American's Lenysse Dyer Signs With Tennessee, Joins Teammate Ari Cogdell

The recruiting process for American High School senior Lenysse Dyer was a hectic one. Coach Enrico Knowles was on the phone with coaches from around the country as the two tried to fit in as many visits as possible within a short window of time as Florida's postseason wore on. She says the interest was a gradual increase, but the moment she had an epiphany was before districts.

"I saw coaches come out to meet me. It was pretty crazy, but whats even crazier was before the training or the season started coach Knowles told me all of this would happen."

Dyer, the 4A state runner-up says she visited TCU, University of Illinois, Tennessee, and FIU with Florida and Oklahoma State also on her mind, but by her third visit she knew Knoxville was where she wanted to be.

"Ultimately it was the academic standards and people. They make sure there is NO POSSIBLE way for a student athlete to fail there, the connections they have for the major I am going into (sports management) are amazing and will help me after my time there. The people were do warm and welcoming, I automatically felt at home and knew that going there would be a home away from home for me."

One person to help maintain that feeling of home is current high school teammate and fellow quarter-miler Ari Cogdell who also signed with the Volunteers. Dyer says that Cogdell was extremely helpful in her recruitment and giving insight not just on UT, but on other schools she visited.

"He was looking out for my best interest. He even helped me research the schools that I would visit! He told me that Tennessee has a lot of potential and I would definitely do some amazing things there and that I would really fit in well there! He really made the process easier for me."

Off the track, Dyer graduated high school magna cum laude and has received several awards for her academics including the South Florida High School Scholar Athlete for the month of March. She plans to major in sports management and continue her love for sport long after she graduates and adds that it is important to be a complete student-athlete.

"Academics has always played a profound role in my life because of the foundation I have. My father has his doctorate, my mother has her masters, my brother's have there bachelor degree. School was definitely something that I wanted to excel in from a young age not only because I wanted to, but my family background in education."

Dyer, who recently finished fifth in the 200 and third in the 400 at the Great Southwest Classic has many memories running for the Patriots which included making head coach Enrico Knowles proud on numerous occasions.

"My favorite moments were seeing coach Knowles happy after I've accomplished a goal that he has set. I say it's my favorite because it shows me that the hard work and hard practices I've put myself through are really paying off, that's what really made me happy & created countless memories that I am extremely fond of."

As one chapter closes another one opens and Dyer is looking forward to working with a new set of coaches, Coach Hall & Glavash at UT. She says witnessing their passion and how they care about their athletes and jobs have her excited to head to Knoxville as well as joining a new team dynamic.

"I am always looking forward to being with the girls. I'm excited to work with them because of how comfortable I was with them on my visit makes me excited to go back up there. One of the major goals I would like to accomplish up their is going to Nationals my freshman year. I really want to get in the 50s, with UT I definitely think I can accomplish that!"

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