"I'm expecting a smooth transition into college running for (him)." "He understands the culture and dedication that it takes for a team to achieve high goals." "Won almost every race he ran during his senior year." "He has the tools to help our team at the championship level." "Has proven that he's prepared for college success." "Has the tools to run fast at the collegiate level." "Will be an awesome addition to our team and culture." "Has some great potential for running fast at the collegiate level."
 
With kids everywhere headed back to school, take a moment to remember those worksheets in which you drew a line between matching pairs. For instance, if one side featured the names of shapes and the other side drawings of shapes, you would draw a line between the word "circle" and the shape O. Chico State cross country coach Gary Towne inspired that illustration with the quotes he provided for the eight newest members of his men's roster.
 
Drake Nienow, Matthew Gordon, Ethan Crouch, Anders Beil, Travis Selby, Edgar Ortega, Jayden Olea and Kyle Stevens are all joining the program in the fall of 2021. All eight quotes portend exciting stuff, no matter how one draws the line.
 
It has been nearly two years since the Wildcats took home a third-place trophy at the NCAA Championships at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Fifteen student-athletes remain from the team that. Wyatt Baxter, Jack Emanuel, Rory Abberton and Matthew Herrera were in uniform that day. With this announcement, the reinforcements have officially arrived.
 
What follows is a brief look at each of the eight new Wildcats, in alphabetical order, along with Towne's quote about that specific student-athlete:
 
Ethan Crouch
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Foothill Tech High School
Hometown: Ventura California
 
Coach Towne Comments
"Ethan has a really nice blend of speed and strength having notched solid PR's (personal records) from the 800 meters on the track,  to the five-kilometer distance in cross country. Ethan also helped his team win a state cross country title during his junior year, so he understands the culture and dedication that it takes for a team to achieve high goals."
 
High School Highlights
Helped lead Foothill Tech to the D4 state championship with his 14^th-place finish (15:48 PR) as a junior…. Got off to a blazing start on the track, recording PRs of 52 seconds in the 400 meters, 1:57 in the 800 meters, and 9:38 in the 3,200 meter distances before the rest of the season was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
Personal Best Marks
800m: 1:57
1600m: 4:39
3200m: 9:38
5k XC: 15:48
 
Matthew Gordon
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Galena High School
Hometown: Reno, Nevada
 
Coach Towne Comments
"I feel as though Matthew has flown under the radar a bit in coming from Nevada, and of course due to the lack of racing due to COVID-19. When looking at his racing resume though, you'll see that Matthew has been winning state titles since his sophomore year, and won almost every race that he ran during his senior year. I'm extremely excited to work with Matthew on continuing his winning ways at the collegiate level."
 
High School Highlights
Arguably the top male distance runner in the state of Nevada during his senior year…Went undefeated in 10 races between the 1600- and 3,200-meter distances, winning regional titles in each…Recorded PR's at 800 meters (2:00), 1,600 meters (4:27), and 3,200 meters (9:41) during his senior season (all at altitude)…Won regional and state cross country titles as a sophomore…Won regional cross country titles as a junior and senior…Unable to add to his state title haul as a senior due to COVID…On the track, Gordon finished third in the state 3,200-meter final as a sophomore.. His junior season was lost to COVID…Won regional titles in the 1,600- and 3,200-meters as a senior.
 
Personal Best Marks
800m: 2:00
1600: 4:28
3200m: 9:41
 
Drake Nienow
Year: Sophomore
Previous Schools: Westlake High School and Moorpark Community College
Hometown: Westlake Village
 
Coach Towne Comments
"Drake enjoyed a breakout track season during his senior year at Westlake HS, and continued that momentum with his fifth-place finish at the California State Cross Country Championships while at Moorpark Community College. I am confident that he has the tools to help our team at the championship level as he transitions into our program."
 
High School and Community College Highlights
Ran a personal-record 14:52 over three miles at the Woodbridge Invitational during senior season at Westlake High School…During his senior season on the track, recorded PR's at 800 meters (2:00), 1,600 meters (4:26), and 3,200 meters (9:28)…In his lone year at Moorpark Community College, notched a pair of cross country meet titles, including the Western State Conference Championships, and finished fifth at the California Community College State Championships.
 
Personal Best Marks
1500m: 4:05.14
3000m: 9:02.97
5000m: 15:21.34
 
Anders Beil
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Central Catholic High School
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
 
Coach Towne Comments
"Anders hails from the high powered Central Catholic program that has won many state cross country titles over the years. Coach (Dave) Frank has done a wonderful job of preparing Anders for collegiate racing and training, so I'm expecting a smooth transition into college running for Anders."
 
