UW-La Crosse, MIT Headline Preseason DIII ITF Rankings

By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA

January 12, 2016

NEW ORLEANS — If the National Team Computer Rankings are right, there won’t be a repeat team champion at the 2016 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships for either gender.
The preseason edition of the National Team Computer Rankings were released Tuesday afternoon by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and both reigning national champions, the UW-Eau Claire men and the UW-La Crosse women, are starting as underdogs.

NCAA Division III National Team Rankings Top 5 – Men
1)	2)	3)	4)	5)
UW-La Crosse	UW-Oshkosh	North Central (Ill.)	UW-Eau Claire	Mount Union
138.82 pts	108.36 pts	94.49 pts	92.99 pts	79.61 pts
View Complete Men’s National Coaches’ Poll

NCAA Division III National Team Rankings Top 5 – Women
1)	2)	3)	4)	5)
MIT	Illinois-Wesleyan	UW-La Crosse	UW-Oshkosh	Baldwin Wallace
178.85 pts	141.67 pts	131.75 pts	91.63 pts	89.86 pts
View Complete Women’s National Coaches’ Poll

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In the men’s rankings, the UW-La Crosse men knocked the Blugolds off their perch. The Eagles, who were runner-ups at the 2015 NCAA meet, tallied 138.82 points. UW-Eau Claire fell to fourth.
For the women, MIT soared from No. 4 last year to No. 1 this year. The Engineers totaled 178.85 points, putting it well ahead of No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan (141.67).
Scores in the National Team Computer Rankings were determined by the USTFCCCA computers using preseason event rankings that include the top marks of the recent NCAA indoor track & field seasons by returning student-athletes and the top marks of the young 2016 campaign. Marks from the outdoor season are not included, nor are marks from incoming freshmen.
The closer an athlete is to the top of his or her event rankings, the more points he or she earns toward the team total. Points from all applicable athletes are added up to determine team scores.
The point system used in the rankings is not the same as the scoring system used for the NCAA Championships.
A full breakdown of the national rankings methodology can be found here.
It should also be noted that the USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings should not be referenced to as a "poll," since no voting was conducted.

Men’s Breakdown

Following a runner-up finish at the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, UW-La Crosse is poised to make a run at its 18th national title this season.
Three sprinters as well as two distance runners have the opportunity to lead the Eagles to greatness this season.
Ross Denman, who won the 400-meter title last year, returns for his junior year and is expected to fare well in the 200 meters alongside teammate Zach Rothering. Zak Wallenfang could make some noise in the 400 meters as well, since he’s the fifth fastest returning athlete in the event from last year. Both Tom Linner (mile) and Nate Rothier (3000, 5000) are listed among those athletes who are expected to score big in their respective events.
Settling in behind UW-La Crosse is Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference bretheren UW-Oshkosh at No. 2, traditional powerhouse North Central (Ill.) at No. 3, former No. 1 UW-Eau Claire at No. 4 and Mount Union at No. 5.
UW-Oshkosh hopes Naji Allen (60 meters), Robert Lara (mile), Zachary Baehman (shot put) as well as two relay teams (4×400, distance medley) live up to their potential.
North Central (Ill.) is going to go as far as its distance runners take it, according to the rankings. The Cardinals return several top-10 athletes in Aron Sebhat (mile, 3000), Tim Vazquez (5000) and Tim Hoffman (5000). 2015 pole vault champ Luke Winder also returns with hopes of making it two in a row.
UW-Eau Claire features Josh Thorson (3000), two solid relay teams (4×400, distance medley) as well as the top returner in the shot put, Alex Mess.
Mount Union already received a strong mark from Tyler Orewiler in the pole vault this season and if he continues his progression, he’ll join heptathlete Andrew Milhoan as the athletes that the team needs to come through to succeed.
Elsewhere in the rankings, there were a few teams that jumped obscene amounts. No. 6 Williams rocketed 49 spots from last year, No. 15 Widener soared 39 spots, No. 18 Central (Iowa) jumped 37 and No. 20 Nazareth climbed 35 slots.

