UMAC PREVIEW: Men's Cross Country
ST. PAUL, MN - The 2022 cross country season is already getting underway and the coaches have submitted their votes for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
The University of Wisconsin-Superior has been selected by the coaches to win the UMAC championshp for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Superior took home the conference crown a year ago and followed that up with a 22nd place finish in the NCAA Divsion III North Regional. Returning this fall are three All-UMAC runners from a year ago in Michael Butterfield, Kieran Johnson, and Mitchell Hammer. Butterfield took 5th at the 2021 championships with a time of 28:00.6, Johnson finished 15th with a time of 29:06.1, and Hammer took 16th with a time of 29:03.7. Overall, the Yellowjackets return eight runners from last year's team.
Coming in second in this year's poll was the Martin Luther Knights, they also finished second a year ago right behind UW-Superior. Camden Sulzle is returning after being named to the First Team All-Conference team a year ago. The junior posted a 28:25 time at the UMAC championships which was second on the team. Josh Zander also returns for the Knights after being a Second Team All-Conference selection a season ago. Zander finished with a time of 28:52, good for fourth on the team.
In third place in this year's poll were the Minnesota Morris Cougars. The Cougars finished third in the conference a year ago and return some key pieces from last year's team. Grant Strukel, the Cougars top runner a year ago, returns after posting a time of 28:24 at the conference meet. Greg Peterson, the Cougars second best runner a year ago, also returns. Strukel ran a time of 28:45 at the conference meet a year ago.
Bethany Lutheran was picked to finish fourth in this year's preseason poll. Michael Dunn enters his eighth season coaching the Vikings cross country program. Last season, Bethany Lutheran came in fifth at the conference meet as they look to improve on that result this season.
The Crown Polars are the fifth team in this year's poll. The Polars finished fourth at least year's conference meet and they return some key runners from that team. Jeremiah VanAcker, the 2021 UMAC Champion, returns this season for Crown. VanAcker posted a time of 26:53 before going on to the NCCAA national meet where he finished as the national runner-up. Austin Carlson also returns for the Polars after finishing in 17th at last year's meet with a time of 29:08, good for second on the team.
The Eagles of Northwestern were selected to finish sixth in this year's poll. Head coach Steve Thiessen returns for his 31st season, leading the Northwestern cross country program. Last season the Eagles finished sixth at the conference meet. Returning for Northwestern are Nathaniel Moser who was the team's top runner in 2021, and Jacob Kephart who earned a UMAC Runner of the Week award and finished second on the team at the conference meet.
North Central is the number seven team in the preseason poll. Katie DeWitt enters her second season leading the Rams cross country program. Last season, North Central did not qualify for a team finish at the conference meet but does return Michael Herr-Zielke from last season who competed at the 2021 championships.
Finally, the Northland Lumberjacks are the team picked to finish eighth in this year's preseason poll. The Lumberjacks return Beck Pope from a season a ago, the junior finished with a time of 30:53 which was the top time on the team.
Team Previews:
Bethany Lutheran College
Head Coach
Michael Dunn | 8th Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 5th | 116 points |
Crown College
Head Coach
Bill Braunger | 7
th Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 4th | 108 Points |
- Postseason: Jeremiah VanAcker NCCAA National Meet Runner-Up 26:43.
Top Runners
- Runner 1,Jeremiah VanAcker, SO | 2021 UMAC Champion | NCCAA National Runner-up | 2021 Championships: 1st 26:53, 1st |
- Runner 2, Austin Carlson, SO| UMAC Honors | Other Honors | 2021 Championships: 17th 29:08, 2nd |
Martin Luther College
Head Coach
Mark Weinkauf | 2
nd Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 2nd | 47 Points |
Top Runners
- Camden Sulzle, JR | 1st Team All-Conference | First year Captain | 28:25, 2nd on team |
- Josh Zander | 2nd Team All-Conference | 28:52, 4th on team |
- Caleb Lash | Second year Captain | 29:09, 6th on team |
Need to Know
Micah Schibbelhut, 2
nd team All-Conference is returning.
North Central University
Head Coach
Katie DeWitt | 2
nd Year |
Top Runners
- Michael Herr-Zielke, Junior
Northland College
Head Coach
Kale Adams | 1st Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 7th | 211 Points |
Top Runners
- Beck Pope, JR. | 2021 36th, 30:53 | 1st team finisher
- Teddy Uehling, SO. | 2021 55th, 35:41 | 3rd team finisher
University of Minnesota Morris
Head Coach
James Akita | 1st Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 3rd | 69 Points |
- Postseason: 29th place at North Regional
Top Runners
- Grant Strukel, Sophomore | 7th, 28:24, 1st on team |
- Greg Peterson, Sophomore | 9th, 28:45, 2nd on team
- Rory Shackelford, Senior | th, 29:17, 4th on team
University of Northwestern-St. Paul
Head Coach
Steve Thiessen | 31
st Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 6th | 168 points |
Top Runners
- Nathaniel Moser, SO | 2021 UMAC Sportsmanship Award Winner | 2021 Championships: 27th, 30:17, #1 team finisher |
- Jacob Kephart, SO | UMAC Runner of the Week | 2021 Championships: 30th, 30:25, #2 team finisher |
- Collin McDonald, JR. | Battled injuries in 2021, looking for a breakout season in 2022 |
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Head Coach
Glen Drexler | 13th Year |
2021 Season
- UMAC Finish: 1st | 36 points |
- Postseason: Finished 22nd in the NCAA Division III North Regional, scoring 576 points
Top Runners
- Michael Butterfield, So. | 2021 All-UMAC First Team | 2021 Championships: 5th, 28:00.6, 3rd team finisher |
- Kieran Johnson, So. | 2021 All-UMAC Second Team | 2021 Championships: 15th, 29:06.1, 5th team finisher |
- Mitchell Hammer, Sr. | 2021 All-UMAC Second Team | 2021 Championships: 16th, 29:03.7, 6th team finisher |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets won their fourth UMAC championship in 2021 and return eight runners from last year’s team, welcoming two newcomers.