Results
West Salem, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's cross country team won its fifth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship Saturday afternoon at Maple Grove Venues, LLC with 27 team points. It is UWL's 37th league title in school history.
UW-Whitewater placed second with 51 points and UW-Stout third with 96. UW-Eau Claire finished fourth (100) followed by UW-Oshkosh (109), UW-Stevens Point (180), UW-Platteville (191) and UW-River Falls (247). UWL is ranked fourth, UW-Whitewater 11th, UW-Stout 22nd and UW-Eau Claire 34th in the NCAA Division III based on October 19 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
UWL's 37 league titles are the most in WIAC history.
UWL's
Ethan Gregg captured the individual crown on Saturday, completing the 8,000-meter race in 23:38.5. He is the third UWL runner in the last four championships to win the league title, joining
Thomas Schultz (2018) and
Josh Schraeder (2019). Other UWL individual conference winners include
Rod Leadley (1969),
Jim Drews (1970-73),
Jim Hanson and
Joe Hanson (1974, 1975), Joe Hanson (1976, 1977),
Jim Ingold (1978),
Steve Ostwinkle (1979),
Jerry Husz (1982),
Greg Barczak (1983, 1984),
Brett Burt (1988),
Mahdi Omar (1992),
Brad Wilson and
Brett Altergott (1997),
Tyler Foos (2001) and
Zach Wilhelmy (2009).
Gregg placed second a year ago and 10th in 2019. The 2020 championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat.
The Eagles had five runners place in the top-10 on Saturday.
Isaac Wegner was third (24:30.1),
Corey Fairchild fifth (24:56.9), Aidan Matthai eighth (25:09.5) and
Parker Huhn 10th (25:13.7). All 12 of UWL's runners placed in the top-37. Grant Matthai was 12th (25:19.8) with
Elias Ritzke 13th (25:24.1),
Reed Anderson 18th (25:46.1),
Luke Chaffin 19th (25:50.3),
Ben Stangel 26th (26:01.5), Jayden Zywicki 34th (26:10.9) and
Adam Loenser 37th (26:14.9). A total of 92 runners completed the race.
Wegner was fifth at the 2021 WIAC Championships while Huhn placed eighth, Fairchild 16th and Ritzke 20th.
Aidan Matthai was named the WIAC Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year at the conclusion of the championships while
Phillip Houston was named to the All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team.
The top-seven runners receive All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earn All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claim honorable mention laurels.
Eleventh-year head coach
Derek Stanley has now led UWL to seven WIAC Championships (2012-13, 2017-19, 2021-22) while finishing second on three occasions (2014-16). A total of 65 All-WIAC men's cross country honors have been earned under Stanley at UWL, including 20 first team selections and 30 second team choices.
"I have never been a part of a more complete performance," said Stanley. "Our runners stepped up in every way we asked them. To walk away from this meet with two team victories, two individual champions and two newcomer of the year awards is day in my coaching that will last a lifetime.
"The men were itching to show their ability. Over the last couple weeks things have just been different. Things were running tighter packs and they looked like they had more pop. Nice to see them come out and execute such a quality race.
"I know Ethan is good but he leveled up today," added Stanley. "He put away a strong field and left no doubt at all. What an amazing race."
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 12 at the NCAA Division III North Regional at the St. Olaf College (Minn.) Cross Country Trails in Northfield, Minnesota at noon.
