonathan Long.  He was a three-sport varsity lettermen in high school with football, basketball and track.  Parker was All-Region in the Shot Put in 2021 and was a 2021 GHSA State T&F Championship qualifier.  He intends to major in business.
 
Patrick Bollwerk
Taylorsville, GA – Woodland High School
XC/Distance (4:45 1600m; 10:20 3200m; 16:58 XC 5k)
 
Patrick is the son of Tim and Catherine Bollwerk. He was coached by Robert Forbes. He is a four-time qualifier for the GHSA State XC Championships and is a member of the 4x800m, 4x1600m, and DMR school record team.  During his career, Patrick earned Senior MVP and Junior MVP.  He is a Scholar Athlete, Honors Graduate and a member of Beta Club and National Honors Society.  He intends to major in biochemistry at Berry.

Grady Coppock
Pooler, GA – Savannah Christian Prep/Presbyterian College
XC/Distance (4:23 1500m/15:56 XC 5k)
 
Grady is the son of Lorin and Dana Coppock and is a transfer student from D1 Presbyterian College in SC.  As a HS student-athlete, Grady twice finished in the top 10 at the GHSA State XC Championships and was a twice competed at the GHSA State T&F Championships in the 1600m.
 
Kylen Crosby
Alpharetta, GA – Alpharetta High School
Sprints (48.26 400m; 22.30 200m; 11.67 100m)
 
Kylen is the son of Kenneth Crosby and Anika Westerfield-Crosby.  He was coached by Answa Merine and Sean Burnett.  He was the 2021 GHSA 7A State Championships runner-up in the 400m and helped lead his 4x400 team to a state title which gave Alpharetta the 2021 7A Team Title.  He also helped lead his team to Region, Sectional, and the GHSA 6A State Championship titles in 2019.  He has spent 3 years serving as the Wrestling Team Captain and the last two years as the Track Team Captain. Kylen has been involved off the track with Student Council, Debate and Link at Alpharetta.  He intends to major in business or finance while at Berry.
 
Dominick De Lillo
Canton, GA -  Cherokee High School
XC/Distance (1:58 800m; 4:26 1600m; 16:12 XC 5k)
 
Dom is the son of Jennifer Williams and Adam De Lillo.  He was coached by Jonathan Bair, Gregory Anderson, and Rebekah Gay.  He is a two-time GHSA State XC Championship qualifier, 2021 GHSA State T&F Championship qualifier in the 1600m, and was the Cherokee County XC Champion in 2019.  He is a member of the Cherokee HS school record 4x800m and 4x400m relay teams.  Some of his HS accolades include: Cherokee Tribune XC Runner of the Year, CHS Warrior Award, Rising Star Award, and Newcomer of the Year Award.  In the classroom, Dom is a both a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.  He intends to major in electrical engineering.
 
Michael Freeman
Newnan, GA – Trinity Christian School-Sharpsburg
XC/Distance (4:51 1600m; 16:44 XC 5k)
 
Michael is the son of Garrett and Cassie Freeman and brother of current Viking runner David Freeman.  He was coached by JP Weaver.  He is a three-time qualifier for the GISA and GHSA State XC Championships.
 
Peter Ivester
Carrollton, GA – Carrollton High School
XC/Distance (1:59 800m; 17:00 XC 5k)
 
Peter is the son of Andrew and Heather Ivester.  He was coached by Jimmy Sorrells.  Peter was a member of the 2021 GHSA State T&F Championships Runner-Up 4x800m relay team that helped earn Carrollton the 2021 State Team Title this past season.  That same relay team also holds the school record. In the classroom, he is a GA Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction.  He was also first chair Trumpet player on Symphonic Band.  Peter plans to major in chemistry while at Berry.
 
Connor Johnson
Rome, GA – Rome High School
Pole Vault (14'1")
 
Connor is the son of Shayne and Leslie Johnson.  He was coached by Nick Bridges and Hunter Arnold.  Connor was the 2021 City and County PV Champion finishing fourth at the GHSA 6A State T&F Championships.  He holds both the indoor and outdoor school record at RHS.  He plans to major in animal science while at Berry.
 
Jahari Jones
Columbus, GA – Columbus High School
Sprints/Jumps (11.12 100m; 23.42 200m; 49.30 400m; 20'1" LJ; 42'2" TJ)
 
Jahari is the son of Tam Jones and Jeffrey Taylor.  He was coached by Robert Peters and Danielle McCoy.  He was the Region 2-4A Champion in the 400m and finished sixth at the 2021 GHSA State T&F Championships in the event.  In addition to serving as team captain, Jahari also was part of the French Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars at Columbus HS.  He intends to major in exercise science or sports medicine.
Joey Kowalczewski
Calhoun, GA – Gordon Central High School
XC/Distance (2:00 800m; 4:33 1600m; 10:30 3200m; 16:45 XC 5k)
 
Joey is the son of Bruce Kowalczewski and Tina Hefler.  He was coached by Shannon Rainwater.  He finished his HS career with a sixth-place finish at the 2021 GHSA 2A State T&F Championships.  He graduates holding the Gordon Central HS School records in all four distance events.  He was also a qualifier for the GHSA State XC Championships all fourth years. While at GCHS, Joey was named a Scholar-Athlete.  He intends to major in graphic design and/or exercise science.
 
