COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team added more depth to their 2021 roster as head coach Dave Hajek has signed six position players including Nickolas Esquivel, Kit Wiggington, Jack Michalek, Morgan Altherr, Andrew Danko, and Kasey Campbell from his 2020 recruiting class.

"We are truly excited about the way our 2020 recruiting class is shaping up," Hajek emphasized. "It is a big physical group of student-athletes that will make a difference for our program."

Esquivel a utility player from Denver, Colo. is set to graduate from Cherry Creek High School in 2020. Behind the plate, Esquivel has recorded a 1.93 second pop time and is a two-time varsity letter winner in baseball. An MVP of the Artie Escobado All-Tournament Team in 2018, Esquivel has helped Cherry Creek to a conference championship in 2019 with the Bruins capping off the 2019 season as the CHSAA 5A State Championship Runners-Up.

"Nick is a big, physical and versatile player from one of the top HS programs in Colorado," said Hajek. "He has a chance to have an impact in our program at a couple different positions on the field."

A Colorado Springs, Colo. native, Wiggington joins the program as a left-handed first baseman and outfielder who will be graduating from Pine Creek High School in 2020. In 2019, the hometown lefty recorded a .346 batting average with 17 RBI and eight extra base hits in 24 games played at Pine Creek. With his club team, Wiggington posted a .340 batting average as he tallied 54 RBI and 30 extra base hits in 68 games. He's helped the Pine Creek Eagles repeat three times as conference champions (2017-19) as they went on to claim a regional championship and become class 5A State Finalists in 2018. Academically, Wiggington is a three-time Principal's Honor Roll selection and a Colorado Academic All-State selection in 2019.

"Kit is very versatile player with a smooth left-handed swing," said Hajek. "His bat figures to land in the middle of the order for years to come."

Graduating from Regis Jesuit High School in 2020, Michalek joins the program as an infielder who registered a .404 batting average in 2018 and .376 batting average in 2019. In 2019, Michalek and the Regis Jesuit Raiders were crowned 5A Colorado State Champions as they also made three consecutive 5A Regional appearances from 2017-19. Off the field, Michalek is a three-year Cum Laude Academic Award winner and a 2019 academic all-state honorable mention selection. He also participates in extracurricular activities such as Special Olympics Club, Bass Fishing Club, and making a service trip out to the Dominican Republic.

"Jack is a slick fielding infielder with smooth hands and a great feel for hitting at an early age," said Hajek.

From Tucson, Ariz., Altherr comes in as a four-year varsity letter winner who hit .321 with 27 hits, 11 extra base hits, and 25 RBI during his junior year. Set to graduate from Sabino High School in 2020, Altherr and the Sabercats are two-time Arizona 3A State Champions (2018 & 2019) and Arizona American Legion State Champions (2019). His impressive play has landed him on the Southern Arizona All-Freshman Team (2017), the Southern Arizona All-Conference 3A First Team twice (2018 & 2019), and the AIA All-Region Honorable Mention Team (2018). As a student-athlete, Altherr has also exceled academically  by being selected to the 2019 Sports360 AZ All-Academic Team, being a three-time yearly Honor Roll selection, earning a Perfect Attendance Award (2017-18) and academic letters (2018-19), and being named to the 2019 American Legion Boy's State Selection.

"Morgan is a strong, physical outfielder with raw power that also has a chance to hit in the middle of the order," said Hajek.

A native of Vista, Calif., Campbell is on track to graduate from Rancho Buena Vista High School in 2020. An outfielder for the Rancho Buena Vista Longhorns, Campbell is a two-time all-league second team selection who hit .415 with 39 hits, 17 RBI, and 22 runs scored last season as a junior. His academics have earned him all-academic team awards for both baseball and football, as well as landed him on the honor roll for three consecutive years. Campbell is involved in the National Society of High School Scholars (2019) and is a member of the Drama Club, ASB, Shooting Stars.

"Kasey is an outstanding two-sport athlete that has the potential to be an impact player for us in the very near future," said Hajek.

Danko, a 2018 graduate of Eaglecrest High School, is a middle infield transfer joining the team from Northeastern Junior College. At Eaglecrest he was an all-state honorable mention his junior year and a two-time all-league first team selection. During his junior season, Danko helped the Raptors to their best record in school history at 15-4. The Aurora, Colo. native is set to graduate with an associate degree from Northeastern in 2020.

"Andrew is a big physical athlete that can play solid defense in the middle of the field," said Hajek. "He has two years of experience at a solid Colorado JC program and will fit in nicely with our developing baseball program."

The Mountain Lions open their season on the road this weekend as they travel to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona for a four-game series starting with game one on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. (MT).