GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— Colorado Mesa University Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
Travis Floeck has announced the addition of 12 new athletes to the Maverick men's roster for the upcoming 2026-27 seasons.
The Mavericks announced their ten women's recruits on Wednesday.
The group of men's recruits hail from four Western state, including Colorado, which contributes six members to the recruiting class. There are also three from Idaho, two from Arizona and one from Wyoming.
The Coloradoans are
Ayden Casillas of Bayfield,
Nick Clark of
Yampa and
Soroco High School,
Maddox Hubbartt of Colorado Springs and Mitchell High School and
Bode Klein of Fort Collins and Fossil Ridge High School,
Tayber Konrad of Roosevelt and
Kingston Staton of Arvada and
Niwot High School.
The Idaho contingent includes
Daxin Holtzen of Jerome and Canyon Ridge High School,
Waylon Legler of Boise's Capital High School and
Howie Huffman of cross-town rival Boise High School.
Caleb Goldman hails from Coolidge, Arizona and graduated from Valley Christian High School while
Barrett Longacre hails from Queen Creek and is a product of
Casteel High School.
Braylon Gifford represents the state of Wyoming and Natrona County High School in the Maverick recruiting class.
"We strategically brought in a smaller class this year, but we are thrilled we found student-athletes that will make immediate impacts athletically and will have lasting impacts as students and people in our program,"
Floeck said.
Clark, Holtzen, Huffman and Klein are all distance runners, who will also compete for the Maverick cross country team this fall. Casillas, Goldman and Hubbartt are sprinters and hurdlers while Konrad, Legler and
Longacre are throwers.
Gifford will specialize in the jumps while Staton plans to be a multi-eventer.
"We have found high quality student-athletes that will contribute across all the event areas and will support our mission to have a highly competitive and comprehensive program within the RMAC and nationally,"
Floeck said.
Full biographies on each of the Maverick newcomers in alphabetical order can be found below.
Prep: 2026 graduate of Bayfield High School… Coached by Joshua Walton… Was the 3A State Champion in the 100 meters with a PR time of 10.74… Also set the Wolverines' school record in the 200 with a time of 21.88 at the Montrose Invitational… Placed third in that event at the state meet… Also helped set the Wolverines' record in the 4x200-meter relay… Was named as the Intermountain League Athlete of the Year… Was also a state qualifier in 2024 and 2025.
Personal: Is majoring in fire science… Plans to go for two more years as a business major… Son of Meliss and Arthur Casillas… Has a younger brother— Colton… Loves to run, workout, play a variety of sports like track, football, soccer and pickleball, volleyball and pretty much anything that's active.
Why I Chose CMU: "Because of the great track program, it is affordable and close to home."
Nick Clark (6-0, Distance, Yampa, Colo./Soroco HS)
Prep: Placed second at the 2A State Cross Country Championships as a senior in the fall of 2025… Won the Region 5 title… Placed third at regionals and ninth at state as a junior in 2024 before going on to take 14th at the Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional… Placed sixth in the 3,200 and also qualified for state in the 1,600 in his 2026 senior track season… Won the Western Slope League titles in both the 1,600 and 3,200 as a junior… Set PR times of 4:38.41 and 9:59.76 in those events in 2025.
Personal: Is majoring in criminology… Wants to become a crime scene investigator and potentially continue his running career after college… Son of Angel and Thorne Clark… Has two older siblings— Skyler and McKenzie… Enjoys playing video games and loves to ski, mountain bike, run and build Legos.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of Its proximity to home, the criminology program, the cross-country and track program and the weather."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Natrona County High School… Was the 4A West Regional Champion in both the long and triple jumps for the Mustangs and Coach Robert Cogdill… Was the state runner-up in the long jump after matching his PR of 23-4… Also placed fourth in the triple jump… Won the long jump at seven straight meets as a senior… Was the state runner-up in both jumping events at the 2026 indoor state meet… Finished seventh in the long jump and 11th in the triple jump at the 2025 outdoor state championships as a junior.
