Scouting the 2010 Husker Men 2010 Returnees
2010 Newcomers
David Adams Jesse Adams Alex Adams Tommy Brinn Peter Falcon Connor Gibson Matt Conahan Todd Gulizia Jarren Heng Brad Doering Adam Mitteis Anthony Pittman Brett Grieb Trevor Vidlak Parker Schoen Ethan Luebbe Dani Dapo Anthony Oberle
The 2010 Nebraska harriers expect to improve on a seventh-place finish at the 2009 Big 12 Championships and eighth-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships, their best team places since 2002. Captains David Adams and Anthony Oberle are outstanding leaders for the 18 members of the team. Adams has been the top Cornhusker since his initial season as a redshirt freshman in 2007 and Oberle has been working his way up the roster with great effort and determination. Both will provide excellent examples of dedication and determination for a team with a good blend of veterans and promising newcomers. “There is so much unknown on the men’s team,” Nebraska Coach Jay Dirksen said. “There are a lot of people that if they stay healthy and consistent, can really improve from where they have been. We could have a pretty good team. There is a lot of untapped ability.” Five returning lettermen form the nucleus of the 2010 team. Adams was the Huskers, top finisher in every race except the season opener at the Creighton/Nebraska-Omaha Classic, a race he did not run. His postseason finishes at the Big 12 (22nd) and NCAA Midwest Region Championships (20th) were the best individual performances by a Nebraska harrier since 2002. “I think David Adams is one of the best runners in the Big 12,” Dirksen said. “He has so much experience, he is definitely our No. 1 guy again this season.” Oberle along with seniors Brad Doering and Todd Gulizia traded positions as the Huskers 2-3-4 runners last year, and all three are poised to display major improvement this season. Junior Jesse Adams, NU’s No. 5 in 2009, has made solid gains and appears to be ready for an outstanding season. “There is no reason that Todd Gulizia couldn’t be one of the best guys in the conference, and he might be, we just don’t know,” Dirksen said. “He needs to stay consistent and he will do some things for us. Brad Doering also has no reason he can’t be better than last year.” Behind the five lettermen is a group of men who are capable of dramatically better performances this season, including seniors Matt Conahan and Ethan Luebbe. Both are proven 800 and 1,500 meter runners who could make significant contributions this fall. Juniors Peter Falcon and Adam Mitteis are also improving, as are sophomores Tommy Brinn and Trevor Vidlak along with redshirt freshman Brett Grieb.
34 | 2010 HUSKER MEN
Returning Letterwinners
2009 Departures
David Adams (Two Letters) Bryce Somer Jesse Adams (Two Letters) Eric Thies Matt Conahan (One Letter) Mikel Thomas Brad Doering (Two Letters) Peter Falcon (Two Letters) Todd Gulizia (Two Letters) Anthony Oberle (Two Letters)
Six new members on the cross-country team include sophmore 800-meter specialist Dani Dapo, who will be in his first season of collegiate cross country. Five true freshmen, all from Nebraska, include Alex Adams, Connor Gibson, Jarren Heng, Anthony Pittman and Parker Schoen. Gibson and Adams were 1-2 in the 2009 Class B State Cross Country Championships and Heng won the Class C title in both 2008 and 2009. Schoen was third in Class A after winning the 2008 individual title, while Pittman was the Class A runner-up in both 2008 and 2009. All will be instrumental in the years to come for Cornhusker cross country. If they can adjust rapidly to the college level, they can be contenders for NU’s top seven spots on the team this year. “Schoen and Heng are very talented athletes who have a lot of ability,” Dirksen said. “They have a good chance to be in our top seven runners.” The 2010 schedule will provide plenty of competition to prepare for the Big 12 and NCAA Midwest Region Championships. “The Big 12 is one of those conferences that if you are in the top half you have an exceptional team,” Dirksen said. “Our schedule is really tough but the guys have the possibility to jump significant spots in the meets.” Top competition in the Big 12 Conference will come from Colorado, Iowa State, Oklahoma State (NCAA defending champion) and Oklahoma. At the NCAA Midwest Region Championships, look for defending champ Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Minnesota and Oklahoma to battle for the two automatic-qualifying spots. Nebraska can certainly be counted as a team to move up again this season in both the Big 12 and NCAA Midwest Region Championships. “Nobody is going to do anything if they don’t think first that they can do something and this group is one that is going to overachieve significantly, nothing that they do will surprise me because of their attitudes and work ethic,” said Jay Dirksen.