2007 Men's Cross Country Recap
Another year, another conference championship for the MSOE men's cross country team in 2007. The Raiders won their tenth consecutive conference championship. The 2007 season title comes as a first-year member of the Northern Athletics Conference. Their dominance dates back to the school's days as a member of the Lake Michigan Conference where they won nine consecutive titles. In 2006, Raiders raced independently but this year the Raiders picked up where the streak left off: on top and in first place.
In head coach Larry Gardner's mind the streak is not as important as what the current MSOE cross country runners are achieving.
"Many of our athletes were not on the team when it won so many championships in a row," Gardner said. "They are starting to write their own history at MSOE."
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that only the top five runners per team score at the championship meet and MSOE had eight of the top 28 finishers including four first-team All-Conference selections and four honorable mention awards. Gardner also captured Coach of the Year honors in the NAC.
"It demonstrates the fantastic work ethic of our student-athletes," Gardner said. "Not only are they intelligent in academics but their work ethic has carried over into the athletic field."
Senior Dominic Maio finished in fourth place to receive first-team All-Conference honors. Sophomore Zak Lutz ended up in eighth place for first-team honors. Junior Tim Carlson finished ninth and sophomore Jay Stasiak was 13th, both picking up first-team All-Conference honors. Junior Ben Bichler was 19th in the championship race to earn honorable mention honors. Senior Troy Woodard finished 20th, senior Adam Patterson was 25th and freshman Cameron Rate finished 28th, each picking up honorable mention honors.
"Cameron Rate was very much a big surprise and the running of Ben Bichler," Gardner said. "I knew that Dominic and Zak would lead the pack and Tim Carlson became strong enough to help carry the first five. Troy Woodard and Adam Patterson brought up the additional two that pushed other teams back. All team members contributed to the success of MSOE this year."
Coach Gardner also mentions assistant coach Amy Horst as a big influence on the team.
"The leader of the team was Coach Amy Horst," Gardner said. "She did the workouts, encouraged their performance, help set goals and the athletes have put all of their faith in her. Her knowledge of running has made her one of the biggest assets of the team."
Other highlights during the season included a first place team finish in the Concordia University Cougar Invitational which was the first race of the season for MSOE. Maio was the fastest for MSOE in that race finishing in fourth place while Lutz was fifth and Carlson finished sixth. The Raiders also won the Beloit Olde English Classic for the second year in a row. Maio again paced the Raiders, this time finishing in first place among collegiate runners at the events while Lutz finished right behind Maio in second place. MSOE picked up a second place finish at the Wisconsin Private Schools Invite. Maio was fourth in that race and Lutz finished in ninth.
