Southwestern Community College Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Scott Vicker announced today the signing of Ross Stephens of Pleasantville for the 2023-24 track & field season.

Stephens is the son of Shamus and Jen Stephens of Pleasantville, and the grandson of Dannie and Vickie Stephens of Creston. He is a May 2023 graduate of Pleasantville High School.

"This is an exciting signing for me, personally, as I have known Ross' parents basically my entire life with his dad and my brother being close friends," Vicker said. "So it is exciting to be able to continue the connection between our families."

Stephens was a three-sport star at Pleasantville, competing in football and wrestling for the Trojans in addition to running track.

In the 2022 football season, Stephens was named second-team all-district defensive lineman and offensive lineman for a Pleasantville team that went 4-4 in the regular season and advanced to the Class 1A playoffs. He qualified for the state track meet this past spring in the shuttle hurdle relay and 110 high hurdles, and was the West Central Conference champion in the 110 hurdles. He also qualified for the state meet in the 110 meter hurdles as a junior. Stephens posted a PR of 15.57 in the 110 hurdles and the Trojan shuttle hurdle relay team ran 1:03.43 this past spring.

"Ross comes to our team primarily as a hurdler," Vicker said. "He is still pretty raw as a hurdler, so for him to have run 15.57 already is a great sign. He will continue to hurdle for us here at SWCC, but Ross is someone we want to try the multis. I think he has a lot of potential as a multis-athlete, and can be a national qualifier. With national-qualifier Jonathon Hackett returning for next year, he will have a great training partner. I'm excited for those two to push each other in practice every day, and for Ross to continue to polish himself as a hurdler alongside a strong group of hurdlers we have coming in as freshmen."

Academically, Stephens is a four-time academic letterwinner at Pleasantville High School. He intends to study engineering.