OXFORD, Ohio- The Shawnee State University Bears have been picked to remain the team to beat in men's cross country in the River States Conference, claiming the top spot in the 2025 RSC Preseason Coaches Poll. The poll, announced Tuesday by the River States Conference office, saw each of the conference's eleven head coaches rank the other member schools in order of predicted finish.
The Bears enter the 2025 season as winners of nine consecutive conference championships in men's cross country, including two straight in the River States Conference. SSU, who claimed six of eleven first place votes, edged Rio Grande for the title last season, beating out the RedStorm by four points. Rio Grande earned four first place votes to finish second, and figure to be led by two-time reigning Conference Runner of the Year Tyler Jenkins, who is entering his senior season.
The top five of the coaches poll was rounded out by third place IU East, with IU Kokomo and Midway tied for fourth. The Pomeroys of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are picked to finish in the middle of the conference, at sixth place. The bottom half of the poll sees WVU Tech seventh, Oakland City eighth, Brescia and IU Columbus tied for ninth and RSC newcomer Kentucky Christian rounding out the conference at eleventh.
The River States cross country schedule is scheduled to begin Friday, August 29, with five teams in competition, including three at the Thundering Herd Invitational on the campus of Marshall University in West Virginia. The season will culminate in Rio Grande, Ohio on Saturday, November 8, when a champion is decided at the River States Conference Cross Country Championships, with the University of Rio Grande serving as host school.
2025 RSC PRESEASON MEN's CROSS COUNTRY COACHES' POLL
1. Shawnee State (95 points, 6 first place votes)
2. Rio Grande (94 points, 4 first place votes)
3. IU East (84 points, 1 first place vote)
t4. IU Kokomo (68 points)
t4. Midway (68 points)
6. St. Mary-of-the-Woods (54 points)
7. WVU Tech (45 points)
8. Oakland City (35 points)
t9. Brescia (25 points)
t9. IU Columbus (25 points)
11. Kentucky Christian (12 points)