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SEASON COMPLETED
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Saturday, November 18, 2006
Wheeler Places 102nd at NCAA Division III National Championship
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union)
of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team placed
102nd overall at the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country National Championship
race Saturday morning in Mason, Ohio.
Widener's Macharia Yuot was the individual winner crossing the finish line
first in a time of 26:31. Calvin College captured the team title with 37 points
as its first five runners placed among the top 17 of the race. Calvin's Tim
Finnegan placed second overall, trailing Yuot by 10 seconds, crossing the finish
line in a time of 26:41.
Wheeler, who placed 10th among 309 finishers at the NCAA Division III New
England Regional Men's Cross Country Championship last weekend to qualify for a
spot in the national championship race, completed the eight-kilometer course in
a time of 28:32. Wheeler is the first USM individual to qualify for the
National Championship race since Joey Luchini in 1997.
Wheeler was one of the driving forces behind Southern Maine's terrific 2006
cross country season, which included the Huskies first-ever Little East
Conference Championship. He earned All-Little East Conference honors placing
third in the conference championship race with a time of 27:04. Wheeler also
earned All-New England honors at the NCAA Division III New England Regional
championships by virtue of his outstanding 10th place finish in a highly
competitive field of 309 runners with a time of 26:02.2.
Wheeler, who served as one of the Huskies co-captains during the season,
was twice named the Little East Conference Runner of the Week earning the
accolade on November 12 and October 1.
The race concluded the 2006 USM men's cross country season.
For complete results, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
And click on the NCAA National Championship link
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Monday, November 13, 2006
Curtis Wheeler Qualifies for NCAA Division III National Championship
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union)
of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team has
qualified to participate in the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country National
Championship race this Saturday (November 18) in Mason, Ohio.
Wheeler, who placed 10th among 309 finishers at the NCAA Division III New
England Regional Men's Cross Country Championship last Saturday (November 11),
is one of seven runners who were not part of a qualifying team to advance. He
is the first USM individual to qualify for the National Championship race since
Joey Luchini in 1997.
Earning All-New England honors for his efforts, Wheeler clocked a time of
26:03.3 during the eight-kilometer race to lead Southern Maine to its first top
ten finish since 2000, and third top ten finish (1997, 2000, 2006) in the
history of the program. Wheeler also earned Little East Conference Runner of
the Week honors for the second time this season.
"Curtis has worked exceptionally hard this season to achieve his goals,"
commented Southern Maine head coach Scott Hutchinson. "He put together a
terrific race in a highly competitive region and I am thrilled for him to have
this opportunity to compete at the national level. Aside from his athletic
accomplishments, I am proud of the determination and character that Curtis
exudes as a student-athlete."
Led by Wheeler, Southern Maine has enjoyed a terrific season to date,
capturing its first ever Little East Conference Championship and placing 11th at
the ECAC Division III New England Championships out of 40 competing
institutions.
Wheeler's twin brother, Nick, placed 15th at the NCAA Regional Championship
to also earn All-New England honors and has been one of the key components to
the Huskies success this season.
"This has been an amazing season for the team," noted Hutchinson. "All of
the guys have truly committed themselves to the team and because of their
dedication and desire we have been able to achieve all of our goals for this
season. We set out this season to win the conference, have a strong showing at
ECAC's and to finish in the top 10 at the NCAA Regional Championship and we were
able to do that because of the efforts of each and everyone of the guys on the
team."
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Saturday, November 11, 2006
Southern Maine Places Tenth at NCAA Division III New England Regional
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country
Union) of the University of Southern Maine men's cross country team placed 10th
among the 309 finishers to lead the Huskies to a 10th place finish at the 2006
NCAA Division III New England Regional Men's Cross Country Championship Saturday
morning in Springfield, Mass.
Trinity College's Hunter Norte placed first individually with a winning
time of 25:37.9. Williams College captured the team title with 57 points as its
first two runners Stephen Mills and Brendan Christian finished second and third,
respectively. Mills ran a 25:48.2, while Christian finished the race in
25:48.8.