Personal: Is majoring in kinesiology… Son of Sean and Amber Gifford… Has two brothers— Brett Gilfrod and Ian Iselin… Aspires to be able to help people while continuing to challenge myself and grow as a professional.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because I left the visit feeling great about the choice I had in front of me. The coaches were great to talk to, the facilities were super impressive, and most of all the jumpers I was able to meet were very welcoming and their community was something I almost immediately could see myself thriving in."
Caleb Goldman (5-8, Hurdles, Coolidge, Ariz./Valley Christian HS)
Prep: 2026 graduate of Valley Christian High School… Won the AIA Division IV title in the 300-meter hurdles in 2026 for the Trojans… Also took second in the 110-meter hurdles… Went on to take fourth at the AIA State Championships in the 300 and seventh in the 110… Had PR times of 14.11 and 37.92 earlier in his senior season… Placed second in both hurdling distances as a junior at the AIA Division IV Championships while qualifying for the state championships… Was the Trojans' MVP on two occasions… Also won the Total Release Award.
Personal: Is majoring in construction management… Son of Danna and Nathan Goldman… Wants to become an lineman electrician… Enjoys playing sports, working out and hanging with friends.
Why I Chose CMU: "They have great programs and lineman electrician programs that other universities don't have as well as a great track team.
Daxin Holtzen (6-0, Fr., Distance, Jerome, Idaho/Canyon Ridge HS)
Prep: 2026 graduate of Canyon Ridge High School… Ran for Coach Marily Takrelson and the River Hawks… Set PR times of 1:54.58 (800) and 4:20.74 (1600) to finish fifth and eight at the 6A Idaho State Track & Field Championships as a senior… Won the district title in the 800 while placing second in the 1600… Had a 3,200 PR time of 9:36.64… Placed third in the district championships in both the 800 and 1600 as a junior to qualify for the 2025 state meet in both events… Won the district title in the 3200 while also qualifying for state in that meet… Placed third at the district championships in cross country before taking 20th at nationals as a senior… Was sixth at the district level and 63rd at state as a junior… Placed 12th at state before winning the NXR Northwest Regional Title as a sophomore in 2023.
Personal: Is majoring in business and wants to become a field man and crop consultant.
Why I Chose CMU: "The team, the coach, and the area was super inviting and seemed like the right fit for me."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Mitchell High School… Was an all-state sprinter for the Mauraders as both a junior and senior and coaches Joshua Browning and Bernard Melvin… Was the team's MVP in both 2025 and 2026 as well… Set PR times of 10.71 (100) and 21.78 (200) as a senior… Finished fourth at the state championships with that 200-meter time… Placed seventh in the 100… Also qualified for state in the 400 after posting a PR time of 50.26… Finished 11th in the 200 at the state meet as a junior.
Personal: Originally hails from Las Vegas, Nevada… Son of Ashley Hubbartt… Is majoring in kinesiology and wants to become a physical therapist and help athletes going through injuries.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of the campus and because of Coach (Tim) Reetz. While talking to him and looking at the campus and environment, it looked like the place I wanted to be."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Boise High School… Coached by Aaron Olswanger and the Bison… Was named as the team's athlete of the year and most improved runner of the year… Finished seventh in the 1,600 and 12th in the 800 at the Idaho State Championships… Set PR times of 1:56.79 and 4:19.28… Was a Nike Outdoor Nationals Qualifier in the 800…. Finished 31st at the state championships in cross country after taking 13th at the District III meet earlier in his 2025 senior season… Also ran at the NXR Northwest Regional Championships.
Personal: Is majoring in kinesiology… Son of Shawnda and Dave Huffman… Enjoys guitar, basketball, skiing, rock climbing and fishing.
Why I Chose CMU: "I liked the people a lot."
