PREVIEW: Experience to propel DWU this fall
MITCHELL, S.D. – Experience will be the staple for the Dakota Wesleyan University men’s and women’s cross country teams during the 2017 season. Heading into his third season at the helm of the Tigers, head coach Derik Fossum has high expectations for his senior class.
MITCHELL, S.D. – Experience will be the staple for the Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's cross country teams during the 2017 season. Heading into his third season at the helm of the Tigers, head coach Derik Fossum has high expectations for his senior class.
"Coach Kughn and I are excited about what Jeremiah (Panec) and all of our seniors can potentially do this season," Fossum said. "They all have developed well the past four years and should have the best seasons of their careers this fall."
Panec (Kenesaw, Neb.) looks to build off his junior season, which finished at the NAIA Cross Country Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Kenesaw, Neb., native became the first cross country runner to qualify for the NAIA Cross Country Championships since Thomas Madut did so in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009. Panec gained momentum near the end of the season as he notched a fifth-place finish at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships and the Mount Marty Invite, each the best marks on the season. He looks to make it back to the NAIA Cross Country Championships for a second-straight season, and will have a familiar face pushing him in his final year.
Fellow Kenesaw, Neb., native, Lane Tibbs will also be looked upon as a leader for the team following a successful junior campaign. Tibbs ran his best time of the season at the BVU Invite as he took ninth place. He also competed in the GPAC Championships and ended with a time of 26:15.5 and a 19th-place finish.
Other runners that will look to make an impact during the 2017 season includes junior Bryce Blank (Rapid City, S.D.), sophomores Ryan Chase (Huron, S.D.), Anthony Fontenot (Stephan, S.D.), Rex Schlicht (Woonsocket, S.D.) and freshman Brendan Langbehn (Worthing, S.D.). Blank showed signs of strong progress during his sophomore season with two top-30 finishes at the Gage McSpadden Invitational and the BVU Invite. He will look to continue the success as he progresses into a veteran on this DWU roster. Chase and Schlicht each found their footing during their freshmen seasons as they had strong finishes in multiple meets and hope to build off the success of their 2016 season.
"As a team, freshmen through seniors, we had a better summer than we have ever had," Fossum said. "That should translate well for us."
Similar to the men's team, the DWU women's cross country team will rely on the experience of upperclassmen to lead the way. Seniors Shailhyn Schweigert (Burke, S.D.) and Morgan Aughenbaugh (Huron, S.D.) will look to finish on the right foot in their final season in a Tiger uniform. Schweigert notched two top-20 finishes during her junior season, while Aughenbaugh made strides in her junior year and hopes to continue the momentum. Junior Kelsie King (Mission Viejo, Calif.) gained valuable experience and made huge strides in her second season as a Tiger. She ran her way to two top-15 finishes at the Gage McSpadden Invitational and the BVU Invite, making the two finishes a career best in cross country.
After a successful freshman season, McKenna Rogers (Saint Michael, Minn.) will stride to make a bigger impact in her second year. In 2016, she notched two top-10 finishes, a 26th-place finish and a 43rd-place finish at the GPAC Championships. Other runners who will add depth to the roster include sophomore Emily Hanson (Alexandria, S.D.) and freshmen Macy Bohl (Garretson, S.D.) and Savannah Schmidt (Plankinton, S.D.). Bohl was a six-time letterwinner in cross country at Garretson High School and Schmidt was a six-time individual cross country meet runner-up and a 10-time individual cross country meet champion at Plankinton High School.
A new face will be aiding Fossum this season as Zachary Kughn will help with coaching duties with the team. Kughn comes to DWU from Montana State University where he ran cross country for the Division I program. He will help Fossum with recruiting duties, practices and meet management.
No matter what obstacle presents itself this season, Fossum is confident that his team has the mindset to overcome any adversity.
"With the group of people we have, I know we will stay grounded and disciplined," Fossum said. "This group has a collective toughness that will drive them through the season."
Both teams will begin their season on Friday, at the Augustana Twilight Invitational in Sioux Falls, S.D.
