Wayne State University Athletics

Men's Cross Country 12/18/2023 8:32:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Cross Country Adds Two For 2024 Season

Martini and Muraszewski will be Warriors this fall.

DETROIT -- Wayne State University head cross country coach Grant Lofdahl has announced the addition of two high school student-athletes for the 2024 season. Joining the Warriors in the fall of 2024 will be Samuel Martini (Casnovia, Mich. / Kent City) and Ethan Muraszewski (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica).

"We have known about Sam since his sister Layla joined our team, and he was a very good runner since his freshman year of high school," remarked Lofdahl. "He is willing to put in the extraordinary amount of work throughout the year that it takes to be an elite runner, and when you combine that with some natural ability and some toughness, you get someone who's placed in the top-20 at state cross country finals three times. He is an excellent student as well, and having crossed the line first in well over 20 races so far, he is a runner who knows how to win."
"Ethan has been one of the better runners in Macomb County for a while, and he will be a great asset to our program," commented Lofdahl. "He is all-in with the distance running lifestyle and has shown steady improvement at the prep level, as well as some resiliency in coming back from injury during his junior season. Besides his talent as a runner, he is a positive and outgoing young man who will help make us better with his work ethic and leadership characteristics. We're excited to add him to the mix next fall."

Samuel Martini, 6-0/153, Casnovia, Mich. / Kent City
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Kent City High School ... competed in both cross country and track for head coaches Jill Evers (cross country) and Jeff Wilson (track) ... the Eagles secured four consecutive top-five team finishes (2020-23) at the Central State Activities Association cross country championships during high school career ... won the MHSAA Division 3 Regional cross country meet as a sophomore after placing third as a freshman ... finished second his last two years (2022 and 2023) ... competed at the state cross country meet his final three seasons placing 18th, sixth and fifth earning All-State recognition ... set a personal best time of 15:55.8 at the 2023 Jayhawk Elite Blue and Yellow Invite ... participated at the MHSAA Division 3 state track meet first three years at KCHS - 4x800m relay in 2021; sixth in the 3200m race both in 2022 and 2023 ... received All-State honors for his individual finishes in the 3200m races ... received seven varsity letters thus far ... earned a 4.0 GPA and was named Academic All-State seven times.

Personal: Full Name -- Samuel J. Martini ... born on September 25, 2006, in Kent City, Mich. ... son of James and Haejung Martini ... has one older sister, Layla, who is a junior currently on the WSU women's cross country and track and field teams ... is undecided on academic major.

Ethan Muraszewski, 5-10/147, Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica
High School: Will be a 2024 graduate of Utica High School ... was a four-year cross country letterwinner for the Chieftains ... qualified for the MHSAA Division 1 state meet as a freshman after running a season-best time of 17:57.7 in the regional meet ... also qualified for the state meet as a sophomore ... competed in the Michigan Meet of Champions in both 2021 and 2023 ... also competed in track and field for UHS ... participated in the 3200m race at the MHSAA Regional meet as a freshman running a season-best time of 10:29.8 ... competed in the 3200m race each of the next two years at the Regional meet ... was a multi-year team captain in both sports.

Personal: Full name -- Ethan R. Muraszewski ... born on July 29, 2006, in Royal Oak, Mich. ... son of Chaz and Susan Muraszewski ... has an older brother, Caleb, and a younger sister, Siene ... plans to major in Sports Science and Nutrition ... last name is pronounced meer-uh-ze-ski.

WSU will lose three four-year letterwinners to graduation in three-time All-American Ransom Allen, along with Jeremy Cavallo and 2021 All-American Zac Truman.

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Players Mentioned

Ransom Allen: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Jeremy Cavallo: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Zac Truman: 5' 11"; Redshirt Fifth Year

Layla Martini: Distance; 5' 5"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Players Mentioned

Ransom Allen
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Jeremy Cavallo
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student

Zac Truman
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Fifth Year

Layla Martini
: 5' 5"; Junior; 3-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Distance