Stevens Point, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's cross country team, ranked first in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), earned its seventh straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title Saturday afternoon at Wisconsin River Golf Club.
The Eagles claimed their 39
th league championship in program history. The 39 WIAC titles are the most in league history.
UWL finished with 24 points on Saturday while UW-Whitewater placed second with 55 and UW-Eau Claire third with 105. UW-Platteville was fourth (109), followed by UW-Stevens Point (120), UW-Stout (126), UW-Oshkosh (186) and UW-River Falls (249).
The Eagles' 12 runners all placed in the top-22 on Saturday, including six in the top-10. UWL's
Grant Matthai won the individual title with a time of 23:34.5 on the 8,000-meter course. Matthai's time is the fastest in WIAC history by four seconds. He is fourth runner in the last six championships to win the league title, joining
Thomas Schultz (2018),
Josh Schraeder (2019) and
Ethan Gregg (2022).
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).
Grant Matthai won the individual title.
It is Matthai's third career All-WIAC honor after placing third in 2023 and 12th in 2022.
Jayden Zywicki was fourth (24:01.0) on Saturday while
Aidan Matthai placed fifth (24:06.7),
Joey Sullivan sixth (24:10.9),
Corey Fairchild eighth (24:15.8) and
Adam Loenser 10th (24:25.5).
The Eagles'
Elias Ritzke finished 12th (24:27.6),
Will Aurit 13th (24:30.1), Charles Vater 14th (24:32.0),
Chris Wolfe 17th (24:46.6),
Owen Clark 19th (24:46.8) and
Mason Brown 22nd (24:50.4).
Vater claimed the Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year award for being the highest finishing newcomer at the championship. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used her first season of participation in men's cross country this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn't participate in men's cross country at their previous institution.
Ritzke earned his fourth career all-conference honor on Saturday with his 12th-place finish. He was 17th in 2023, 13th in 2022 and 20th in 2021.
Aidan Matthai, Sullivan, Loenser, Fairchild and Zywicki garnered their second career All-WIAC accolade on Saturday. Matthai was eighth in 2022. Sullivan (sixth-place), Loenser (seventh), Fairchild (11th) and Zywicki (14th) each earned all-league recognition last season.
The top-seven runners in the 8,000-meter race 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.
UWL's
Zach Slevin was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.
Derek Stanley, in his 13th season as head coach, has now led UWL to eight WIAC Championships (2012-13, 2017-19, 2021-24) while finishing second on three occasions (2014-16). A total of 85 All-WIAC men's cross country honors have been earned under Stanley at UWL, including 29 first team selections and 37 second team choices.
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 16 at the NCAA Division III North Regional at Bill Huyck Championship Course in Northfield, Minnesota. The NCAA Division III Championships are set for Saturday, November 23 at LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
