Men's Cross Country

2012 Cross Country
 
 
 
Head Coach: Mike Wojciakowski (15th Year)
 
Coordinator: Dave Wood (18th Year)
 
 
Schedule & Results | Team Roster | Coach Profiles
Season Outlook | Top 10 Team Times
 

2012 Schedule

DATE EVENT/SITE TIME/PLACE
Sat., Sept. 8 Knight Invitational/Grand Rapids, Mich.

4th out of 19

Individual Results

Fri., Sept. 14 National Catholic Invitational/South Bend, Ind.

3rd out of 34

1st out of 21 (Non-D1)

Fri., Oct. 5 Michigan Intercollegiate Championships/Grand Rapids, Mich.

9th out of 21

Open Race

Fri., Oct. 12 Bethel College Invitational/Mishawaka, Ind.

1st out of 9

Individual Results

Sat., Oct. 20 NAIA Great Lakes Challenge/Riverside Park
Meet Information
3rd out of 34

 

Sat., Nov. 3 WHAC Championship/Grand Rapids, Mich. 1st out of 9
Sat., Nov. 17

NAIA National Championships/Fort Vancouver, Wash.

Video Footage

5th out of 32

Individual Results

 
 

Roster

Photos Name Yr. Hometown/High School (College)
Geoff Albaugh Geoff Albaugh So. Middleville, Mich./Catholic Central
Jesus Alvarado Jesus Alvarado So. Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston
Blake Bitner Blake Bitner So. Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills
Jeff Cherry Jeff Cherry Fr. Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia
Grant Cook Grant Cook Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Dan Foley Dan Foley Jr.. Flint, Mich./Flint Powers Catholic
Stephen Glinski Stephen Glinski So. Warren, Mich./Warren De La Salle
Grant Gunneson Grant Gunneson So. Rockford, Mich./Rockford
Luke Hawley Luke Hawley Fr. East Jordan, Mich./East Jordan
Stephen Huizing Stephen Huizing So. Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood
Charles Irmen Charles Irmen Sr. Orchard Lake St. Marys/Oakland Community College
Devon Joslin Devon Joslin So. Muskegon, Mich./Reeths-Puffer/Muskegon Community College
Matt Kring Matt Kring Jr. Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall/Muskegon Community College
James Lanciaux James Lanciaux Sr. Fremont, Mich./Fremont
Andrew Libs Andrew Libs Sr. Ann Arbor, Mich./Gabrial Richard
Gabe Lundgren Gabe Lundgren Fr. Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores
Kevin Mahar Kevin Mahar Jr. Hartland, Mich./Hartland
Alex Martinez Alex Martinez So. Grand Rapids, Mich./Wyoming Rogers
Brendan Moloney Brendan Molony Jr. Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Hackett
Matt Moss Matt Moss Fr. Traverse City, Mich./Traverse City Central
Shay Ostyn Shay Ostyn Fr. Grant, Mich./Grant
Brad Perschbacher Brad Perschbacher So. Grand Rapids, Mich./GR Catholic Central
Zach Potgeter Zach Potgeter Jr. Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon Oakridge
Eddie Seymour Eddie Seymour Sr. Wayland, Mich./Wayland
Killian Smith Killian Smith Sr. Warren, Mich./Warren De La Salle
Zach Stepanovich Zach Stepanovich Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Caleb Teachout Caleb Teachout So. Grand Rapids, Mich./West Catholic
Jacob Towne Jacob Towne Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern
Andrew Vojtko Andrew Vojtko So. St. Joseph, Mich./Lake Michigan Catholic
Russ Werra Russ Werra Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich./Kenowa Hills
Nick Whise Nick Whise Fr. St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph
Tom Willet Tom Willet Fr. Sparta, Mich./Sparta
 

Coaches

Coach Wojciakowski MIKE WOJCIAKOWSKI Men's Head Coach -- A 1997 Aquinas College graduate, Mike Wojciakowski is in his 15th year as the Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach at Aquinas College. "Woj's" success with the middle distance and distance runners has been exceptional. He has directed the men's and women's Cross Country teams to 14 WHAC Championships, six Region VIII championships and nine top ten finishes at the NAIA National Championships, including a second place finish in 2004 (the highest national finish for any team in Aquinas College history) and a third place finish in 2008. A 14-time WHAC Coach of the Year, Woj's success on the track has been just as spectacular. The Saints are fresh off a National Championship in the Men's 4x800 Relay at the 2012 NAIA Outdoor Championships under Woj's direction. He has sent numerous athletes to the indoor and outdoor national championships, 37 of them receiving All American recognition a total of 74 times. Mike has guided many runners to the Saints top five all time performance list as well. A USA Track and Field Level II certified coach in the distance events, Woj's knowledge, personal approach and work ethic has been responsible for developing the Saints distance program into one of the best small college programs in the nation. A four year varsity letter winner in both cross country and track for the Saints, Wojciakowski captained both teams during his senior year. An outstanding student as well as a runner, Wojciakowski earned Academic All American honors in cross country his senior year. Mike and his wife, Amorena, and their daughter, Cecelia (2), reside on the northwest side of Grand Rapids.
 