Southern Maine scored 238 points to finish 10th, the team's first top ten
finish since 2000, and third NCAA regional top ten finish in the history of the
program.
Wheeler was the first USM harrier to cross the finish line, covering the
eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:03.3. Twin brother Nick placed 15th in a
time of 26:17.9. Senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian)
clocked a time of 27:00.1 to place 50th. Sophomore Nick Downing (Winthrop,
Maine/Winthrop) and freshman Justin Richardson (Turner, Maine/St. Dominic's)
rounded out the five scoring for USM placing 77th and 86th overall. Downing
clocked a 27:33.6, while Richardson crossed the finish line in 27:40.0.
Junior Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) and sophomore Isaac
Worrell (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) completed the Huskies' team at the event. Tobie
placed 87th in a time of 27:42.6 and Worrall placed 104th in a time 27:59.7.
Southern Maine's 10th place finish was a four-place improvement over last
year's 14th place finish with 391 points. Curtis Wheeler's 10th place finish
showed a 13-place improvement, while Nick Wheeler improved his finish by 38
places.
Southern Maine awaits possible individual selections to the NCAA Division
III National Championship next Saturday (November 18). The championship race
will be hosted by Wilmington College in Mason, Ohio.
For complete results, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
And click on the NCAA Regional link
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Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Downing Named Little East Conference Runner of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore Nick Downing (Winthrop, Maine/Winthrop) of the
University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team has been named the
Little East Conference Runner of the Week for the week ending November 5, 2006.
Downing was the first Little East Conference runner to cross the finish
line at the ECAC Division III Championships on Saturday (November 4). Downing
covered the eight-kilometer course in a time of 27:24 to finish 32nd overall
among a field of 281 finishers.
"Nick has a great work ethic and drive," commented USM men's cross country
coach Scott Hutchinson. "He has been a valuable member of the team and has
contributed significantly to our success this season. His continued progress
ensures him a very successful future as a part of the team."
Downing's performance at the 40-team event helped the Huskies, fresh off of
their first ever Little East Conference championship, to an 11th place finish
with 383 points. Southern Maine edged out conference rival Keene State College
at the ECAC championship, as the Owls finished 12th with 400 points.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (November 11) at the NCAA
Division III New England Regional Championships hosted by Springfield College in
Springfield, Mass. Race time is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
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Saturday, November 4, 2006
Southern Maine Places 11th at 2006 ECAC Division III Championship
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Sophomore Nick Downing (Winthrop, Maine) placed
32nd among 281 finishers to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's
cross country team to an 11th place finish at the 2006 ECAC Division III
Championship Saturday morning at Mount Greylock Regional High School in
Williamstown, Mass.
Williams College, the host institution, repeated as ECAC champions scoring
31 points. The Huskies, fresh off of their first-ever Little East Conference
Championship, placed 11th among 40 competing teams with 383 points. Colin
Sanders, a junior at Vassar, was the individual winner with a time of 26:06.
Downing finished as Southern Maine's top runner by covering the 8,000-
meter course in a time of 27:24. Sophomore Isaac Worrell (Gorham, Maine)
placed 50th in a time of 27:47. Freshmen Eric Favreau (Buxton, Maine/Bonny
Eagle) and Saylor Jacobs (Presque Isle, Maine) placed 90th and 93rd,
respectively. Favreau covered the course in a time of 28:34 and Jacobs clocked
a time of 28:37.
Freshman Ryan Dyer (Gorham, Maine) rounded out the scoring for the Huskies
placing 118th in a time of 29:05.
Freshmen Todd Dietrich (Middlebury, Vermont/Middlebury Union) and Jon
Letendre (Rumford, Rhode Island/La Salle Academy) also competed for the Huskies,
placing 120th and 149th. Dietrich finished in 29:05, while Letendre completed
the race in 29:48.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (November 11) at 11 a.m. at
the NCAA Division III Regional Championships hosted by Springfield College in
Springfield, Mass.
