They each have their own story relative to the paths they have walked to make their way to the United Military Academy Preps School (USMAPS). And before you know it, they will find themselves as first year cadets (aka plebes) at West Point, making up one of the top track & field recruiting classes that Army has assembled in some time.

But it wasn't their "walk" that turned heads this past Friday and Saturday on April 26th & 27th respectively, as the prep school's 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams set the Penn Relays on fire in the High School Boys Prep School Independent Category.

So much that both relay teams broke meet records that had not been touched since 1939. Yes 1939 ... as the old records came tumbling down to the sizzling performance by the prepsters. Surprised? Not for those who have been watching these two quartets perform all season.

The 4x100 team went undefeated through this year's track campaign, while the only lose handed to the 4x400 crew came against an unattached team in the Big Shea Open.

The 4x100 crew consisted of leadoff man Nicholas Beavers, followed by blazer Abraham Hall, who was named 2011-12 Gatorade National Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year, then Kyle Wolffe and anchored by Jose Santana.


While the 4x400 group saw one change in personnel from the aforementioned 4x100 group. Again it was Beavers jump starting the crew, followed by highly touted Army football recruit and wide receiver, Xavier Moss, along with Hall running the 3rd leg and Santana closing the door as the anchor.

"For sure ... after we saw the record we knew we had a good chance to break it with out talent," shared Moss relative to the record being within reach and whose sentiments were echoed by Beavers.

"We had an idea, but we always want to shoot for our best and we want to compete with the best," stated Beavers afterwards. "So we had an idea that there was a record and that we could possibly break it. But we were just focused on improving our personal record and focused on the mission at hand which was to improve and not get beat."

"Our coach told us the day before that we have the potential to be the best team West Point ever had," acknowledges Wolffe. "We were excited before the race, but we also said to each other ... let's be humble, let's compete and of course we prayed as we always do before we run."

Needless to say, when this crew arrives to on the academy campus the most heralded of the group is the aforementioned Hall. But as the "record(s)" show .... all of these tracksters will need to be reckoned with, individually, as well as a team.

For Moss, the Army football fans are looking forward to the talented wideout adding immediate value to the receiving corp. However, the dual sport athlete is not looking to pack his track gear away upon arrival.

"I had been talking to both the football and track coaches at Army when I was being recruited and they both told me it would be possible to work it out, so I'm definitely going to try to work it out ... play football and run track next year," shared Moss who finished 2nd in the state finals of the 800m (1.49) in the class 5A (largest in Texas) his senior year of high school.

Of course for Moss, the focus now moves from track to football. "Now that track season is over, I can start getting back into the weight room," Moss declared. "Now I can get my weight back up because I lost a little bit in track. I'm currently 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, but I would to come in at 200 pounds, which will allow me to do both."

Although recruited solely for track, Beavers did get a taste of the gridiron at the prep school and could provide an interesting "experiment" for football head coach Rich Ellerson this summer. That is of course is if Ellerson is willing and if Beavers is looking give football a look.

You see, the Madison (Alabama) Bob Jones High School product, whose high school track events included the 110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, triple jump and relays, also played football (running back). At the prep school his primary role was a kick and punt returner.

"I'm not sure if I'm going to play at West Point, although the coaches have talked to me, but track is going so well .... I'll see," shared Beavers, who was offered a track scholarship by Auburn, but opted to give his pledge to West Point.

"I felt that West Point was a change of pace. I was always fascinated with the military. Plus I've always been told that I was a leader and whole purpose of West Point is to shape and mold leaders of character. Along with serving my country and a great future graduating from there."

For Wolffe, who is originally from Trinidad & Tobago and completed high school in the Caribbean while graduating from high school (2009) when he was 16 ... his focus will only be track.

Although he was not recruited for track, it appears that his unique path to USMAPS will have him on course to reaching his potential as a student-athlete at West Point.

That walk for Wolffe started when he moved to the state of Washington in July of 2009 to spend time with his dad, who was in the Army and was injured in a helicopter crash. "Then I joined the Army in 2010, where I spent approximately two years in the Army before I got picked up to come to USMAPS," stated Wolffe.

"One of my commanders was a West Point graduate and I always wanted to attend the academy but never had an opportunity. I was a combat medic and in 2010 I actually came to West Point for medic school for training that they have in the summer. While in the field an officer came up to me and said I should consider coming to West Point, because he felt I had the potential. And that same officer (Major Nunn) is my sponsor right now."

For Wolffe, that was just half the story, because he would eventually see the door to track open up for him as well. "I did track & field, mostly in the Caribbean but I was never serious about it," added Wolffe, whose personal best in the 100m at the prep school is 10.85. "However, because of my schedule back home with school and extra classes I never really had the time because my school was really far from my home. But when I came to USMAPS and I saw my potential."

The Unit

Individually or collectively .... this is a group to keep an eye on for the next four years as the Army track staff continues to rebuild the program.

"To be honest, we have a great team and I would not change my team for anything. The chemistry we have with each other is remarkable," Wolffe said.

"Everybody has something to bring to the table," added Beavers. "You have Moss who can run a 1.49 800; Santana who can run a 46.0 in the 400, Hall who can run a 10.19 100m and Wolffe, who's just an athlete and he gets after it. Everybody has something to contribute and that's the beauty about it."

"Track is the ultimate individual sport, but it's like a team when it comes to scoring points, which is the aspect of the relay. You have to have chemistry and be on one accord sir."