Team Scores            Individual Results
             
            New UW-Parkside cross country coach Micah VanDenend kicked off his Ranger career at the 22nd annual Midwest Open, held on Parkside's Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course on a rainy Saturday morning in Somers.

            “I had butterflies in my stomach getting out here today,” admitted VanDenend after the races. “I was very excited, but now the first meet is over and we'll move on from here.”

            NCAA Division I Loyola championed the men's 8K race with a total of 31, followed by fellow Division I UW-Milwaukee at 40.

            “Our men fought the whole way and were only beaten by two Division I teams,” said VanDenend, who once starred at the Big Ten's Iowa.

            UW-Parkside's Ben Orvold easily won the men's race in a time of 25:11. He was 33 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Scott Mueller, an open runner. Other Ranger scorers include Rehan Mahmood, 11th, 26:38; Alex Mena, 19th, 26:56; Matt Vidas, 42nd, 27:29; and Phil Simac, 54th, 28:09.

            “Ben was awesome,” cited VanDenend. “Right from the start, he had a 50-meter lead after 1K and looked smooth and consistent throughout. This is a testament to the hard work he has put in.”
            Next up for the Runnin' Rangers is the Griak Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota, Saturday, Sept. 25.