GREEN BAY, Wis.- UW-Oshkosh men's cross country opened its season at the fifth annual UW-Green Bay Phoenix Open on Saturday (Sept. 12). The Titans placed fifth among the six teams with a score of 153 points.
UW-Stevens Point won the team title with 32 points, beating out three NCAA Division I teams. Pointer Mateo Alvarado Venegas won the individual crown with a time of 24:44.
The Titans were led by a pair of juniors, starting with
Aaron Nehls (Fredonia/Ozaukee) who completed the course in 27:21 for 46th. Shortly behind him was
Bennett Midthun (Fond du Lac/Winnebago Lutheran Academy), who placed 49th in 27:29.
Zachary Dietsch (West St. Paul, Minn./Two Rivers) was third for the Titans, running 27:35 for 52nd.
Luke Beeksma (Eau Claire/Eau Claire Memorial) made his cross country debut after not racing last fall and was the Titans' fourth runner, taking 56th in 27:36.
Max Vogele (Necedah/Necedah) led the freshman class, debuting with a time of 27:55. He placed 61st. The sixth and seventh Titans placed right behind Vogele were
Brady Lewis (Cedarburg/Cedarburg) running 28:02 for 62
nd and
Nick Sheklarevski's (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) debut race was good for 63rd in 28:07.
Also debuting for the Titans was
Jason Marhal (Port Washington/Port Washington), who placed 64th in a time of 28:08, and
Brody Ritchie's (Kaukauna/Kaukauna). Ritchie placed 71st with a time of 28:42.
The next freshman to cross the line was
Clayton Lee (Richland Center/Ithaca), who ran 29:05 for his debut time. Lee placed 78th.
Lucas Gallegos (Manitowoc/Manitowoc Lincoln) placed 85th in his first race, running a time of 30:17.
Jacob Hite (Necedah/Necedah) also completed his first collegiate race, running 31:14 for 93rd.
The Titans return next week for the UW-Oshkosh Titan Fall Classic at the XC Ranch on Friday (Sept. 18).
