MEDIA DAY GALLERY

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – It will be a new season with a sprinkle of some new leadership for both cross country programs this fall, meshing new and returning faces while implementing a reshuffled staff leading the way.

AT THE HELM:

• New head coach Matt Sutton was hired over the winter by (now) Director of XC/T&F Dara Ford, and began learning the program across the spring.
   
• Assistants Mack Conlon and Dexter Benkard return while a handful of new coaches will join the staff, including GA Shawn Arthur and former Otterbein standout Hunter Moore.
   
• Roughly a dozen fourth/fifth year competitors are back to help provide veteran leadership.

 
MEN'S BREAKDOWN:

• A roster of 30 individuals looks to provide depth and options for the lineup, with competition from top to bottom. Included in that mix is 11 sophomores with a year of experience under their belts.
   
• The program has made consecutive appearances at the NCAA Championships, most recently finishing 29th nationally. The Cards are also coming off a pair of runner-up finishes at OAC's and top-five efforts in the Great Lakes Regional.
   
• Gone are five accomplished journeymen in Cal Yackin, Bill Daily, Nathan Craft, Gage Beireis and Liam Walits, who combined for a slew of accolades and notable performances.
   
• Two "starters" in John Nice and Jay Figgins (OAC Freshman of the Year) will enter as lynchpins. Nice garnered All-OAC, All-Ohio and All-Region honors last time around.
   
• Plenty of others will make their imprint and push for key roles. Seniors Cameron Christopher and Christopher Pinnick have tread on the shoes, while up-and-comers such as Ian Clevinger, Payne Ratliff and Chase Jackson have shown flashes.
   
• Freshman Mitch Green, a state qualifier in the 1600 meters, is expected to develop nicely.

 
WOMEN'S BREAKDOWN:

• The roster of 15-17 will feature a bit of everything, including 11 youngsters that are sophomores or below.
   
• Seven incoming runners will join the program, spearheaded by promising Toledo product Katherine Wilt.
   
• Graduate student Mackenzie Davis, seeing her career altered by injuries and a pandemic, is back using an extra year of eligibility to finish the right way.
   
• Rachel Ziel, Josey Johnson, Alyssa Mattis and other returners will all have the chance to make their presence known. Ziel was Top 40 in the field of 136 as the All-Ohio last fall.
   
• The Cardinals will certainly be motivated to jump back into the top-half of the league after settling for sixth at the most recent OAC Championships.

 
SUTTON STATEMENTS:

"We reflected after track season and I think we capitalized in some key moments. I saw great potential. Looking forward - I want to add my spin on the culture, make a real impact on recruiting and mesh those pieces with what we already have in place." – on his overall view since arriving

"Team always needs to come first. When we do that, it makes everyone better individually. Running for each other is at the forefront, and being greater than the sum of our parts. That really begins in training and comes out on race day." – on a team sport with individual times

"Adversity will definitely strike… and we want a team that's prepared to handle that. Building strong bonds will make sure our environment can sustain those bumps along the road. It doesn't always look pretty, but I want to see everyone battle and find the best version of themselves." – on navigating an entire fall schedule

"A lot of these guys have been waiting for their turn. I know they learned a lot from the recent graduates and now feel ready to strike. It should be fun to watch it play out." – on roster turnover with the men

"We are always focused on reaching the potential, whatever that may look like. These women made big strides in the spring and I think they are ready to go. We are focused on this year, but also know there is a real chance to put building blocks down for the future. Other teams moving forward can reap the benefits from what we do right now." – on the women's team evolving back
 
THE SCHEDULE:

• Both teams are slated to open at the Tommy Evans Invitational (hosted by Akron) before heading to the NCAC Preview in nearby Granville.
   
• The annual All-Ohio will once again take place at Cedarville in mid-September.
   
• Out- of-state meets will follow to help prepare for the OAC Championships, hosted late October at Hillcrest Golf Club in Findlay.
   
• Otterbein will head back to Silver Creek Metro Park for regionals with hopes of qualifying for the NCAA's, scheduled for late November in Newville, Pa.