Coach Jim Nesbitt has high hopes for the 1999 SVSU men's cross country team. With eight returning lettermen the Cardinals will look to improve on their 6th place GLIAC finish in 1998 and their 16th place showing at the NCAA Division II Great Lakes regional.
The Cardinal runners will shoot for a top-five finish in the competitive GLIAC that features national powers Ashland University, Hillsdale College, Lake Superior State University, and Michigan Technological University.
"The GLIAC is one of the toughest cross country conferences in Division II," said Nesbitt. "If we can finish among the top five in this conference, our season will be successful."
Unlike last season, Coach Nesbitt has some experience returning. The Cardinals will be led this season by returning senior captains Andy Atherton and Ryan Esterline. Both runners have earned three letters at SVSU while demonstrating their leadership abilities.
The Cardinals also return their top two runners in senior Jeff Watson and junior Mike Irwin. Watson was named the team's "Most Valuable" Award while earning his first letter last season. Watson was consistently one of SVSU's top finishers and highlighted his season with a second-place finish at the FSU Bulldog Invitational. Irwin also had a stellar season for the Cardinals, finishing first among his teammates at the NCAA D II Great Lakes Regional.
The five other returners competing for one of the top seven positions include junior Jason Ganzhorn, and sophomores Mark Crews, John Dolson, Tim Watkins, and Mike Barber.
The Cardinals have also added a good crop of newcomers that should add plenty of depth to the young team. Junior George Johnston joins the SVSU runners after transferring from Mott Community College. The rest of the incoming class include freshmen Warren Flintoff, Aaron Matuszewski, Seth Parker, Darik Pickerel, Courtney Rau, and Tyson Warschefski.