High School Highlights
Finished 27^th at the Oregon State Cross Country Championship during his junior season, crossing the line in a five-kilometer PR of 15:47…His senior season was highlighted by a 23^rd-place finish in 15:54 at the Rose City Championship Invitational, which essentially served as the Oregon High School state meet, due to COVID restrictions…Recorded a three-kilometer personal best of 8:59 during his sophomore season. Concluded his senior year with a third-place finish in the three-kilometer race at the Mt. Hood Conference Championships.
 
Personal Best Marks
800m: 2:05
3000m: 8:59
5k XC: 15:47
 
Jayden Olea
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Sanger High School
Hometown: Sanger
 
Coach Towne Comments 
"I have been most impressed with Jayden's true passion for the sport or running. The country was locked down and there were no competitions to speak of as I began recruiting Jayden. During this time Jayden and his teammates were training hard and running some fast time trials. All of those miles and workouts logged during that down period helped him net personal records at all distances on the track when he returned to competition in the spring. At the college level, much of one's success depends on true passion for being as good as you can be. Jayden has proven that he's prepared for college success and we're excited to have him aboard."
 
High School Highlights
Olea placed fourth in the County/Metro Athletic Conference (CMAC) cross country championships as a junior before COVID wiped out his junior track season…An abbreviated senior season resulted in seven top-five performances in seven tries, including a 16:07 five-kilometer PR at Woodward Park…Enjoyed a productive track season that saw PRs at all distances, including a 1:59 for 800 meters, a 4:21 over 1,600 meters, and a 9:29 finish in the 3,200 meters.
 
Personal Best Marks
800m: 1:59
1600m: 4:21
3200m: 9:29
 
Edgar Ortega
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Martin Luther King High School
Hometown: Riverside
 
Coach Towne Comments 
"Edgar did a lot of research into our school and program before committing to Chico, as he really wanted to be surrounded by good people and in a supportive climate. Edgar has the tools to run fast at the collegiate level and we look forward to helping him achieve some high goals."
 
High School Highlights
Ortega's big breakthrough came on the track during his sophomore season at the Big 8 Championships where he finished third in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:21…Recorded a five-kilometer cross country PR of 16:01 at the Desert Vista Twilight during his junior cross country campaign…A COVID-shortened senior cross country campaign featured five top-three finishes in five meets…Ortega finished his senior year of track with PRs in the mile (4:19.0) and 3,2000 meters (9:36).  
 
Personal Best Marks
1600m: 4:17
3200m: 9:36
5k XC: 16:01
 
Travis Selby
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Nevada Union High School
Hometown: Nevada City
 
Coach Towne Comments 
"I've known Travis since he was born. His father ran for Chico State and was my first assistant coach when I took the job at Chico State in 1996. It's pretty surreal to know that I'll have the opportunity to work with Travis as he establishes himself as a collegiate student-athlete. Travis is a standout student, a fan of the sport, and a mature young man who will be an awesome addition to our team and culture."
 
High School Highlights
Excelled at the longer distances, placing third at the Foothill Valley League Cross Country Championships and sixth at the sub-sectional race a week later as a junior...Capped his senior season with a win on his home course at the Nevada Union Invitational…On the track, recorded a 3,200-meter time of 9:44 as a sophomore, and concluded his senior year with 4:33 and 9:33 clocking's in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter events respectively.
 
Personal Best Marks
1600m: 4:33
3200m: 9:33
5k XC: 16:20
 
Kyle Stevens
Year: Freshman
Previous School: Canyon Country High School
Hometown: Canyon Country
 
Coach Towne Comments 
"Kyle is a talented runner who notched some big PRs during his senior track season. From what I have seen I believe Kyle has some great potential for running fast at the collegiate level." 
 
High School Highlights
As a cross country runner Stevens claimed the Santa Clarita Valley Cross Country Invitational and later recorded a 12^th-place finish at the CIF Prelims during his junior season…Senior year was lost due to COVID...During his sophomore season on the track, Stevens ran to impressive PRs of 4:30 in the 1,600 meters and 10:00 in the 3,200 before losing the next to COVID. As a senior, record PRs of 4:28 (1,600) and 9:33 (3,200) and won Foothill League titles in both events.
 
Personal Best Marks
1600m: 4:28
3200m: 9:33