Bears Look to Establish New Records

The 2001 Men's Cross Country team established a new school record with 72 wins and fifteen new top twenty best ever times.  The Bears won meet championships at the Kentucky Christian Invitational, The “Big Blue Challenge”, and the famous “Legends” Invitational.  Coach Mangus expects this year's team to be even stronger with nine returning runners – including the top four - and a very good recruiting class joining them.  Last year's squad finished 5^th in the NAIA Regional meet.

The ten-meet schedule is extremely challenging. It includes trips to Asbury-Jessamine Special at Asbury College, Wilmore KY; the Hanover College Invitational at Hanover College, Hanover, IN; the "Big Blue Challenge” sponsored by Bluefield State College at Camp Creek, WV; the Greensboro Invitational in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Friendship Invitational in Cedarville, OH; and the Gettysburg College Invitational in Gettysburg, PA. It also includes the Kentucky Christian College Invitational, the Rio Grande Invitational, The Wilmington Fall Classic and the 5^th Annual Shawnee State Invitational. "The AMC championships will be held at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, NY, and we are looking for a strong finish to the season,” said Coach Mangus.

Coach Mangus has eight lettermen returning from last year’s squad. They are, juniors Eric Stephan (Sardinia, OH), Adam Tolle (Seaman, OH) and team captain John Williams (Minerva, OH).  Sophomores Trent Hyland (South Webster, OH), Brett LeMaster (Cable, OH), Dave Abbott (West Union, OH), Blake Jones (Georgetown, OH), Nick Liberator (Canton, OH), and new comers Chad Danner (Minerva, OH), and Garrett Smith (Greenfield, OH).  Four outstanding new freshman recruits will challenge for spots:  Craig Arnett, Waverly H.S., Waverly, OH; Dirk Hollar, Minerva H.S., Minerva, OH; Dustin Jacobs, Garaway H.S., Dover, OH; and David Walker from Westland H.S., Columbus, OH