Chicago, Ill. - University of Illinois at Chicago head men's cross country/track and field coach Jim Knoedel announced on Tuesday afternoon that he has signed Jim Sulzberger (Peotone, Ill./Bishop McNamara) and Sam Watson (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park-River Forest) to run for the Flames in the 2003-04 campaign.

"This is the greatest freshman class we've had since I've been here at UIC," Knoedel said.

Sulzberger is coming off an impressive cross country campaign as a senior, placing 10th in the Class A championships, with a time of 15:15 leading Bishop McNamara to a seventh-place finish overall. The Peotone, Ill., native will also compete in the distance events for the track and field team.

"He's going to be a great cross country runner," Knoedel said of Sulzberger. "I really think he's got unlimited potential and is an extremely hard worker.

"I think his work ethic will pay off in big dividends down the road."

Knoedel will also be gaining another strong cross country runner in Watson. Watson, a senior for Oak Park-River Forest, is a three-time state-placer in the Class AA championships.

As a senior, Watson placed eighth overall in the Class AA championships with a mark of 14:49, leading the Huskies to a 10th-place team finish overall.

"What impresses me about Sam is his aggressive style of running," Knoedel said. "His attitude towards cross country and the distance events are very strong and positive.

"He has the ability to turn in some tremendous times in college and has only scratched the surface in high school."