Rock Island, Ill. – The Wheaton men's cross country team competed at the 2025 CCIW Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island. The Thunder finished third in the nine-team field.
North Central continued its long-standing reign as CCIW Champions in a first-place finish with 20 points. Carthage scored 65 points in second place, Wheaton placed third with 79 points, Millikin finished fourth with 124 points and Illinois Wesleyan rounded out the top-five with 153 points. Elmhurst scored 154 points in sixth place, while Augustana scored 167 points in seventh place, Carroll placed eighth with 212 points and North Park was ninth with 278 points.
Carthage's Jacob Curulewski posted a time of 23:57.2 on the 8K championship course to finish first. North Central's BJ Sorg placed second in 24:01.1 and his Cardinal teammate Jacob Kluckhohn finished third in 24:54.5.
Wheaton freshman
Matthias Everest had the top performance for the Thunder men in the 78-man field. Everest posted a time of 25:43.1 in 11
th place as he earned Second Team All-CCIW honors.
Sheldon Powell (PICTURED LEFT),
Josh Steiner and
Jude Hubbard each joined Everest on the All-CCIW Second Team. Powell placed 15
th with a time of 25:53.1. Steiner finished 17
th with a time of 25:56.8 and Hubbard posted a time of 26:03.5 in 19
th place.
Thunder freshman
Michael Osielski was 27
th in 26:32.2. Senior
Luke Wertz posted a time of 26:42.8 in 30
th place and senior
Braedon Veurink finished 33
rd in 26.47.6
Wertz was named as Wheaton's CCIW RESPECT Award winner. Each varsity program recognizes one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
Wheaton's next event is the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on November 15. The Regional is hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
