2007 Outlook

2007 Men's Cross Country Outlook

"Veterans to Lead Cavs"

Long time Head Coach Dan McCallion expects his veterans to lead the Cavs to their 31st consecutive winning season in 2007. The Cavs return 10 letter winners from last year’s 52-17-1 team, which finished fourth at the American Mideast Conference/Region IX Meet. Walsh also produced the top grade point average among all cross country teams in the NAIA in 2006 and six Daktronics Scholar-Athletes (Tim Geabler, Mike Groholy, Tyler Immel, Sean McBride, Alex McCallion, Andy Schulz). 

Inconsistency plagued the Cavs in 2006, as team members changed their order of finish drastically from week to week. Former national qualifier Brendan McKee (Jr., Akron, OH/Saint Vincent-Saint Mary), Mike Groholy (Sr., Parma, OH/Valley Forge) and Josh Rogers (Sr., Hartville, OH/Lake) all took their turn as the top man last year. McKee was named Team MVP, while Rogers was named Most Improved. McKee was the model of consistency however, finishing first for the Cavs in six meets and finishing second twice. His best race came at the AMC/Region IX Meet, with a 23rd place finish (26:37.0). However, a late season ankle injury hampered his bid to return to the NAIA National Championships. This trio should be the Cavs’ top three. Rogers, after a slow start, finished strong. After finishing no higher than fourth for the Cavs in the first four meets, he placed second for Walsh twice and was the teams top finisher at the AMC/NAIA Region IX Meet (22nd, 26:34.04). Groholy looks to duplicate his fast start of 2006, when he placed in the top three in the first three meets, with a PR of 27:10 at the National Catholic Meet, and 10th place finish.

Walsh’s top seven consists of five seniors and two juniors. Tim Geabler (Sr., Canton, OH/GlenOak), one of two fifth-year seniors, will battle for a top five spot. After a slow start in 2006, Geabler finished in the top three in each of the last five meets. His best time (26:53.4) came at the AMC/Region IX Meet. Andy Schulz (Sr., Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway) was solid last year, finishing in the top five four times and never below sixth in his eight meets. His best time (27:37.38) also came in the AMC/NAIA Region IX Meet. Expect a strong finish from Walsh’s other fifth-year senior, Chris Zundel (Madison, OH/HS). Zundel, a former NAIA National Qualifier, started strong but battled injuries. He posted his best time (27:17.98) at the AMC/Region IX Meet. Rounding out the top seven is junior Jon Winnyk (Strongsville, OH/Holy Name). Winnyk was one of the most consistent Cavs, with a team average finish of fourth. Winnyk’s best finish came at the National Catholic Meet, 27th overall and third for Walsh. His best time (27:18.5) came at the AMC/Region IX Meet.

The remainder of the squad is made-up by junior Matt Yanek (Jr., Salem, OH/HS), sophomore’s Skylar Branstool (Mansfield, OH/Plymouth) and Matt Long (Mogadore, OH/Field), and freshmen Bryan Entwistle (St. Mary, MO/Gateway Academy), Bob Fay (Canton, OH/Central Catholic), Evan Heck (Navarre, OH/Central Catholic), Adam Hrdlicka (Lakewood, OH/HS), Luke Immel (Sugarcreek, OH/Garaway), Mike Krosse (Fr., Massillon, OH/Central Catholic), and Steve Lestock (Cumberland, OH/Meadowbrook).

After last years strong AMC finish, Coach McCallion is confident the Cavs can make a run at returning to the NAIA National Championships. Walsh last qualified as a team in 1996. Last year was the first time since 2001 that they failed to produce an individual at the National Meet. The Cavs expect things to be quite different in 2007.