Gianpaolo "GP" Longo
Powder Springs, GA – Harrison High School
XC/Distance (2:04 800m; 4:49 1600m; 7:00 2k Steeple)
 
GP is the son of Paolo and Cynthia Longo.  He was coached by Jason Scott and Kent Simmons during his HS career.  He is both a GHSA State XC and T&F Championship qualifier and earned five varsity letters.  He is a three-time Scholar Athlete award winner at Harrison.  He intends to major in mathematics and geology.
 
Alden McDonald
Evans, GA – Greenbrier High School
Pole Vault (15'1")
 
Alden is the son of Robert and Jenny McDonald.  He was coached by Chris Cutler and Melissa White.  Alden was a four-year letterman in Track & Field for Greenbrier and finished in the top-two of every meet he competed in going back to the beginning of his junior year.  He finished sixth at the 2021 GHSA State T&F Championships and is the No. 6 ranked Vaulter in the state of GA for the 2021 season.  He intends to major in engineering at Berry.
 
Bryan McGuire
Newnan, GA – Trinity Christian School-Sharpsburg
Sprints/Jumps (23.11 200m; 50.87 400m; 40'10" TJ)
 
Bryan is the son of Mike and Lori McGuire.  He was coached by JR Weaver.  He is a three-time qualifier for the GISA and GHSA State T&F Championships in various events.  He helped lead his 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams to a fourth and seventh place finish at the 2021 Championships and is a member of both relay team school records.  He served as Team Captain this year and was involved in Beta Club and Junior Marshall.  Bryan intends to do dual-degree engineering at Berry.
 
Evan Miner
Loganville, GA – Archer High School
XC/Distance (2:07 800m; 4:47 1600m; 10:47 3200m)
 
Evan is the son of Matt and Edilynn Miner.  He was coached by Ethan Kasson and John McCartney at Archer.  He was a two-time GHSA State XC Championships qualifier and member of the Archer 4x800m relay school record team.
 
Nathan Peirsol
Spring Branch, TX – Living Rock Academy
Sprints (11.70 100m; 23.99 200m; 51.68 400m; 2:06 800m)
 
Nathan is the son of Todd and Deanna Peirsol.  He was coached by Codolyous Wilson. He was the 2017 XC State Champion and was the 2021 State Champion in both the 400m and LJ while also finishing second in the 200m and third in the 100m.  He was named both District and State Athlete of the Meet in 2021.  Nathan is Student Body President an on the Student Council.  He is undecided on his major of study. 
 
Hayden Raikes
Upland, IN – Eastbrook High School
Hurdles/High Jump (15.29 110H; 41.74 300H; 6'4 HJ; 11.60 100m)
 
Hayden is the son of Mark and Kristin Raikes.  He was coached by Stuart Goble, Dan King, and Seth Trotter.  In addition to Track, Hayden was successful on the Football field earning Academic All-State in 2020 and helped his team to State Championship appearances in 2018 and 2019.  He served as Team Captain for both Football and Track and has the Eastbrook 110H school record.  He will graduate as class Salutatorian and as Spanish Student of the Year.  He intends to major in psychology, economics, and/or computer science.
 
Joseph Rampey
Fayetteville, GA- Starr's Mill High School
Throws (49'5" Shot Put; 118'1" Discus)
 
Joseph is the son of Philip and Melanie Rampey and was coached by Chad Walker, Guy Serapion, and Andy Smith.  He is a two-time qualifier for the GHSA State T&F Championships in the Shot Put placing 14 in 2019 and eighth in 2021. He was a standout Football player for Starr's Mill and will be representing Berry on the football field in the fall.  In addition to athletics, Joseph was also involved in FCA, History Club and Spanish Club. He intends to major in sports administration.
 
Andrew Rexrode
Shiloh, GA – Harris County High School
Pole Vault (14'1")
 
Andrew is the son of Amy Rexrode.  He was coached by Nathan Chapman.  This past season, he won the Region 2-5A PV title on the way to a fifth place finish at the 2021 GHSA State Championships. He is also the Harris County school record holder in the event.  Off the runway, Andrew was involved in Beta Club, STEAM, NEHS, and S3 club.  He intends to major in dual-degree engineering while at Berry.
 
Jared Weitkamp
Woodstock, GA – Etowah High School
Throws (44'4" Shot Put; 104'1" Discus)
 
Jared is the son of Roger and Cheri Weitkamp and also the brother of current Viking Football Player, Jake Weitkamp. He was coached by Garrett Hurlbert and Barry Stafford. He is a four-time Varsity letterman in Track and was also a Scholar-Athlete.  A member of the Beta Club along with the National English and Math Honor Societies. An accomplished and highly recruited football player, he will represent the Vikings on the field this fall.  He plans on pursuing a dual-degree engineering path at Berry.
 
Marcus Wilson
Duluth, GA – Greater Atlanta Christian School
Hurdles/Sprints (15.59 110H; 41.77 300H; 59.39 400H)
 
Marcus is the son of Elizabeth Wilson and Darrell Watkins.  He was coached by Brad Kinser and Ken Irvin.  Marcus finished third at the 2021 GHSA T&F Championships in the 300H and was also an integral member of the GAC Football program.  He was a Scholar Athlete and member of both the BETA Club and National Honors Society. He intends to major in Animal Science while at Berry.