May. 18– Concordia cross country coach Jonathan Breitbarth has announced the signing of five student-athletes that will run for the Bears in 2006.  Joining the roster will be Lauren Castillo, Megan Fulton, Sandra James, Danielle Stewart and Daniel Schield.

Castillo, a senior from Colfax, Wis., has earned four letters in cross country, three in track and three in basketball.  She is a three-time all-conference performer in cross country and six-time all-conference winner in track.  She s a two-time  team MVP in track and won the 800m twice.  She is also a member of the National Honor Society and a scholar-athlete.

Fulton, from Heartland Arrowhead high school in Sussex, Wis., is a two-time all-conference performer in cross country and a member of the 2004 4X800 state champion relay team.  She has earned eight letters in cross country and track combined.  Fulton is a member of the National Honor Society and in the upper 10% of her class.

James comes to Concordia University from Concordia Academy in Roseville.  She has earned three letters in cross country and four in track.  She was all-conference in cross country and won a distinguished academic achievement award in cross country and track.  She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society.

Stewart, from Flambeau high school in Tony, Wis., is a three-time all-conference performer in cross country and qulaified for the state meet in 2005.  She is a four-time letterwinner in cross country, four in softball and two in basketball.  She is a member of the National Honor Society.

Schield has eight letters in cross country, track and field and nordic skiing.  He is  all-conference performer in 2004 and 2005 and qualified for the state cross country meet in 2005.  He was team captain in both cross country and track. 

The Concordia cross country team will open the 2006 season with a roster that includes 17 women and nine men, the largest team ever fielded by the Golden Bears.  They will open competition on September 2nd at the St. Mary's Meet in Winona, MN.