Women’s Breakdown

Distance is the name of the game for MIT in 2016.
Thanks to Maryann Gong (Granada HS, Livermore, CA), Sarah Quinn, Christina Wicker and Nicole Zeinstra, the Engineers should be able to build upon their fourth-place finish in North Carolina last year. Gong is the top returning athlete in the mile and 3000 (she won the 2015 title), Quinn is among the top-3 in both the mile and 5000, Wicker is a strong candidate to score high in the mile and Zeinstra should attack the 5000 with vigor.
Let’s not forget MIT also returns Cimran Virdi (Las Lomas HS, Walnut Creek), the 2015 pole vault champion.
What distance is to the Engineers, the field events are where Illinois Wesleyan hopes to shine.
The Titans have one of the division’s best high jumpers in Molly McGraw and one of the best long jumpers in Amelia Glueck. When Nia Joiner isn’t blistering the track in the 60 meters, she’ll also try to soar out of the long jump pit. And if pentathlete Jill Harmon breaks up her events, she’ll be right up with the others as well but in the triple jump.
For UW-La Crosse to defend its crown, it will rely on Maggie Slatter in the 60 meters as well as Claire Gordee in the 60 hurdles. You can’t forget about Bria Halama, the reigning triple jump champion, or thrower Kendra Anthony (shot put, weight throw) either.
Rounding out the top-5 is Baldwin Wallace, up 20 spots from last year. The Yellow Jackets feature a strong overall athlete in Melanie Winters (top returning pentathlete) as well as thrower Kim Gallavan (shot put, weight throw).
Other teams with big jumps in the rankings include No. 9 Chicago (up from No. 25), No. 11 Ithaca (up from No. 43), No. 15 UW-Stout (up from No. 39). Going the other way, having lost strong athletes to graduation, were No. 13 UW-Eau Claire (down from No. 4) and No. 23 Buffalo State (down from No. 8).

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25)
2016 Preseason — January 12
next ranking: January 26

Rank	Institution	Points	Conference	Head Coach (Yr)	2015 FINAL
1	UW-La Crosse	138.82	WIAC	Josh Buchholtz (8th)	2
2	UW-Oshkosh	108.36	WIAC	Ben Dorsey (1st)	8
3	North Central (Ill.)	94.49	CCIW	Frank Gramarosso (6th)	5
4	UW-Eau Claire	92.99	WIAC	Chip Schneider (14th)	1
5	Mount Union	79.61	OAC	Kevin Lucas (6th)	3
6	Williams	75.19	NESCAC	Ethan Barron (1st)	55
7	St. Olaf	64.51	MIAC	Phil Lundin (8th)	4
8	Wartburg	60.08	IIAC	Marcus Newsom (18th)	24
9	Monmouth (Ill.)	59.35	Midwest	Roger Haynes (33rd)	12
10	UW-Stevens Point	53.90	WIAC	Rick Witt (37th)	21
11	UW-Whitewater	53.56	WIAC	Mike Johnson (7th)	9
12	Ramapo	52.50	NJAC	Mike Jackson (12th)	45
13	Saint John Fisher	48.15	Empire 8	Mike Henchen (4th)	45
14	Rhode Island College	47.64	Little East	Kevin Jackson (15th)	24
15	Widener	44.79	Middle Atlantic	Vince Touey (29th)	61
16	Haverford	43.68	Centennial	Tom Donnelly (41st)	45
17	Tufts	42.37	NESCAC	Joel Williams (1st)	15
18	Central (Iowa)	42.30	IIAC	Joe Dunham (8th)	55
19	Salisbury	40.89	CAC	Jim Jones (17th)	17
20	Nazareth	38.55	Empire 8	James Goss (6th)	55
21	Delaware Valley	38.40	Middle Atlantic	Larry Hannon (4th)	NR
22	Augustana (Ill.)	38.29	CCIW	Paul Olsen (47th)	11
23	Ohio Wesleyan	37.85	NCAC	Kris Boey (14th)	NR
24	UW-Platteville	36.83	WIAC	Chris Rotzenberg (4th)	31
25	Baldwin Wallace	35.01	OAC	Matthew Cole (1st)	NR

