Titans Capture 10th WIAC Title

UW-Oshkosh won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s cross country crown at Whitetail Golf Course on Oct. 29.

The league championship for the Titans is the 10th in program history and first since 2003. UW-Oshkosh compiled 51 team points enroute to this year’s title to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 64 points. UW-Platteville finished third with 81 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 93, UW-Eau Claire fifth with 130, UW-Whitewater sixth with 141, UW-River Falls seventh with 171, UW-Stout eighth with 175 and UW-Superior ninth with 265.

UW-Stout’s Tim Nelson won the individual title to become the first Blue Devil to accomplish the feat. He completed the 8,000-meter course in a time of 24:41.5 to top the field of 102 competitors.

UW-Oshkosh’s Nate Stymiest finished second in 24:55.7, UW-La Crosse’s Josh Kaul third in 24:59.5, UW-Platteville’s Anthony Swimm fourth in 25:02.2, UW-Oshkosh’s Sean Kutz fifth in 25:06.6, UW-La Crosse’s Mark Punzenberger sixth in 25:07.3 and UW-Oshkosh’s Tyler Morey seventh in 25:07.5.

UW-Oshkosh’s John Dewitt placed eighth in 25:08.8, UW-Stevens Point’s Terry Witkowski ninth in 25:09.4, UW-Platteville’s Matt Borneman 10th in 25:22.3, UW-Whitewater’s Mathias Werve 11th in 25:26.0, UW-Eau Claire’s Conor Rafferty 12th in 25:28.1, UW-Platteville’s Derek Fahrenkrug 13th in 25:28.9, UW-Platteville’s Bill Clift 14th in 25:29.8, UW-Whitewater’s Dan Machmueller 15th in 25:31.4, UW-La Crosse’s Nate Routhier 16th in 25:32.5, UW-La Crosse’s Jacob Peterson 17th in 25:32.8, UW-Eau Claire’s Aaron Easker 18th in 25:34.3, UW-Stevens Point’s Evan Cooper 19th in 25:39.3 and UW-Stevens Point’s Dan Sullivan 20th in 25:40.9.

The top seven runners in the race received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earned second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claimed honorable mention laurels.

UW-La Crosse’s Sean Harrington received the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Michael Borden; UW-La Crosse’s Sean Harrington; UW-Oshkosh’s Nick Newcomer; UW-Platteville’s Anthony Swimm; UW-River Falls’ Jessop Keene; UW-Stevens Point’s Terry Witkowski; UW-Stout’s Justus Bibeau; UW-Superior’s Andy Kast; and UW-Whitewater’s Joe Dixon.

All nine WIAC teams will return to action Nov. 12, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Rock Island, Ill. The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College. The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 19, at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis., and will be hosted by UW-Oshkosh.