DAVE WOOD Cross Country Coordinator -- Dave Wood begins his 18th season as the Coordinator of the Cross Country Team and Head Track & Field Coach. Wood's tenure has been nothing short of phenomenal. Wood has directed the men's and women's programs from the basement in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) to the head of the pack. The Saints' dominated in 2003 as they completed a clean sweep of the men's and women's WHAC indoor titles and captured the WHAC women's outdoor title. Success under Wood's direction hasn't been limited to the conference level. Competing at the NAIA National Championships both indoors and outdoors, Saints' athletes earned All-American honors 81 times including four NAIA National Champions and four runner-up finishes during Wood's tenure. The Saints' success under Wood comes as no surprise. The 1972 Michigan Class A mile champion and a middle distance standout at Central Michigan University, Wood has been developing team and individual champions at the high school, junior college and collegiate level since his first coaching assignment at Grand Rapids Union High School, his alma mater, in 1976. A USATF Level II certified coach in the sprints and hurdles, Wood came to Aquinas after an outstanding twelve-year stint as Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Ferris State University. Wood was honored with a total of 10 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) "Coach of the Year" awards while guiding the Bulldogs to 11 GLIAC Championships in cross country and track & field. In addition to having his teams consistently ranked in the NCAA Division II top 20, Wood was recognized four times as NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region "Coach of the Year." His success at the national level was highlighted by 35 All-Americans, three National Champions and a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships during his tenure as Ferris State's coach.
 

Season Outlook

The men's cross country team will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2012 as the Saints will look to uphold the strong tradition that has been established throughout the years. Coach Wojciakowski states, "The 2012 version of AQXC will have a different look as new faces will be asked to lead the Saints, but I feel very confident in our guys and I look forward to seeing who emerges to keep the program at its current level." The Saints have the longest active streak of being ranked in the NAIA Top 25 (115 consecutive weeks) - the streak dates back to August 2000.

 

The team will kickoff their competitive season at the Knight Classic on September 8th at the Gainey Complex in Grand Rapids. A deep and youthful squad will then travel to South Bend to compete in the National Catholic Invitational hosted by Notre Dame. The Saints will return to action in October at the Michigan Intercollegiate's and the Bethel Invitational before heading home to host the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in late October. Aquinas will conclude their season with the WHAC Championships at Riverside Park and the NAIA Championships in Fort Vancouver, Washington.

 

Coach Wojciakowski will look to veteran leadership and a strong work ethic to keep the Saints at the top of the WHAC in 2012. The team will boast eleven new athletes who will be eager to make their imprint on the course this fall.

 

 

Top 10 Team Times

1. 126:16, Bush Park, Salem, OR, 9/29/07 Chris Robertz 24:43, Scott Assenmacher 25:00, Seth Bjorle 25:24, Nate Straathof 25:29, Victor Ramirez 25:40
2. 126:26, Norte Dame Golf Course, 10/13/72 Phil Hinck 24:33, Jerry Gumblton 25:06, Joe Caruso 25:09, Dan Black 25:33, John Carr 26:05
3. 126:30, Spring Arbor, 11/4/72 Phil Hinck 24:45; Joe Caruso 24:57; John Carr 25:26; Dan Black 25:33; Ramero Garcia 25:49
4. 126:42, Riverside Park, 10/23/10 Dustin Heiler 24:52, Mike Gravelyn 25:00, Devin Lea 25:17, Nate Poirier 25:41, Kolin Stickney 25:49
5. 127:19, UW Oshkosh, 10/14/06 Scott Assenmacher 24:47, Brian Keilen 25:18, James Jones 25:39, Chris Leikert 25:43, Zac Blough-Orr 25:52
6. 1:27:24, Riverside Park, 10/22/05 Josh Miller 25:23, Chris Robertz 25:23, Brian Keilen 25:23, Jeff Luehm 25:24, Pat Earl 25:51
7. 1:27:30, Riverside Park, 11/6/10 Dustin Heiler 24:56, Devin Lea 25:17, Mike Gravelyn 25:25, Jim Janisse 25:55, Dan Foley 25:57
8. 1:27:41, Tom Sawyer State Park, 10/1/11 Dustin Heiler 24:59, Devin Lea 25:27, Nick Thelen 25:37, Mike Gravelyn 25:41, Dan Foley 25:54
9. 1:27:42 Fort Vancouver, WA, 11/19/11 Devin Lea 24:47, Dustin Heiler 24:57, Kolin Stickney 25:50, Dan Foley 25:53, Mike Gravelyn 26:17
10.

1:27:45, Riverside Park, 11/03/12 Grant Gunneson 25:21, Stephen Glinski 25:30, Jacob Towne 25:32, Dan Foley 25:38,

Brendan Molony 25:42