That’s because Negaunee High School standout Endla Harris will join the Wildcats after making the U.P. Dream Team in 2019 and 2022 and First Team all four of her high school season.

In track and field, which Harris expects to double up in at NMU as many Northern harriers do during the winter and spring, Harris was all-state in the 3,200-meter run from 2021 through to this spring and all-state in the 1,600 in 2021 and 2022.

Planning to major in psychology, Harris answered this way when asked why she chose NMU: “I decided to attend NMU because it’s a school that provides plenty of academic and recreation opportunities.”

This group of 12 coming to NMU includes 11 from Michigan and one from Minnesota. The in-state contingent also includes another U.P. runner, Attica Brandt of Stephenson.

Negaunee's Endla Harris finishes in sixth place in the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals in girls cross country at the Richer farm in Flat Rock on Oct. 22. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

She was a three-time all-state cross country and four-time all-state track and field athlete at Menominee High School. She won the Great Northern Conference title in the 1,600 and was part of the Maroons winning 1,600 relay in 2021, while she was Division 1 regional champ in the 1,600 this spring.

Brandt was named Outstanding Female Athlete at Menominee and earned two other MHS awards — Barbara Silverthorne Memorial Award for outstanding senior athletes and Bobby Anderson Award for character and kindness in athletics.

She plans to be on both cross country and track teams at NMU and major in art and design. Why she chose NMU: “I felt a connection to the coaches and the team when I visited NMU. It felt like home and I also love Marquette.”

Here are sketches of the 10 others also coming to Marquette.

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Negaunee's Endla Harris approaches the finish line in sixth place in the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals in girls cross country at the Richer farm in Flat Rock on Oct. 22, 2022. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Isabella Beck — From Shelby Township and Eisenhower High School, she was second team all-county and All-Macomb County runner in track, also making the Mac Red all-division team.

Also to be a track member at NMU, she plans to major in fisheries and wildlife management. Why she chose NMU: “They had the major I wanted, the campus is beautiful, and I had an opportunity to run.”

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Petra Foote — From Rapid City and the Grand Traverse Academy, she received MHSAA Division 4 all-state honors in 2021 and 2022.

Also an NMU track athlete, Foote will major in social work. Her reasons for coming to NMU: “I fell in love with the environment and the school’s culture — it felt the most like home. As well, NMU offered the flexibility and affordability that I needed to reach my degree.”

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Lamar Gordon — A graduate of Two Harbors, Minnesota, High School, she was two-time all-state in the 3,200 relay, the mile and the 1,600 relay. Gordon received all-conference honors multiple times in each of the three events as well as earning section champion multiple times in each.

In cross country, she was named all-conference in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Another NMU track members, she plans to major in environmental studies. Why she chose NMU: “I liked the location, the team and coaches and my academic department.”

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Regan Hill — A graduate of Cadillac High School, she was named all-conference and all-region in cross country and all-conference in track while being part of a track regional championship team.

Also joining the NMU track team, she will major in political science. Why she chose NMU: “The Marquette area is beautiful and full of things to do outdoors. From my visit, I could tell that the coaches and team created a fun but competitive atmosphere that I knew I wanted to be a part of.”

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Amelia Kashian — This graduate of Brighton High School was a three-time cross country and track all-conference selection. She was also named all-region in cross country and three times in track. Kashian finished with all-state honors in track, as her 3,200 relay team finished fifth in the MHSAA Division 1 Lower Peninsula finals.

A member of the Wildcats track team, she plans to major in multimedia journalism. Why she chose NMU: “The environment was so peaceful and welcoming when I visited. The views are stunning, the team is closely bonded and the campus immediately felt like home.”

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Lana Mac — A graduate of South Lyon High School, she was all-state in the 3,200 relay in track with the Michigan Racers. She was named Lakes Valley all-conference in track from 2021 through this spring and in cross country in 2021 and 2022.

Mac was also selected all-region in the 400 in track in 2022 and this spring.

She will also be a member of the Northern track team and plans to major in art and design. Why she chose NMU: “I decided to come to NMU because I loved the emphasis of getting outside your comfort zone and exploring the outdoors. I absolutely love the up-north vibe Northern gives me. I also love the Art & Design building and the program.”

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Ava Maginity — A graduate of Boyne City High School, she earned all-state, all-conference and all-region every high school year in cross country. In track, she was named all-state this spring in the 800 and 1,600, all-conference in 2022 and this spring and all-region from 2021 through this spring.

Maginity also earned all-conference and all-region in soccer in 2021 and this spring was named Boyne City Female Athlete of the Year.

She will join the NMU track team and plans to major in nursing. Why she chose NMU: “I thought that NMU was a great academic and athletic experience as well as life experiences for me. The outdoors have no comparison to any other colleges in Michigan. I believe great people come out of this school by the environment that it is in.”

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Gianna Schubert — From Livonia and a graduate of Father Gabriel Richard High School, she received all-state honors in the 3,200 relay in 2022 in track. She was named all-conference and all-region in 2022 and all-conference in 2023.

In cross country, Schubert was also named all-conference and all-region from 2020-22.

Also to be a member of the Wildcats’ track team, she plans to major in biology. Why did you choose NMU? “The atmosphere and feel of NMU, as well as the city of Marquette is so inviting; from helpful staff at the college to friendly business owners, it is hard to find an instance in which I did not feel welcomed. The pristine and beautiful location creates an experience like no other and it further increases the depth in which I can study biology. The opportunities for growth in leadership and a future career available made me confident that this is where my path went next.”

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Dani Van Lente — From Marshall and a graduate of the Marshall Academy, she received the 2021 MHSAA Division 4 all-state award in the 3,200 in track. She earned all-region honors from 2020-22 in cross country.

Van Lente will join the NMU track team and major in fisheries and wildlife management. Why choose NMU: “NMU offered degrees of study that I was interested in while still being a smaller campus. I also love the outdoors so the opportunity to go to college in one of the most beautiful parts of the state drew me to Northern Michigan.”

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Hilary Way — A graduate of Charlevoix High School, she was all-state in the 3,200 relay and two-time all-conference. She plans to major in psychology. Why did you choose NMU? “The amazing trails surrounding the area.”

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.