Season Review: Men’s Cross Country’s 2023 campaign includes best finishes at conference, regional meets since 2017

By Wes Mayberry

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's cross country team had loads of success in 2023 under 15th-year head coach Jason Maus.

The Polar Bears finished with a 97-16 record for their 24th consecutive winning season and placed second at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships and sixth at the Great Lakes Regional Championships. This year marked the team's best finish at the OACs since winning the conference title in 2017 and best showing at regionals since placing third in 2017. It was also the 15th time in the past 18 seasons that ONU has finished in the top three in the conference and its 19th straight top-10 finish at regionals.

Other season highlights for the Polar Bears included winning the team title at three consecutive meets — the NCAC Preview, All-Ohio Intercollegiate Challenge and Ohio Wesleyan Invitational — and being ranked as high as No. 26 in NCAA Division III in the USTFCCCA National Coaches Poll. The Division III team championship at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Challenge was Northern's first since 2017 and sixth overall at that event.

"This was one of the best seasons the team has had in several years. We were tough and competitive all season long," Maus said. "We have to keep working in order to get to the next level."

The Polar Bears finished the season with three All-Region and four All-OAC honorees. Juniors Ryan Massie (Beavercreek) and Trey Masterson (Tiffin/Hopewell Loudon) and sophomore Jacob Clouse (Alvada/New Riegel) earned both accolades, and senior Jared Swartz (Columbia Station/Columbia) was an All-OAC recipient. Massie and Masterson were All-OAC First Team honorees, and Clouse and Swartz were Second Team performers.

Massie was among ONU's top seven finishers at all seven of the team's meets in 2023, leading Northern across the finish line with top-10 finishes in five of them. He was the top Polar Bear at the OACs, placing seventh, and again at regionals with a 20th-place showing.

Massie was named OAC Runner of the Week on Oct. 16 after posting a career-best time of 24:25 to place 28th at the SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational, which featured six nationally ranked teams.

"Ryan really elevated his performance this season," Maus said. "He's becoming one of the best runners in the conference and region."

Masterson also finished among ONU's top seven at all seven meets, posting four top-10 finishes highlighted by winning the individual title at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational with a time of 25:26. He was subsequently named OAC Runner of the Week.

In the postseason, Masterson was the second Polar Bear across the finish line at both the OACs and regionals. He placed 10th overall at the OACs and 20th at the regional meet, capping his season with a career-best time of 24:36.

"Trey probably had his most consistent cross country season yet," Maus said. "He capped it off with good races at the OACs and Regionals."

Clouse finished among ONU's top seven at all seven events and posted two top-10 finishes overall. He was 15th at the OAC Championships and 30th at the Great Lakes Regionals with a career-best time of 24:41.

"Jacob had a huge breakout season," Maus said. "Oftentimes, he was the reason we were able to beat some good teams."

Swartz was among ONU's top seven finishers at all seven meets and was 18th at the OACs in a career-best time of 25:27. He placed 90th at the regional meet.

"I'm really proud of Jared's growth over his career. He has improved tremendously in four years, and for him to earn All-Conference is really special," Maus said. "He's a great example of how trust, buy-in, hard work and commitment will pay off."

Other runners who finished among ONU's top seven in multiple meets included seniors Aaron Guzman (Lebanon), Kyle Roth (Rockford/Parkway) and Ian Ackenhausen (Xenia/Legacy Christian Academy) and junior Corey Rinehart (Galena/Olentangy Berlin). Ackenhausen was top seven among ONU runners in all seven meets, Roth had six such finishes, Guzman had five, and Rinehart had two.

The Polar Bears had much success off the course as well, earning a program record-tying 15 Academic All-OAC honors. Earning the accolade this season were Ackenhausen, Roth, Swartz, Massie, Masterson, Rinehart, Clouse, juniors Blake Abbott (Canton/Central Catholic), J.T. Basco (Painesville/Thomas W. Harvey), Trent Babcock (Painesville/Riverside), Donovan Brown (Botkins), Bo Little (Washington Court House/Miami Trace), Keefer McClure (Toledo/Ottawa Hills) and Justin Pate (Vincent/Warren) and sophomore Will Freeman (Montgomery/Sycamore).