For complete results, go to:
http:www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the ECAC Championships link
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Saturday, October 28, 2006
USM Captures First LEC Championship
KEENE, N.H. -- Juniors Curtis and Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country
Union) and senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) placed
third, fourth and fifth, respectively, among 65 finishers to lead the University
of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team to its first ever Little East
Conference championship Saturday at Keene State College in Keene, N.H.
After finishing as runners-up in 2004 and 2005, the Huskies were able to
use stellar performances from the Wheelers and Hopkins as well as a seventh
place finish from junior Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) to become
just the third school to capture the conference title. Since the Little East
Conference began conducting championships in men’s cross country in 1988, only
the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Keene State College have earned
the distinction of Little East Conference champion. UMass Dartmouth won the
first nine titles (1988-1996) before Keene State’s string of nine straight
(1997-2005).
Southern Maine edged Keene State by one point, 34-35, to take the title.
UMass Dartmouth finished third with 89 points, followed by Rhode Island College
in fourth place (134 points) and UMass Boston in fifth place (135 points).
Eastern Connecticut State placed sixth with 140 team points.
Curtis Wheeler led the Huskies covering the five-mile course in a time of
27:04. Twin brother Nick followed closely in fourth place with a time of
27:12. Hopkins finished the Southern Maine trifecta in fifth place in a time of
27:33. Tobie’s seventh place finish was the key in the race as he edged out
Keene State’s Sheridan Welch by one second to finish in a time of 28:08.
Southern Maine sophomore Nick Downing (Winthrop, Maine/Winthrop) rounded
out the top five for the Huskies placing 16th in time of 28:41. Freshmen Justin
Richardson (Turner, Maine/St. Dominic’s) and Eric Favreau (Buxton, Maine/Bonny
Eagle) also finished for the Huskies placing 18th and 21st, respectively.
Richardson clocked a time of 28:54, while Favreau ran the course in a time of
29:09.
In the New England Alliance race, comprised of schools from the Little East
and the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC), Keene State
edged out Southern Maine for the team title, 39-42. Westfield State College
(MASCAC) finished third with 106 points. Eric Lonergan of Rhode Island College
was the individual winner in a time of 26:44.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 4) at the Eastern
College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Championships hosted by Williams
College in Williamstown, Mass. Race time begins at 11:00 a.m.
For complete Little East Conference results, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Men’s_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the Little East Conference Championship link
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Monday, October 16, 2006
Nick Wheeler Named Little East Conference Runner of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union) of
the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team has been named
the Little East Conference Runner of the Week for the week of October 9-15.
This is the second consecutive week that Wheeler has earned the honor for
the Huskies, and the third consecutive week that a Southern Maine harrier has
taken the accolade. Wheeler's twin brother, Curtis, was named the LEC runner of
the week on October 1.
"Nick has been running extremely well the last couple of weeks," noted USM
men's cross country coach Scott Hutchinson. "He has kept his focus in training
during the season and his extra efforts in the off season are paying dividends
for him this fall."
Wheeler was the first Southern Maine runner to cross the finish line at the
Maine State Cross Country Championship hosted by Bowdoin College at Pickard
Field in Brunswick, Maine. Wheeler covered the eight-kilometer course in a time
of 26:03.55 to place sixth overall among the 115 competitors. Wheeler's top
seven finish gave him All-State honors for the race and helped the Huskies to a
fourth place finish among the 10 competing institutions.
Following a bye week, Southern Maine returns to action at the Little East
Conference and New England Alliance Championships on October 28 at Keene State
College in Keene, N.H.
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Saturday, October 14, 2006
Wheeler Brothers Earn All-State Honors at State Championship Meet
BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Juniors Nick and Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North
Country Union) placed sixth and seventh, respectively, to earn All-State honors
and lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team to a
fourth place finish at the 2006 Maine State Cross Country Championship meet
hosted by Bowdoin College at Pickard Field in Brunswick, Maine.
Nick Wheeler placed sixth among the 115 finishers, covering the eight-
kilometer course in a time of 26:03.35. Curtis Wheeler finished one spot behind
in seventh place with his time of 26:03.73. It is the first time that either
has earned All-State honors. During the 2005 state meet, Curtis Wheeler
finished just outside of the top seven placing eighth.
