Men's Cross Country | 11/8/2025 11:24:23 PM
RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Over the past several years, the men's cross country program at the University of Rio Grande had steadily moved their way up the RSC cross country ladder - fourth in 2023, then third in 2024.
Saturday, the RedStorm decided to skip second and vault straight to the top, winning the 2025 River States Conference Men's Cross Country Championship on their home course at Bob Evans Farms in Rio Grande.
The strength at the top for the RedStorm proved to be the difference on Saturday, as the Red Wolves were three points better in spots 3-5, but could not make up the seven-point difference built by Tyler Jenkins and Ryder Crawford. Top ten performances by Mugisha Pomossene and Kasy Science and a third team effort from Carter Lipscomb were enough for the RedStorm to hold off the Red Wolves.
Rio Grande's Tyler Jenkins completed an astounding RSC cross country career, winning his third straight Runner of the Year award with a meet-winning time of 25:01.0, more than eight seconds faster than his nearest competition. The award for Newcomer of the Year, awarded to the meet's top freshman or transfer, went to IU East freshman Max Kline, who placed sixth with a time of 25:52.5. Rio Grande's Matt Paxton was honored as Coach of the Year, via a vote of his peers.
Per NAIA regulations, four additional runners not from the RSC champions will earn individual qualification to the NAIA Championships. Three additional teams will have representation in the NAIA Championships, led by two runners - Cameron Nocton and Max Kline - from IU East. They will be joined in Tallahassee by Shawnee State's Isaiah Lanoy and Midway's Carson Milner.
Additionally, the RSC is also proud to announce the athletes recognized as their program's Champion of Character. Each team in each River States Conference sponsored sport is asked to nominate one athlete as their Champion of Character. These student-athletes best represent the NAIA’s Champions of Character program and its five core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Rio Grande and the qualified runners advance to the NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championship, held this year at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida on November 21. Apalachee Regional Park was also the site of the 2022 NAIA Championships.
2025 River States Conference Men's Cross Country Awards
RSC Runner of the Year: Tyler Jenkins, Rio Grande
RSC Newcomer of the Year: Max Kline, IU East
RSC Coach of the Year: Matt Paxton, Rio Grande
FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Tyler Jenkins, Rio Grande
Isaiah Lanoy, Shawnee State
Ryder Crawford, Rio Grande
Carson Milner, Midway
Cameron Nocton, IU East
Max Kline, IU East
Trevor Lanoy, Shawnee State
SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Mylan Nocton, IU East
Mugisha Pomossene, Rio Grande
Kasy Science, Rio Grande
Richard Bower, IU East
Akot Tong, IU East
Kaiden Lanoy, Shawnee State
Axton Fosnaugh, IU East
THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Carter Lipscomb, Rio Grande
Connor Darnell, Shawnee State
Thomas Hogan, IU East
Gabe Reynolds, IU East
Micah Balsmeyer, Rio Grande
John Young, Rio Grande
Conner Walser, IU East
CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER
Brody Kurz, Brescia
Emiliano Rosales-Lopez, IU Columbus
Gabe Reynolds, IU East
Drew Lovelace, IU Kokomo
Sam Van Huss, Kentucky Christian
Noah Hampton, Midway
Emerick Randolph, Oakland City
Anton Meinlschmidt, Rio Grande
Jayden Hickenbotham, St. Mary-of-the-Woods
Rowen Lloyd, Shawnee State
Jan Fasius Ponsa, WVU Tech