Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

Cross Country 8/29/2024 1:00:00 PM Anthony Clark Jr., Assistant Manager of Athletic Communications

2024 XC Season Preview

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport University cross country is less than two weeks away from commencing the 2024 season as they look to continue building on the momentum created last year.

2023 saw several school records broken for each program with personal bests posted across the board. The teams finished sixth (men's) and seventh (women's) overall in the 2023 GLIAC Championships - with Jordan Domany and former student-athlete Erin Dorn receiving Second Team All-GLIAC honors after their respective races. Tyler Guggemos was one of 14 Panthers to represent the programs in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships and finished 12th overall for the program's highest individual placement in a regional championship in team history.

Ella Baryo, Grace Buckland, and Alivia Lamborne are a trio of seniors that helped to anchor last year's squad as the women's team secured its first-ever invitational victory in program history after taking first overall in the Lansing XC Invite on Sept. 22. The women's squad will also see Zoe Zawacki, Kayleigh Kuhse, Claire Akin, and Cierra Guay return to the lineup.

Garrett Melling, Drew Sharrar, and Jacob Dennis accompany Domany and Guggemos as top returns for the men's team, with Rogan Melling, Craig Fuller, Luke Janofski, Matthew Nowak, and Nikolas Shilling rounding out the returns for the men's side.

With the 2024 GLIAC Cross Country Preseason Poll tabbing the Panthers at No. 6 (men's) and No. 8 (women's) this year, Head Coach Scott Cook embarks on his 18th season and welcomes the addition of four true freshmen, two apiece for the men's and women's teams: Luke Oyster, Lucas Van Meter, Alyssa Butterfield, and Kaylen Clark.

The Panthers are slated for their first competition in the Northwood Invite on Saturday, Sept. 7 at the Fisher Family Trails.

2024 GLIAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Grand Valley State		81 (9)
2. Saginaw Valley State		73 (1)
3. Wayne State		62
4. Michigan Tech		59
5. Parkside		44
6. Davenport		43
7. Ferris State		37
8. Purdue Northwest		24
9. Lake Superior State		18
10. Roosevelt		9

2024 GLIAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Grand Valley State		100 (10)
2. Wayne State		86 (1)
3. Saginaw Valley State		82
4. Northern Michigan		73
5. Michigan Tech		64
6. Parkside		56
7. Ferris State		46
8. Davenport		40
9. Purdue Northwest		29
10. Lake Superior State		19
11. Roosevelt		10

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Luke Janofski: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Matthew Nowak: 5' 11"; Junior

Garrett Melling: 6' 1"; Senior

Drew Sharrar: 6' 0"; Junior

Tyler Guggemos: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jacob Dennis: 5' 9"; Junior

Jordan Domany: 5' 11"; Freshman

Craig Fuller: 6' 1"; Junior

Rogan Melling: 5' 11"; Freshman

Nikolas Shilling: 6' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Luke Janofski
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Freshman

Matthew Nowak
: 5' 11"; Junior

Garrett Melling
: 6' 1"; Senior

Drew Sharrar
: 6' 0"; Junior

Tyler Guggemos
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jacob Dennis
: 5' 9"; Junior

Jordan Domany
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Craig Fuller
: 6' 1"; Junior

Rogan Melling
: 5' 11"; Freshman

Nikolas Shilling
: 6' 5"; Freshman