Led by the Wheelers, the Huskies finished fourth among 10 competing
institutions with a team total of 78 points. Running on its home course,
Bowdoin College won the event scoring 33 points followed closely by Bates
College in second place with 56 points. Colby College was third with 59 points.
Bates College senior Steve Monsulick (Kents Hill, Maine/Maranacook) won the
event individually in a time of 25:33.09.
Senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) was the third USM
runner to cross the finish line placing 20th overall in a time of 26:54.72.
Junior Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) and freshman Justin
Richardson (Turner, Maine/St. Dominic’s) placed 23rd and 24th to round out the
Huskies’ top five. Tobie finished the race in a time of 27:03.75, while
Richardson crossed the line at 27:06.29.
Following a bye week, Southern Maine returns to action at the Little East
Conference and New England Alliance Championships on October 28 hosted by Keene
State College in Keene, N.H.
For complete results for the State Championship, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athletics/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the State Championship Meet link
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Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Nick Wheeler Named Little East Conference Runner of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union) of
the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team has been named
the Little East Conference runner of the week for the week of October 2-8.
Wheeler joins his twin brother Curtis as the second USM harrier to earn the
accolade during the 2006 season. This is the first time in his three seasons at
USM that Nick has been named the LEC Runner of the Week.
Nick Wheeler earned the weekly honor after he helped Southern Maine to a
22nd place finish at the highly competitive New England Intercollegiate Amateur
Athletic Association (NEIcAAA) Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park in
Boston, Mass. Nick was the first Southern Maine runner to cross the finish line
at the NEIcAAA Championship, covering the eight-kilometer course in a time of
25:44. His time earned him a 58th-place finish among the 307 finishers and
marked nearly a minute and a half improvement over his time in the 2005 race.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (October 14) at the Maine
State Championship Meet hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. The race
is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.
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Saturday, October 7, 2006
Southern Maine Ties For 22nd Place at 2006 NEIcAAA Championship
BOSTON -- Junior Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union) placed
58th overall among 307 finishers to lead the University of Southern Maine to a
22nd place finish at the 2006 New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic
Association (NEIcAAA) Cross Country Championship Saturday afternoon at Franklin
Park in Boston.
Southern Maine tied for 22nd place with Middlebury College among the 45
competing institutions scoring 622 points. Southern Maine's 22nd-place finish
marks an eight spot improvement over last season when the Huskies finished in
30th place out of 47 schools.
Nick Wheeler was the first USM runner to cross the finish line covering the
eight-kilometer course in a time of 25:44 to finish in 58th position. Nick
Wheeler's time of 25:44 marks nearly a minute and a half improvement over his
time last year at the same race.
Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union) was the second USM
harrier to cross the finish line placing 71st in a time of 25:50, improving his
time from a year ago by 1:16. Senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter
Marian) placed 138th in a time of 26:25.
Rounding out the top five for the Huskies were junior Forrest Tobie (Mt.
Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) and freshman Justin Richardson (Turner, Maine/St.
Dominic's). Tobie placed 174th in a time of 26:48, while Richardson placed
181st with a time of 26:53.
Southern Maine returns to action on Saturday (October 14) at 11:00 a.m. at
the Maine State Championship hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
For complete results from the NEIcAAA Championships, go to
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athl/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the New England Championship link
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Wednesday, October 4, 2006
Curtis Wheeler Named LEC Runner of the Week
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union)
of the University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team was named
the Little East Conference Runner of the Week for the week of September 25
through October 1.
Wheeler, a 2005 Division III All-New England runner, placed second overall
among 63 runners to lead Southern Maine to a second place finish at the Keene
State College Invitational. Wheeler completed the five-mile course in a time of
26:03, shaving 34 seconds off of his time from last season. Wheeler, who has
been the Huskies' first runner across the finish line in the last two races,
helped Southern Maine compile 35 points, just two points behind first place host
Keene State.
Southern Maine returns to action this Saturday (October 7) competing in the
NEIcAAA New England Championships being held at Franklin Park in Boston. Race
time is 1:00 p.m.
