John Brown University's men's cross country team placed fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships in 2016 -- its highest finish at the conference meet since rebooting the program in 2010.
The Golden Eagles would like to keep working their way up the ladder in 2017, and even possibly take the next step as a team, according to fourth-year head coach Scott Schochler.
"The goal for this team is definitely to get the team to nationals," Schochler said. "To do that, we're going to have to finish second or third in our conference probably."
JBU finished behind conference champ Bacone (Okla.), Oklahoma City and Wayland Baptist (Texas) at the SAC Championships last year. Schochler expects another tough league again this year.
"You know it's going to be another crazy conference meet to finish in fourth or even a little ahead of that," Schochler said. "Conference is loaded up again this year on the guys' side."
The Golden Eagles begin their season on Saturday at the Missouri Southern State First to the Finish Stampede held at the Tom Rutledge XC Course in Joplin, Mo.
JBU features 13 runners on this year's team, led by two-time All-Sooner Athletic Conference selection Josh Uzelac, who competed as an individual in the national meet last year.
"The guys are looking really strong," said Schochler. "Obviously you never really know until you get into the first competition, but workouts have looked great. Everybody came in good shape with a fitness level we hoped for. I think we're going to be really strong on the guys' side and be able to compete for the conference spot at nationals."
Of JBU's 13 runners, only one of them is a senior in Thomas Bearden (5-foot-7) from Lake Hamilton.
"He's been putting in the work for four years now," Schochler said of Bearden. "He's just a solid team member who makes sure things get done, one of those behind the scenes guys. It's been fun having him for four years."
Uzelac, a 5-8 junior from Springdale Har-Ber, has been JBU's most decorated runner the last two years with back-to-back all-SAC selections as a sophomore and junior.
"Obviously Josh Uzelac has been the No. 1 runner on our team the last two years and probably will be again this year," Schochler said.
But Schochler is counting on several of Uzelac's teammates to give him a run for his money.
Junior Jacob Benjamin (5-2, Salem, Ore.) was the Golden Eagles' No. 2 runner for a lot of last season.
"He's going to be pushing Josh in races this year and right up on his shoulders," Schochler said.
Junior Michael Games (5-9, North Little Rock) has had some injury issues his first two years at JBU, but he appears ready to go, Schochler said.
"He's been right up there with Josh and Jacob, so hopefully (Games) will be a strong contributor to our team and move into that scoring spot," Schochler said.
Junior Jacob Synek (6-0, Leawood, Kan.) is another runner that makes sure the guys on the team are doing what they're supposed to be doing, Schochler said.
"He's also looked pretty strong as well," Schochler said of Synek. "He has a shot to be in the top six or seven runners."
Sophomore Elliott Pearson (5-11) of Siloam Springs ran well as a freshman and the Golden Eagles are expecting more from him as a sophomore.
"There's always a big jump in performance between that freshman and sophomore year," Schochler said. "I'm excited to see what Elliott can do this year. I'm hoping he jumps up into the top two or three spots, but he's going to have a lot of competition to be there."
Sophomore Nathan Pearson (5-9, Tulsa Okla.), who is Elliott Pearson's cousin, has been running with the top seven runners so far in workouts, despite last year being his first ever to run cross country.
"(Nathan Pearson) may be the surprise of the year with our team if he races as well as he is working out," Schochler said.
Sophomore Ethan Stafford (6-2, Carl Junction, Mo.) works hard for the Golden Eagles and encourages his teammates to get after it, Schochler said.
Sophomore Nate Wertjes (6-1, Tumwater, Wash.) is involved heavily in JBU's national championship Enactus team and runs with the Golden Eagles when he's able to. He might only be able to run a select group of races this year, Schochler said.
JBU has four freshman that are hoping to make an impact, Schochler said.
Freshman Matthew Bloom (6-2, Wichita, Kan.) is still dealing with an injury and might come along slowly to start the year, he said.
Ben Martin of Trinity Academy (Wichita, Kan.) is a 6-2 freshman that is going to challenge to run with the front of the team, Schochler said.
"He's making Josh Uzelac get after it in workouts," Schochler said. "He's come into the season ready to go. He might be the strongest freshman we have at JBU."
Josh Unruh (6-4) was teammates with Martin at Trinity Academy in Wichita.
"He will also challenge for a top five spot," Schochler said. "He's come here in great shape and is going to help our team out."
Freshman Eathan Devine of Bryant doesn't have as much experience as the other freshman.
"We want to see him develop long term," Schochler said. "He's going to be good for us. He's a great young man who works hard."
Including Saturday's meet at MSSU, the Golden Eagles have five meets on their regular season schedule.
They'll run in the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville on Sept. 30 and then two weeks later on Oct. 14, they'll participate in the Little Rock Invitational. On Oct. 21 they'll run in the St. Louis College of Pharmacy (Mo.) Classic.
The Sooner Athletic Conference Championships are scheduled for Nov. 4 in Shawnee, Okla.
Schochler would love to have a sixth meet added to the schedule if JBU qualifies for nationals.
"Hopefully," he said. "I think we've got a good chance at it."
Sports on 09/13/2017