Men’s cross country boasts experience
While the women’s cross country team is scraping the bottom of the bucket for runners with experience, the men’s team is loaded with upperclassmen this fall.
After taking third place last year at the Division I Independent Championships, the men’s team feels like it can only get better.
Assistant coach Ryun Godfrey said he feels that his team will be more effective partly because it’s an older team.
“ We’re a stronger team simply because we are older and more experienced,” he said.
The upperclassmen on this year’s squad will be expected to carry a large load for the Bison.
Godfrey thinks that the return of senior Jake Januszewski will be a helpful addition to the team.
Knowing that he would need to be in school for a fifth year to complete his degree, Jauszewski sat out last season.
“ I think that we will have a much stronger team this year,” Januszewski said before practice Tuesday.
In addition to Januszewski, junior Greg Liebl is expected to be a valuable asset to the team.
Liebl finished as high as third last year, and Godfrey has raved about his hard work.
“ His work ethic is not equally matched by most athletes,” Godfrey said. “He is very driven to be good and he is a great competitor, and that is something you cannot teach.”
Liebl and Jauszewski are two of seven juniors and seniors on the team, something that Godfrey thinks will help throughout the year.
This team isn’t one to shy away from strong competition, either. The Bison will compete in tournaments hosted by Iowa State, SDSU, Wisconsin-Parkside, Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“ We’ve been seeing strong competition every year, so to go up against an established D-I programs doesn’t really bother us,” Godfrey said.
The team will open up the season today in the NDSU Open at Rose Creek Golf Course.
Godfrey says the meet will be a good time trial to gauge themselves for the season.
“ This meet will be fun because it’s in our backyard and our friends and family will get to watch us and they don’t get to do that all the time,” Januszewski said.
Despite the competition and travel this season, Godfrey expects his team to finish in the top 10 in most of the meets.