Owls Picked Fourth in Preseason Rating

(FULTON, Mo., Aug. 28) - The William Woods University men's cross country team was picked fourth in the NAIA's Unaffiliated Conferences preseason rating. The Unaffiliated grouping includes teams from the American Midwest Conference, Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference and other Independent NAIA colleges.

The Owls have won the AMC championship the last two seasons. WWU will open its season on September 12th at the University of Missouri Cross Country Challenge.

Returners include senior Emmanuel Ramirez and sophomore Michael Nedeau. Ramirez was an All-AMC recipient, and finished 5th at the 2008 AMC cross country championships. Nedeau finished 11th at the AMC championships.

The Owls welcome freshmen Zach Bryant (Russellville, Mo.), Jordan Fleming (Columbia, Mo.), Ryan Meyer (Bonnits Mills, Mo.), Corey Samples (Ste. Genevieve, Mo.), Derik Simenson (Sioux City, Iowa), Kyland Sims (Lawson, Mo.) and junior Jason Rose (Lenexa, Kans.) to this year's team.

Head Coach Brayce Forsha, the 2008 AMC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, begins his second season at the helm of the William Woods cross country program.