Bode Klein (6-0, Distance, Fort Collins, Colo./Fossil Ridge)
Prep: 2026 graduate of Fossil Ridge High School… Coached by Dani Cook… Earned First Team All-Northern League honors in track as a senior in 2026 after taking second at the league championships in the 1,600 meters… Set a PR of 4:23.84 just a week earlier… Had a PR of 1:55.13 to win the 800 at the Pomona Invitational… Qualified for state in that event, placing 13th… Was a Nike Outdoor Nationals Qualifier in both the 800 and mile… Earned first team all-conference honors in cross country as a senior (2025) after earning second team honors as a junior in 2024… Helped the Sabercats qualify for the state championship three straight seasons.
Personal: Is majoring in kinesiology… Hopes to become a physical therapist… Son of Gelsey and Kipp Klein… Has three younger siblings— Cruze, Flynn and Brecken… Likes to be outdoors doing activities such as hiking, biking and just hanging with friends.
Why I Chose CMU: "The campus was super cool and seemed like a place I could excel both academically and athletically."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Roosevelt High School… Coached by Daniel Joiner… Placed third in the shot put at the state championships as a senior with a PR throw of 57-2… Also set a PR discus throw of 139-6 that season… Also placed third at state in the shot put as a junior… Was a 2-time first team all-state, 2-time all-conference and 2-time academic all-state honoree… Was the Male Roughrider of the Year in 2026… Was the team's field athlete of the year for three straight seasons from 2024-26.
Personal: Is majoring in construction management… Aspires to own a company and following in the footsteps of his father… Son of Robert and Christine Konrad… Has a younger sister— Adalaide.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of the many opportunities offered both academically and athletically. I saw myself in the rings, weight room and on campus during my visit. I really liked the coaching staff and a lot of my personal values matched with the staff. The campus is beautiful and offers so much room for growth, personal discovery, outdoor activities and so much more."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Boise High School… Coached by Rob Rathbun… Placed third in the shot put and fifth in the discus throw at the Idaho 6A State Championships as a senior in 2026… Set a PR throw of 162-2 in the discus at the state meet… Finished third at the District 3 Championships in both… Won the Boise City Meet in both events… Qualified for state in both events as a sophomore and junior as well… Finished third at state in the shot put as a junior after taking fifth as a sophomore… Has a PR of 57-7.5 in that event.
Personal: Is majoring in kinesiology… Wants to become a mobility specialist and to help people understand and free their bodies… Son of Jake and Sarah… Likes to hike, bike an just generally going outside.
Why I Chose CMU: "It is a competitive college with a will to succeed in your won individual way in a beautiful place."
Prep: 2026 graduate of Casteel High School… Threw the javelin for Colts… Coached by Kyle Justice… Placed 21st at the AIA State Championships as a senior… Had a PR throw of 164-9 early in the season.
Personal: Is majoring in construction management… Son of Sarah and Blake Longacre… Has two siblings— Morgan and Sloan… Morgan plays soccer at Miami (Ohio)… Loves to be active and hang out with friends.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of the nice weather and the amazing location of Grand Junction."
Prep: Helped the Niwot Cougars to win the state championships in both his junior and senior seasons (2025-26) after placing second in his freshman and sophomore teams… Was part of the team's state championship squad in the 4x400-meter relay as a senior… Also finished eighth in the 300-meter hurdles while qualifying for state in the triple jump and 110-meter hurdles… Earned all-state honors… Set personal-best marks of 50.39 (400m), 14.48 (110 Hurdles) and 45-1 (triple jump) as a senior… Scored 4,799 points in the decathlon to finish 10th at the 2025 Great Southwest Classic… Had finished fifth in the 300 hurdles at the CHSAA State Championships that year… Also earned a wide variety of academic awards and honors as a leading member of Niwot Jazz Band and Orchestra.
Personal: Is undecided upon a major but has interests in music and business… Could see him being in the field of creative marketing… Son of Jamie and Torrey Staton… Has three older siblings— Olivia Poland, Zion Acosta and Maysie Dominguez… Is a musician and plays and produces music… Enjoys fashion and outdoorsy activities.
Why I Chose CMU: "It was the best decision for me considering location, cost, and athletics and I feel like it is going to be a great place for me to develop as an athlete and as a person."
