The NCC men’s track & field team is riding into the outdoor season on a high after wrapping up their indoor season in style. In addition to several great individual performances, the team secured their seventh consecutive CCIW conference title.
Program prestige
The Cardinals have continued their dominance as a program this season, adding to their laundry list of accolades in the CCIW. The program has now won 22 CCIW Indoor Championships and will look to build off that.
Thrower Cole Oleson, ‘26, knows the importance of being a part of a historically dominant Cardinal program.
“Having historic success encircling our team gives us an extra sense of competitiveness and confidence when we go into meets. When we go into meets, we have a desire to continue NCC’s dominance in track and field while continuing to represent the name on the front of our jerseys to the highest standard,” said Oleson.
Head Coach Gabe Rivera continues to prove that there was no loss after long time head coach Frank Gramarosso retired at the end of 2022 season. Rivera picked up where Gramarosso left off to help continue to lead the Cardinals to CCIW dominance.
Men’s track & field continues to roll under Rivera’s leadership. The Cardinals prove again and again why they have won 22 of 23 CCIW Indoor Championships.
Gaining momentum
The team is aware of the importance of finishing the indoor leg of their season on a high note. Even with an extended streak of success at the championship meet, the team doesn’t want to take anything for granted.
Max Svienty, ‘24, is one of the experienced runners on this Cardinal team. Svienty understands that it is important not to take the indoor season for granted.
“Indoor season is important to outdoor season for sure! It all flows in running. Indoor builds momentum into outdoors, outdoors leads into summer, which leads into the fall cross country season, which leads into winter, which leads back to indoors. Indoors is a great way to start setting the tone for what the outdoor season will be like. The conference meets both times are always big things to look forward to, and a great indoor conference meet speaks volumes for what the outdoor season will be like,” said Svienty.
Above all, the CCIW Indoor Championship highlighted that the Cardinals are prepared for what the outdoor season throws at them. The team had two athletes win two events each at conference. Marcus Caselberry, ‘27, won the 60-meter hurdles and the 60-meter dash and Braden Nicholson, ‘23, won the 5000-meter race and the mile run. Jayden Leise, ‘27, also represented the Cardinals in the triple jump, claiming first place.
With those performances being the highlights of the day, the Cardinals as a squad put up 165 points with a 50-point lead over second place.
Looking forward
The indoor season has been a good start for the Cardinals team. Further, the team knows that the work is just getting started for the track season.
Svienty views the team’s success as a reason to keep pushing.
“I’m very much motivated by team success. I love the outdoor season, and I want to continue to build off the team success we had last track season and this previous cross country season. I want to be my best for the team, and knowing that other members are doing their best helps me stay motivated,” said Svienty.
The team also relies on having many different guys who can make an impact at any time. The depth this team has is a useful tool in maintaining their dominance.
Oleson believes the high level of competition within the program helps make everybody better.
“Having a well-rounded team plays a huge role in overall personal growth. Having people on our team across the board performing on a high level gives us an extra boost of motivation during practice. The ability to have harder competition in practice allows us to push ourselves even harder while training,” said Oleson.
While the bulk of the indoor season is complete for the Cardinals, they still have a lot ahead. The team will officially wrap it up after they send athletes to the Ripon Final Qualifier and the Carthage Final.
The Qualifier will take place on Mar. 1 and 2. Additionally, the Cardinals hope to be represented at the NCAA DIII Indoor Championships on Mar. 8 and 9. Finally, men’s track & field begins the outdoor season later this month.
