RIVER FOREST, Ill. – The Concordia University Chicago (CUC) men's cross country season is almost upon us. Catch up on last season and see what the team is up to this fall.
 
Coach Dvorak
In his second season in charge, Head Coach Chris Dvorak is ready for the squad to get back on the course. "Heading into this season, I know my athletes and they trusted the process last year, which paid off. Now, they're ready to go and reach new heights. The team is invested in each other and will see the product of that over this and future seasons."
 
Last Season
CUC co-hosted the NPU/CUC Early Invitational on August 29 to kickstart last season. In his collegiate debut, Dominic Carlson (Loves Park, Ill.) led the team, finishing 16^th overall. Following closely behind were teammates Donovan Depakakibo (Norridge, Ill.), Nathaniel Boksa (Norridge, Ill.), and Nathaniel Hernandez (Harwood Heights, Ill.).
 
Boksa was the top finisher at the Aurora Spartan Classic on September 13. Carlson picked up a personal best to finish second for the Cougars. Multiple Cougars also picked up personal bests.
 
The following week, CUC competed at the Gil Dodds Invitational, hosted by Wheaton College. Carlson paced the squad with a nearly 35 second personal best. Hernandez and William Leonard (Oskaloosa, Mo.) followed behind. Gael Arroyo (Cicero, Ill.) secured the highlight of the day, recording a PR of 33:27.40, taking off six and a half minutes from his previous best.
 
To kick off October, the Cougars raced at the Warrior Invitational in West Allis, Wis., hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC). Carlson once again led the team with Leonard, Boksa, and Hernandez.
 
On October 17, Carlson led the squad at the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill., hosted by Bradley University. The Cougars finished 14^th of 19 teams. Boksa and Julien Saltos (Chicago, III.) rounded out the top three.
 
At the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference (NACC) Championships on November 2 in Green Bay, Wis. the Cougars finished sixth of nine teams. Carlson once again paced all Cougars with a new personal best of 27:25.4 and placed 22^nd overall.
 
At the NCAA DIII Midwest Regional Championships in Waverly, Iowa, CUC placed 27^th out of 32 teams. Carlson crossed the line first for the Cougars, followed by Boksa and Arroyo.
 
Returning Athletes
Along with Arroyo, Boksa, Carlson, and Hernandez, Donovan Depakakibo (Norridge, Ill.), Camari Edwards (Milwaukee, Wis.), Rodolfo Hill (Melrose Park, Ill.), Cosby Lux (Landgrove, Vt.), Cameron Mitchell (Racine, Wis.), and Julien Saltos (Chicago, Ill.) return to the course.
 
"While we had three runners graduate last season, whose presence will be missed, the team they helped form gets to stay intact. There were huge gains in our track & field seasons, following a successful cross country season," Coach Dvorak noted. "Almost everyone is coming in with more experience and speed under their belts. They're also coming back with more confidence in themselves and each other."
 
New Faces
The Cougars welcome four new runners, including Walter Berndt (Los Angeles, Calif.), Eduardo Gang (Joliet, Ill.), Elijah Klug (Springfield, Ill.), and Law Sholten (Frankenmuth, Mich.).
 
"There are some great contenders who are ready to hop into the fray of competition," highlighted Coach Dvorak of his incoming class. "We had a good time trial the other day where I was able to see all of the newcomers put their racing strategy on display. What I saw were athletes who are ready to learn, ready to take competitive risks, push for a higher spot, or simply recognize that where they are on this one day is not where they are staying. They have set a baseline and are ready to grow from there."
 
A Look Ahead
The season begins on Friday, September 4, at the Flyer Early Bird Invite, hosted by Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. Two weeks later, the Cougars head to Warrenville, Ill. for the Gil Dodds Invite, hosted by Wheaton College on Saturday, September 19.
 
The new month kicks off with the Cougars traveling to West Allis, Wis. for the Steve Travis Invitational, hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) on Saturday, October 3. The final tune up before NACC will be the Augustana Interregional Invitational, on Saturday, October 17, in Rock Island, Ill.
 
Halloween is set for the NACC Championships, held in Batavia, Ill. Finally, the season will conclude at the DIII Midwest Regionals, held in Rock Island, Ill.
 
Coach Dvorak is optimistic and excited for the season. "We have some real opportunities for getting some NACC All-Conference placements. The team has good prospects at being in the top half of the NACC. Many of the runners really built up a competitive mindset during track season, which will bring fresh successes throughout this season as they not only push against themselves and their self-improvement, but also get in the mix for conference and regionals and placing well. At the end of the season, I hope my runners feel accomplished, recognize and celebrate success, while learning from the let downs and coming back stronger. Times, Places, and Accolades: those will all follow as the team continues to bring together training, teamwork, and resilience."
 
The men's cross country season begins Friday, September 4. The Cougars will head to Romeoville, Ill. for the Flyer Early Bird Invite, hosted by Lewis University. Coverage for the meet, as well as anything related to Concordia men's cross country can be found at cucougars.com.