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Saturday, September 30, 2006
Wheelers Lead USM to Second Place Finish at Keene State Invitational
KEENE, N.H. - Juniors Curtis and Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country
Union) placed second and fourth, respectively, to lead the University of
Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team to a second place finish at the
2006 Keene State College Invitational Saturday afternoon in Keene, N.H.
Southern Maine placed second with 35 points, just two points behind first
place Keene State. Tufts University finished third (73 points), while Wheaton
College (119 points) and Fitchburg State (125 points) followed in fourth and
fifth place.
Curtis Wheeler covered the five-mile course in a time of 26:03. Nick
Wheeler finished in 26:24 as three Southern Maine harriers placed in the top-ten
during the race. Joining the Wheelers in the front of the pack was senior Chris
Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian). Hopkins placed seventh overall in
a time of 26:54.
Junior Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook), sophomore Nicholas
Downing (Winthrop, Maine/Winthrop) and freshman Justin Richardson (Turner,
Maine/St. Dominic's) each finished in the top third of the race for the Huskies.
Tobie placed 16th overall with a time of 27:54, while Downing and Richardson
finished back-to-back in 20th and 21st place. Downing completed the course in
28:10, while Richardson was just five seconds off of his pace to finish in
28:15.
Southern Maine returns to action next Saturday (October 7) at the NEIcAAA
New England Championships being held at Franklin Park in Boston. Race time has
yet to be determined.
For complete results, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athletics/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the Keene State Invitational link
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Saturday, September 16, 2006
Wheelers Pace Huskies at Bates College Invitational
CUMBERLAND, Maine -- Junior co-captains Curtis Wheeler (Derby,
Vermont/North Country Union) and Nick Wheeler (Derby, Vermont/North Country
Union) placed third and fourth, respectively, to lead the University of Southern
Maine Huskies men's cross country team to a second place finish in the Bates
College Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Twin Brook Recreational Area in
Cumberland, Maine.
In its season-opening event, Southern Maine scored 65 points to finish
behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which won the meet with 32
points. Bates College placed third with 66 points and Keene State College
placed fourth with 69 points.
Curtis Wheeler covered the five-mile course in 27:24 and was followed
closely by twin brother Nick who completed the race in a time of 27:27. MIT's
Jake Ruzevick placed first overall among the field of 66 finishers with a time
of 26:57, while Keene State's Kevin Kelleher finished second in 27:16.
Senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) was the Huskies'
third finisher placing 14th in a time of 27:56. Junior Forrest Tobie (Mt.
Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) and freshman Justin Richardson (Turner, Maine/St.
Dominic's) placed 26th and 31st overall. Tobie finished the race in a time of
28:57 while Richardson completed the course in 29:14.
Following a week off, Southern Maine returns to action Saturday, September
30 at the Keene State Invitational in Keene, N.H. Race time is slated for 11:30
a.m.
For complete results of the Bates Invitational, go to:
http:www.usm.maine.edu/athletics/Men's_Cross_Country/mxc_results.html
and click on the Bates Invitational link
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Saturday, September 2, 2006
Curtis Wheeler Wins Season Opening Race
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt./North Country Union)
edged senior teammate Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian) by one
second to take the top spot in the University of Southern Maine men's cross
country team's season opening meet against a team of Husky alumni.
Wheeler covered the 5,000-meter course in 15:59 with Hopkins a second
behind. Wheeler's twin brother, Nick, was third in 16:11.
Junior Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook) finished fourth, one
second ahead of Claton Conrad, the first alumni finisher.
The Huskies will travel to Waterford, Conn., next Saturday (September 9) to
run in the Connecticut College Invitational. The meet starts at 11:00 a.m. and
is being held at the Harkness Memorial State Park.
For complete results, go to:
http://www.usm.maine.edu/athletics/Men's_Cross_Country/mxcresults.html
and click on the link for Alumni Meet
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Friday, September 1, 2006
Southern Maine Names Men's Cross Country Captains
GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Chris Hopkins (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian)
and juniors Forrest Tobie (Mt. Vernon, Maine/Maranacook), Curtis Wheeler (Derby,
Vt./North Country Union) and Nick Wheeler (Derby Vt./North Country Union) of the
University of Southern Maine Huskies men's cross country team have been named
captains for the upcoming 2006 season. Second-year head coach Scott Hutchinson
made the announcement as the Huskies prepare for their season-opening meet
tomorrow against the USM Alumni team.
