The Event:

• The Dordt University men's cross country team is set to run at the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championship this weekend in Ashland, Neb. The 2025 championship event will take place on Saturday, Nov.9 at Mahoney State Park with the 8K race to begin at 11:30am. 
• Fans who attend must purchase or have a current (2025) Nebraska State Park pass: Purchase at this link
• Head Coach Nate Wolf Interview | 

Meet Information:

• Distance: 8000m
• 11:30am start time
• Mahoney State Park
• Course Map
• Watch (GPAC Network)
• Live Results (Black Squirrel Timing)

Teams Competing:

• 11 schools from the GPAC are scheduled to compete for the championship on Saturday; Briar Cliff, Concordia, Dakota Wesleyan, Doane, Dordt, Hastings, Midland, Morningside, Mount Marty, Northwestern and Waldorf.

At Stake: 

• each team can run up to 10 runners with the top seven counting toward the team score. The team with the lowest point total will win the GPAC Championship and receive the only auto bid into the 2025 NAIA National Championship that will be held on Nov.21 in Tallahassee, Fla. at the Apalachee Regional Park.
• top 15 individual finishers earn all-conference honors; the top four individuals, not on a qualifying team and as long as they place in the top 15, will also qualify for nationals. 

In the Rankings:

• Dordt is one of three teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) recognized in the latest NAIA Coaches poll (Oct.30)
• the Defenders received votes, along with Concordia, while Doane is ranked 16th
• Dordt has been ranked / received votes in every poll (5) this season; its highest ranking was 18th (preseason)

49 Consecutive Polls:  

• Dordt has been ranked or received votes in 49 consecutive polls, a streak that began in 2018
• during this time, Dordt has earned a spot in the top 10 24x

GPAC Championship History:

• The Defenders are a 7-time defending GPAC Champion and have finished among the top five in each of the last 17 years, the last 10 under the direction of head coach Nate Wolf.
  • GPAC Titles
    • 2024 - 41pts
    • 2023 - 23pts
    • 2022 - 17pts
    • 2021 - 15pts
    • 2020 - 34pts
    • 2019 - 28pts
    • 2018 - 37pts
• Top Five Finishes as a Team at GPAC:
  • 2017 - 3rd
  • 2016 - 2nd
  • 2015 - 3rd
  • 2014 - 3rd
  • 2013 - 4th
  • 2012 - 5th
  • 2011 - 2nd
  • 2010 - 3rd
  • 2009 - 5th
  • 2008 - 5th
• Four Dordt runners, Eric Steiger (2018), Davis Tebben (2021), Joe Anderson (2022) and Aidan Vorster (2023), have won the GPAC individual title

• Harv Vander Burgt won the District 15 individual championship in 1982
  Jerrold Wynja won the District 15 title in 1981 and 1980

Last Year's Championship:

• The Dordt University men's cross country team won the 2024 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Championship held at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb.
  • Results | GPAC Release
• this was the Defenders seventh consecutive conference title, all under the guidance of Head Coach Nate Wolf, who was named the GPAC Coach of the Year 
• the seven straight championships is the longest streak in the history of the conference, both the NIAC and GPAC (since 1969), and is the second most titles won (trailing Nebraska Wesleyan - 22) during that time
• Dordt accumulated 41 points, four ahead of second place and runner-up Doane
• four Dordt runners placed in the top 10, five in the top 15 and earned all-conference honors
  • Ethan Summerhays - 3rd (all-conference)
  • Aidan Vorster - 7th (all-conference)
  • Luke Swanson - 8th (all-conference)
  • Tage Hulstein - 9th (all-conference)
  • Levi Landman - 14th (all-conference)
  • Truman Johnson - 19th
  • Sam May - 20th
  • Derrek Vander Leest - 22nd
  • Josiah Wittenberg - 24th
  • Trace Obbink - 36th

Defender Notes:

• In the Rankings
  • the Defenders dropped out of the top 25 but is the top team receiving votes in latest poll
  • Dordt has been recognized in every poll this season
  • the Defenders held its highest ranking 18th (preseason)
  • Dordt was picked to win the conference title based on the GPAC preseason coaches' poll released earlier this season
• GPAC Success
  • Dordt has won seven consecutive GPAC titles (2018-24), all under the direction of current head coach Nate Wolf
  • the Defenders totaled a perfect score (15pts) in winning the 2021 GPAC title
• National Success
  • the Defenders have qualified for the NAIA Championship 27 seasons (team and / or individual)
  • they have qualified as a team seven consecutive seasons
  • Dordt won the 2022 NAIA National Championship
  • Dordt has finished among the top 10 at the NAIA National Championship three of the last four years
• The Line-Up (2025 Season Results):
  • Isaac Fagan
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in three races
      • one top 25 finish
      • best finish: 12th @ Sunflower
      • best time: 26:01 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 1st time qualifier
  • Hudson Hamilton
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in four races
      • two top 10's, three top 25
      • best finish: 8th @ Mount Marty
      • best time: 25:34 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 1st time qualifier
  • Steven Hebert
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in four races
      • two top 25 finishes
      • best finish: 16th @ Briar Cliff
      • best time: 25:50 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 1st time qualifier
  • Tage Hulstein 
    •  2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in three races
      • one top 10
      • career / season best time: 25:00 - NAIA, 2024/ 25:59 - Mount Marty
    • GPAC history:
      • 2024 - 9th (all-conference)
      • 2023 - 10th (all-conference)
      • 2022 - 16th
  • Truman Johnson
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in four races
      • earned GPAC Runner of the Week - Sept.17
      • two top 10's; 4 top 25's
      • career / season best time: 25:01 - Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 2024 - 19th
  • Chase Kamp
    • 2025 Season Notes: 
      • competed in four races
      • one top 10 finish; 2 top 25's
      • best finish - 9th @ Sunflower Open
      • best time - 25:38 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 2023 - 19th
  • Levi Landman
    •  2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in three races
      • one top 25 finish
      • season best time / finish: 25:55 / 16th
      • career best time / finish: 25:42 / 10th
    • GPAC History:
      • 2024: 14th (all-conference)
  • Trace Obbink
    • 2025 Season Notes: 
      • ran in three meets
      • one top 10 / top 25 finish
      • career best finish: 6th @ Sunflower Open
      • careet best time: 25:51 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC History:
      • 2024: 36th
  • Luke Swanson  
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in three races
      • two top 10's, three top 25's
      • earned GPAC Runner of the Week - Oct.16
      • career best finish: 4th @ Sunflower
      • career best time: 24:44 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC history:
      • 2024 - 8th (all-conference)
      • 2023 - 9th (all-conference)
  • Derrek Vander Leest  
    • 2025 Season Notes:
      • competed in three races
      • two top 10's, 25's
      • career best finish: 7th @ Mount Marty
      • career best time: 25:56 @ Holiday Inn Express
    • GPAC history:
      • 2024 - 22nd
      • 2023 - 34th