HOUGHTON, NY – The men's Cross Country team got their season underway with the long trip to Houghton, NY for the Houghton Short Course event and took home first place in the four team event.

The Cougars captured the first three spots and eight of the first twelve on their way to winning the event.

Simon Reidsma took first place individually with a time of 16:11.75 followed closely by Jared Lauber in 16:16.61 and Nathan Anderson in 16:19.46.

"It was a Great day," said Head Coach Dante Ottolini.  "We had our top 3 returners from last year sitting out.  (Kyle Anderson, Kam Mills and Noah Haverdink).  We had some other guys come up big and fill those holes today.  Sophomore, Simon Reidsma sat out last year injured so it was so much fun watching him win the race and run number one man for us.  Jared Lauber is a talented young man who has been held back for three seasons with injury, mono and other setbacks, so, it was such a joy seeing him run at the level he has always been capable of but robbed of.  Third place prize of a real jug of maple syrup went to Nathan Anderson, who ran a lifetime PR and put together a great race."

Dan Garza was next for the Cougars in sixth place with a time of 16:39.48 and Maxx Lackie placed eighth clocking 16:54.71. 

The top five runners for Spring Arbor scored the 20 points (1,2,3,6,8) and places six and seven take up spots but the place doesn't count.  Those two runners for the Cougars were Tyler Babinec and Livingston Garland with times of 17:08.96 and 17:09.50 respectively.

"I'm really pleased with freshman Dan Garza stepping right in for his first race, which was huge for us," said Ottolini.  "Maxx Lackie rounded out our top 5 after a huge summer of training.  He is a great example of hard work making a difference. We also had a few other guys running their first race of their lives or careers today."

Other Cougars runners competing today were; Logan Boote (17:12.33), Nick Haskamp (17:38.35), and Sam Comden (18:02.36).

"The highlight of this event, though, was the fellowship with the Houghton College team," continued Ottolini.  "Their chaplain led us in devotion, and we shared pizza and fellowship and later that night hung out some more.  We raced hard against each other, but also as brothers in The Lord.  Matt their head coach and their entire team are an amazing group."

The Cross Country team will compete next on Saturday, September 14 at the Lancer Invitational at Grace College in Winona Lake, IN.  Race time is set for 10:45 am.