Entering his junior season, Curtis Wheeler emerged as Southern Maine's top
runner in 2005, finishing as the team's top runner in eight out of 10 meets. He
earned All-Little East and All-New England Alliance honors by placing sixth
overall at the LEC/Alliance Championships meet. He also earned All-New England
honors with a 23rd place finish among a field of 303 runners competing at the
NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship. Wheeler finished the 8000-
meter race in a time of 26:22.1 to lead Southern Maine to a 14th-place finish in
a field of 43 teams.
Curtis also was named to the United States Track and Field and Cross
Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team based on his semester
grade point average and finish at the NCAA Division III New England Regional.
Placing in the top 25 percent of the race, combined with his 23rd-place finish,
he was one of only 87 individuals recognized in NCAA Division III cross-country
for his achievements in the classroom and in competition. To be eligible a
student-athlete must have at least a 3.57 grade point average.
Nick Wheeler completed a stellar sophomore season as the Huskies' number
three runner earning All-New England Alliance honors by finishing 15th overall
at the championship. Among his top finishes of the year, Nick Wheeler placed
second at the Pilgrim Pride Open at New England College, finishing just behind
his twin brother who won the event.
"Every coach would love to have a team made up entirely of the type of
student-athletes like Curtis and Nick," commented Hutchinson. "They are both
very humble and hard-working athletes who consistently do all the little things
right to prepare for their races and their responsibilities as students. They
both want to be considered among the top runners in the New England and because
of their dedication and drive to the sport they are well on their way to
achieving that status."
Hopkins, the lone senior on the Huskies' 16-person roster, is a three-year
member of the Southern Maine men's cross-country team. One of the Huskies top
performers as a freshman, Hopkins has regained his form after a foot injury and
will be one of the leaders for the USM squad this season.
"I am pleased to have Chris back and healthy," noted Hutchinson. "His
return to full strength will make the team stronger and his passion for the
sport is infectious."
Tobie, the Huskies' number five runner last season, finished just outside of
All-New England Alliance honors (top 20) last season, placing 22nd overall at
the 2005 LEC/Alliance Championship. In 2004 Tobie, earned All-New England
Alliance honors.
"Forrest is a tremendous athlete and competitor," said Hutchinson. "He has
worked hard in the off-season and it's going to pay huge dividends for him and
the team. I expect Forrest to play a key role in the team's achievement of its
goals throughout the season."
With a veteran group of runners returning Hutchinson expects the Huskies to
continue to challenge the top teams in the New England area. "We have a solid
group of returning student-athletes who have performed very well in their
previous seasons," noted Hutchinson. "And with the addition several talented
newcomers we have a very deep and competitive team. With this blend we should
remain competitive within the conference and continue to challenge the top ten
in New England."
After the season-opening Alumni Meet on Saturday, the Huskies travel to the
Connecticut College Invitational on September 9 (11:00 a.m.). The remainder of
their 2006 schedule includes traveling to Lewiston, Maine, for the Bates
College Invitational (Sept. 16, 11 a.m.) and to Keene, N.H. for the Keene State
Invitational (Sept. 30, 11:45 a.m.).
Southern Maine competes in three meets in the month of October beginning
with the NEIcAAA New England Championship (Oct. 7) at Franklin Park in Boston,
followed by the Maine State Championship meet hosted by Bowdoin College (Oct.
14, 11 a.m.). Following a bye week, Southern Maine will compete in the Little
East/Alliance Championship on the campus of Keene State College (Oct. 28, 11:30
a.m.). Last season, the Huskies placed second overall in the championship race.
In November, USM competes in the ECAC Division III Championship (Nov. 4,
11:30 a.m.) at Williams College and the NCAA Regional Championship at
Springfield College (Nov. 11, 11 a.m.).
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