Season Preview: Men's Cross Country looks to compete on national level in 2017
By Caleb Scott
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's cross country team will look to build on its success from last season and compete on a national scale once again in 2017 under 9th-year head coach Jason Maus.
Northern is coming off a historical season where it finished 14th at the NCAA III Championships, the second best finish for the team in school history.
The Polar Bears have claimed 100 or more victories in each of the last six seasons.
Northern welcomes back five letterwinners, all of which were named All-OAC in 2016.
"I think our guys have some pretty high expectations this season," said head coach Jason Maus. A lot of these guys were apart of a great season last year and they want to continue to get better.
Junior Ian McVey (Stow/Munroe Falls) returns as a First Team All-OAC honoree after finishing third overall at the OAC Championships.
The junior finished 36th overall at the 2016 NCAA III Championships and narrowly missed All-America honors as the top-35 runners earn the accolade.
Seniors Bobby Borger (Perrysburg), Matt Molinaro (Sterling Heights, Mich./De La Salle), and Samuel Boyd (Killbuck/West Holmes) all return to the squad after lettering in 2016 and being named Second Team All-OAC.
Junior Spencer Schulze (St. Henry) also returns in 2017 after being named Second Team All-OAC in 2016.
"We have a very good group of returners," said Maus. "Our five letterwinners are all All-Conference guys and we expect them to really pace us this season. We have a lot of holes to fill after losing a great senior class from last year but I expect these guys to push each other and fill those roles."
Northern has a wealth of depth and experience as it welcomes back six additional seniors in 2016 in Tyler Kennedy (Canfield), Dustin Lumadue (Lexington), Alec Lunney (Middleburg Heights/Berea-Midpark), Michael Murray (Strongsville), Evan Murtha (Pickerington/North), and Logan Perry (Sunbury/Big Walnut).
Lunney is an All-OAC honoree on the Ohio Northern track and field team.
"We really think these guys are ready to take that next step," said Maus. "Guys like Lunney, Perry and junior John McNutt (Ashtabula/Lakeside) are really going to need to step up for us if we want to be successful."
The Polar Bears welcome nine newcomers to the team in 2017.
"We are impressed with our freshman class," said Maus. "There are some guys who have the potential to contribute for us and some of them that aren't far from contributing. We hope these guys can push our upperclassmen and help us out right away."
Northern will open the 2017 season at the annual Bluffton 5k Invitational on Sept. 1, before it travels to the Calvin (Mich.) Invitational on Sept. 9.
ONU will also compete at the Tiffelberg Open on Sept. 16 and the All-Ohio Championships on Sept. 29 to close out the month of September.
After traveling to the Wis.-Oshkosh Invitational on Oct. 14, Northern will compete in the OAC Championships on Oct. 28.
The Great Lakes Regional meet is slated for Nov. 11 in Delaware, Ohio, while the NCAA III Championships will take place in Elsah, Ill. on Nov. 18.