Cross Country teams set to begin 2014 season
UW-Platteville men’s and women’s cross country teams begin the 2014 season on Saturday at the Warhawk Invitational in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's cross country teams begin the 2014 season on Saturday at the Warhawk Invitational in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
The men's team is ranked ninth in the preseason NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country National Coaches Poll. The Pioneers return their three top performers from last year, seniors Sam Poser, Matt Smaga and Joel Walden. Poser was a first team all-WIAC performer, finishing third at the conference meet, and qualified for the national meet. Walden joined Poser at the national meet and finished 12th at the 2013 WIAC meet. Smaga received honorable mention all-WIAC honors as he finished 20th at the league meet. The Pioneers will also welcome back sophomore Ian LaMere, who missed last season due to an injury. LaMere was a national qualifier as a freshman in 2012 and placed 11th at conference.
The women's team also returns its three top runners from a season ago, senior Danielle Kunkel, junior Kiera Depies and sophomore Chelsey Heiden. Kunkel led last year's squad, finishing second at the conference meet to earn first team all-WIAC honors. Depies earned second-team all-conference honors, finishing 13th, and Heiden placed 24th in her first WIAC meet.