Three Committ to Tusculum Cross Country Program

L/R – Jacob Cutshall, Sierra Hanson, Caleb Cutshall
Photo Submitted by Dom Donnelly, Tusculum Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations

Three student-athletes from Daniel Boone High School have committed to attend Tusculum College and compete on the Pioneer cross country team announced TC head coach Cory Pratt.

Joining the Pioneers this coming fall are Jacob Cutshall, Sierra Hanson and Caleb Cutshall.  The Trailblazer trio was coached by Len Jeffers.  On the boys’ side, the Trailblazers finished runner-up at the TSSAA State Championship on two occasions (2012, 2013), while capturing two region titles (2012, 2013) and three conference championships (2011, 2012, 2013).

Jacob Cutshall, a 5-6, 135-pound native of Jonesborough, Tenn., earned All-Conference honors twice and was a 2013 All-Region honoree.  His personal best 5K time is 17:03 and also boasts a 1,600 meter time of 4:44. He also was a two-time sectional qualifier in the 1600 meters and was a two-time state qualifier in wrestling.  Jacob is the son of Jonathan and Stacy Bledsoe.

“Jacob is a guy who gets really excited when talking about running,” said Coach Pratt.  “He will bring a lot of good energy to our men’s program. He is not only a talented runner, but a hard worker in the classroom.”

Hanson, a 5-11 runner from Jonesborough, Tenn., lettered four years on the DBHS cross country team, including her freshman campaign as the Trailblazers advanced to the State championship.  She has posted a personal-best time of 23:17.50 in the 5,000 meters and a one-mile time of 6:26.41.  Sierra is the daughter of Misty and Steven Norton.

“I’m very excited to have Sierra join our women’s program,” added Pratt.  “She has shown a lot of toughness coming back from nagging injuries. She is on her way to getting healthy, and will be a great asset to our team.”

Caleb Cutshall, a 5-10, 140-pound product from Fall Branch, Tenn., owns a personal best 5K time of 16:54 and contributed to this year runner-up team finish at the State championship.

“We are very fortunate to have Caleb on board. He has a great work ethic, and is passionate about this sport. He is also a model student, and will be a great addition to our campus,” Pratt said.

Tusculum College, located in Greeneville, Tenn., is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, USA and is a NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference.  Tusculum, the oldest college in the State of Tennessee, sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, including women’s lacrosse, which will be competing in its first season during the 2014-2015 academic year. 

Tusculum, the 28th oldest college in the nation, is a liberal arts institution committed to providing a liberal arts education in a Judeo-Christian and civic arts environment, with pathways for career preparation, personal development and civic engagement. Approximately twenty-one hundred students are enrolled on the main campus in Greeneville and three off-site locations in East Tennessee. The academic programs for both traditional-aged students and working adults served through the Graduate and Professional Studies program are delivered using focused calendars whereby students enroll in one course at a time.