Northwest Wayne News

The Wayne State University cross country programs, led by eighth-year head coach Grant Lofdahl, have announced their schedules for the 2024 season.

"We cannot wait to get the 2024 cross country season started, and it will be nice to stick close to home early on," remarked Lofdahl. "Northwood has a fun and competitive meet that will be ideal for our opener, and we'll race our full squad for the first time at the Warrior Challenge, where both the men and women will attempt to defend their 2023 titles.

"October is when the schedule usually heats up, and that should be the case again this fall. The Louisville Invite is a massive, highly competitive meet that should give our runners a taste of elite-level racing, and the Lewis Crossover will be filled with top DII teams from all over the country as usual.

"Ferris State's golf course has been a quality venue for the GLIAC championships for decades, while regionals being hosted at Lewis for the first time will be different, yet on a course that we're familiar with. And ending your season in Sacramento is not a bad thing by any means, as we found out a few years back when the women competed at NCAAs out there. This year we will aim to send both the men's and women's teams on that trip!"

Wayne State commences its 2024 campaign on Saturday, September 7th at the Northwood Invitational held at Fisher Family Trails on NU's campus.

On Friday (September 13th), WSU will host the Warrior Challenge at Willow Metropark in New Boston.

After taking a couple of weeks off from competition, Wayne State will participate in The 23rd Annual Live in Lou Cross Country Classic on Saturday, October 5th at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.

The following Saturday (October 12th), Wayne State makes its first of two trips to Romeoville, Illinois for the annual Lewis Crossover.

On Friday, October 18th, WSU competes in the SVSU Red October Meet hosted by Saginaw Valley State to conclude its regular season.

The Warriors begin postseason competition with the GLIAC Championships on Saturday, October 26th at Ferris State's Katke Golf Course.

The second trip to Romeoville occurs on Saturday, November 9th for the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Two weeks later is the NCAA National Championship meet held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California.

The women's team has five three-year letterwinners returning led by Reagan Justice who finished 13th at last year's GLIAC Championship and 20th at NCAA Regionals. Seniors Emily Gordon (31st), Annalee Misch (38th), Mattie Drennan (66th) and Layla Martini (73rd) also competed in last year's GLIAC Championships along with redshirt junior Robin Bresolin (37th), juniors Briana Vojinov (15th) and Aubrey Migoski (52nd), and redshirt sophomore Sarah Greb (89th).

On the men's side, Wayne State must replace three-time All-American Ransom Allen. The lone three-year letterwinner is Carson Nicoletti who finished 62nd at GLIACs in 2023. Redshirt senior Tyler Buchanan (15th) is WSU's top returning performer from last year's GLIAC Championships. In addition to Buchanan and Nicoletti are five other Warriors with GLIAC experience: redshirt sophomore Kenny Minto (44th), sophomores Seth Pianga (31st), Brady Heron (55th), Aidan Lobsinger (69th) and Jared Platt (71st).