View All Teams Beyond the Top 25

Men’s Conference Index Top 10
Rank	Conference	Points	Top 25 Teams
1	WIAC	514.89	6
2	NESCAC	197.18	2
3	CCIW	166.15	2
4	SUNYAC	151.12
5	IIAC	149.80	2
6	OAC	139.65	2
7	Middle Atlantic	126.55	2
8	MIAC	116.45	1
9	NJAC	116.24	1
10	NCAC	99.10	1

Men’s Regional Index Leaders
Region	Institution	Points	Last Week
Atlantic	(returns January 26)
Central	(returns January 26)
Great Lakes	(returns January 26)
Mideast	(returns January 26)
Midwest	(returns January 26)
New England	(returns January 26)
South/Southeast	(returns January 26)
West	(returns January 26)
View All Regional Rankings

USTFCCCA NCAA Division III
Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Team Computer Rankings (Top 25)
2016 Preseason — January 12
next ranking: January 26

Rank	Institution	Points	Conference	Head Coach (Yr)	2015 FINAL
1	MIT	178.85	NEWMAC	Halston Taylor (9th)	4
2	Illinois Wesleyan	141.67	CCIW	Chris Schumacher (19th)	3
3	UW-La Crosse	131.75	WIAC	Pat Healy (25th)	1
4	UW-Oshkosh	91.63	WIAC	Ben Dorsey (4th)	2
5	Baldwin Wallace	89.86	OAC	Matthew Cole (1st)	25
6	Lehman	75.19	CUNYAC	Pete Charles (4th)	7
7	Stevens	69.74	Empire 8	Justin Wood (4th)	9
8	Chicago	69.13	UAA	Chris Hall (15th)	25
9	Johns Hopkins	61.47	Centennial	Bobby Van Allen (17th)	16
10	Central (Iowa)	52.44	IIAC	Joe Dunham (8th)	13
11	Ithaca	51.81	Empire 8	Jennifer Potter (13th)	43
12	UW-Platteville	50.99	WIAC	Chris Rotzenberg (4th)	18
13	UW-Eau Claire	50.85	WIAC	Chip Schneider (10th)	4
14	Tufts	50.59	NESCAC	Kristen Morwick (16th)	NR
15	UW-Stout	44.92	WIAC	Kyle Steiner (3rd)	39
16	Washington (Mo.)	44.49	UAA	Jeff Stiles (15th)	12
17	Williams	43.72	NESCAC	Nate Hoey (3rd)	NR
18	Eastern Mennonite	43.71	ODAC	Jason Lewkowicz (5th)	25
19	Cornell College	43.44	Midwest	Dan Schofer (4th)	11
20	St. Lawrence	42.99	Liberty League	Kate Curran (8th)	18
21	Nebraska Wesleyan	42.35	Great Plains	Ted Bulling (29th)	22
22	Amherst	42.23	NESCAC	Cassie Funke-Harris (4th)	29
23	Buffalo State	41.60	SUNYAC	Eugene Lewis (16th)	8
24	SUNY Oneonta	39.43	SUNYAC	Angelo Posillico (3rd)	29
25	St. Thomas (Minn.)	37.53	MIAC	Joe Sweeney (36th)	13

View All Teams Beyond the Top 25

Women’s Conference Index Top 10
Rank	Conference	Points	Top 25 Teams
1	WIAC	398.76	5
2	NESCAC	241.71	3
3	NEWMAC	200.30	1
4	CCIW	199.99	1
5	OAC	186.08	1
6	SUNYAC	148.95	2
7	Empire 8	143.16	2
8	UAA	122.07	2
9	IIAC	100.78	1
10	Centennial	99.88	1

Women’s Regional Index Leaders
Region	Institution	Points	Last Week
Atlantic	(returns January 26)
Central	(returns January 26)
Great Lakes	(returns January 26)
Mideast	(returns January 26)
Midwest	(returns January 26)
New England	(returns January 26)
South/Southeast	(returns January 26)
West	(returns January 26)
View All Regional Rankings