A fifth Wayne High senior has put pen to paper and signed to compete at the collegiate level.
After being rescheduled due to weather originally planned on Febraury 17, Kasen York was joined by his family and teammates earlier this week on Monday and will pursue the sport of cross country and track & field at Doane University in Crete.
York highlighted his thoughts on choosing Doane.
“The coaches just kind of reached out and I took a visit,” said York. “I ran with the team and honestly it was everything I was looking for. The environment was nice, the people and the coaches they really seemed like they wanted to help.”
York plans to study psychology and become a traveling therapist for athletics and has found interest in psychology. He’ll be running cross country along with indoor and outdoor track for the 800-meter, one-mile and two-mile.
York added that past Wayne alum and current Doane Tiger sophomore Laura Hasemann was key in his signing.
“She’ll be my future teammate,” York added. “So, it was kind of easier to go run with the team when she was down there. She kind of introduced me to everybody and made the experience better.”
York joined the Wayne High boys cross country team finishing 10th as a team during the Class C Championships in Kearney this past fall. It was an experience he’ll cherish spending with his ‘boys’ while having a fun time and helping his teammates strive.
He mentioned coach Terry Beair and Courtney Maas brought different aspects but both led York to where he is at today.
“They’re pushing you to get better,” York mentioned. “It’s honestly been a great experience running for the high school team and the coaches are just phenomenal.”
York has always enjoyed running, competing in middle school in Omaha before moving to Wayne entering his high school career.
Now that it’s track season, the Wayne High girls and boys track & field team will be opening their season on Saturday, March 22 at Wayne State College as York talked about the runners working on training their lungs and legs while pushing the lactic acid.
York has also had distance running coach Christina Dutcher in class since sophomore year.
“She’s there to help and push the whole squad to our limits,” said York. “She’s got a lot of knowledge and it’s been really helpful having her as a coach.”
Since competing on the Blue Devil boys wrestling team this past winter, Kasen York couldn’t make a few recent camps but Doane will be sending out individual training plans.
Other signees so far have been Gavin Redden (WSC baseball), Lindsay Niemann (Peru State women’s bowling), Joslyn Johnson (Peru State women’s golf) and Jaden Dramse (Midland football).
