MW
Mara Wiebke
  • marketing
  • Class of 2018
  • Onalaska, Wis.

Onalaska native Wiebke named to UW-Whitewater women's cross country roster

2015 Sep 17

Mara Wiebke, a native of Onalaska, WI, and graduate of Onalaska High School, will compete for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's cross country team in 2015.

Wiebke, a sophomore for the Warhawks, is majoring in marketing.

The Warhawk men's and women's teams open the 2015 season this Saturday with the inaugural Tom Hoffman Invitational at the UW-Whitewater campus cross country trail. The women's race will begin at 10:45 a.m. with the men's competition to follow at 11:45 a.m.

Saturday's meet, which had been referred to at the Warhawk Invitational in the past, will now officially be renamed in honor of Hoffman, one of the most accomplished runners in school history.

A 1970 graduate, Hoffman was a three-time Wisconsin State University Conference champion and two-time NAIA All-American during his standout career. As a senior, he placed fourth at the NAIA Championships for the best finish at a national meet in program history.

Hoffman, who also claimed multiple WSUC championships and three All-America accolades in track, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon three times, including in 1972, when he finished eighth. The Fort Atkinson native is a member of the UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame and was one of 15 selected as a member of the conference's All-Time Men's Cross Country team during the league's centennial celebration in 2012-13.

Prior to the start of the women's race, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Edmonds will make remarks, followed by a reading of Hoffman's accomplishments as a runner.

Following the conclusion of the men's race, at approximately 1 p.m., Hoffman will be formally recognized along with 2015 UW-Whitewater Athletics Hall of Fame inductees/former cross country runners Ryan Meissen '01 and Stephanie Greiber '01. The Warhawks' current senior student-athletes will also be honored as part of their final home meet.

UW-Whitewater will compete in four more meets prior to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships, which are set for Oct. 31 at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne. The NCAA Midwest Regional will take place two weeks later at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill., with the NCAA Championships slated for Nov. 21 back at Lake Breeze Golf Club.

See below for a breakdown of the 2015 UW-Whitewater men's and women's cross country teams.

Men

Despite the loss of 2014 national qualifier Dawson Miller to graduation, the Warhawks return several veteran runners to this year's team. The team will participate in 8-kilometer races.

Sophomore Brett Harms evolved as the team's most consistent No. 2 finisher in 2014. Harms placed 38th at the WIAC Championships and 49th out of 265 at the NCAA Regional, recording the No. 23 personal best time in school history (25:24.60) at the regional race.

Seniors Quinn Farley and Kent Miehe were consistently among the team's top seven a season ago. Farley placed ninth with a personal-best 26:22.4 at the 2014 Warhawk Invitational, while Miehe has been a consistent varsity finisher during his first three years on campus. Farley and Miehe (26:40.50) hold the Nos. 4 and 6 best personal bests, respectively, on this year's team.

Sophomore Noah Stamsta was also a consistent varsity finisher in his first season. He was the team's third-best finisher at the WIAC Championship and tallied a personal-best 26:23.80 at the NCAA Regional.

Senior Tony Urbanski owns the second-best personal record on the team entering the season at 26:19.40, a mark from last year's NCAA Regional. Senior Scott Wolter was seventh on the team at the WIAC Championship and enters his fourth year on the team.

Other returners include junior Ryan Worden, sophomores Aaron Carmichael, Benjamin Maas, Alec Meixelsperger and Mitch Wackett. UW-Whitewater also looks to be bolstered by freshman Jonah Nelson, who competed in middle distance and distance events for the track and field team last year.

Newcomers: Zach Ewoldt - So.; Ethan Kern - Fr.; Breaden Michael - Fr.; Grant Miller - Fr.; Todd Noreen - Fr.; Trent Rudebeck - Fr.; Jack Sauer - Fr.; Cameron Vinson - Fr.; Emmett Williams - Fr.

Women

Seniors Amy Kahl and Emily Kahl return to lead the women's team, which will compete in 6-kilometer races.

Amy Kahl earned All-WIAC and All-Midwest Region accolades in 2014 and led the team at each meet she competed in. She recorded the No. 3 personal best time in school history with a 22.17.70 to place 27th at the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Emily Kahl was regularly among the Warhawks' top three finishers a year ago. She posted a personal-best 23:05.20, the No. 10 time in school history, at the NCAA Regional.

Senior Mary Kate Bernier, sophomores Monica Sweet and Mara Wiebke also return as consistent contributors from last season. Wiebke (24:19.40), Sweet (24:24.00) and Bernier (24:40) hold the Nos. 3, 4 and 5 personal record results, respectively, of this year's returners.

Senior Sarah Kasiurak and sophomore Olivia Woyak each registered several varsity finishes a year ago. Woyak earned her personal best of 25:27.0 last season, while Kasiurak ran her record of 26:04 in 2013.

Other returners include senior Mayzee Hurst, juniors Leeana Liska, Katelyn Pena, sophomores Sara Fuller, Emma Knudtson, Liz Mielke and Ashley Paulick.

Newcomers: Elizabeth Considine - Fr.; Grace Drake - Fr.; Kersten Madson - Fr.; Jennifer Murphy - Fr.; Lauren Oleniczak - Fr.; Manda Slaback - Fr.; Madison Wargowsky - Fr.; Margaret Wehde - Fr.

For more information on the Warhawks, visit the men's and women's Web pages.