Men's Cross Country

Phil Torrens (center) returns for his 29th season as the head men's cross country coach at Denison.

After posting a third place finish at last season's North Coast Athletic Conference championships the Big Red returns a veteran group primed to make a run at the best the Great Lakes region has to offer.

Senior Joel Bendtsen is coming off a outstanding junior season which saw him place sixth at the North Coast Athletic Conference championships, 17th at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional and 119th out of 279 runners at the NCAA Division III championships. He was the first male Denison cross country runner to qualify for the national championship since 2000.

Joining Bendtsen will be seniors Craig Baker and Matt Perkett.Junior Lex Hultquist, the 2006 NCAC indoor champion in the mile, returns along with juniors Skyler Mosenthal, Grant Russo, Ben Holder, Philip Hiltner and Greg Lyon.

The sophomore class is led by Adam Tewahade, Kindy Tice, Christopher Bennett and Michael Shirar while the first-year's include Dan Rafferty, Todd Johnson and Alphonse Harris.

Denison was picked to finish second in the preseason coaches poll conducted by the North Coast Athletic Conference. Denison totaled 84 points, second only to 2006 champion Allegheny who received 100 points.

Denison's season will begin on Friday, Aug. 31 when they host the Denison Fall Classic at the Bryn Du Mansion Grounds in Granville beginning at 6 p.m.