Early in the year, preview some of Wisconsin's best returning talent to the 2023 cross country season!
1. Manny Putz | Onalaska
Wisconsin's defending D1 state cross country champion is back for the 2023 season as the #1-ranked returner. In 2022, Putz placed first in every WI-based cross country race, including a narrow state victory in Wisconsin Rapids, where he closed in a time of 15:26 for the win.
Grad Year: 2025 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 14:50 | 1st | Steve Johnson/Dan Huston Invitational | 15:26 | 1st | 15:02 |
2. Aloysius Franzen | Stevens Point
Following a third-place D1 state cross country finish in 2022 (15:35), Franzen set his standing personal best of 15:10 at the Nike Heartland Regional championships. On the track, he placed 5th and 7th in the 1600m and 3200m, respectively.
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:10.7 | 11th | Team Heartland Regional Championships | 15:35 | 3rd | 15:10 |
3. Bode Erickson | Stevens Point
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:11 | 13th | Team Heartland Regional Championships | 15:37 | 4th | 15:11 |
4. Grady Lenn | De Pere
Grad Year: 2026 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:44 | 1st | WIAA D1 Sectional - Manitowoc Lincoln | 15:47 | 7th | N/A |
5. Charlie Vater | Iola-Scandinavia
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 3
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:34 | 1st | Rosholt XC Invite | 16:31 | 11th | 16:19 |
6. Logan Salzmann | Kimberly
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:37 | 5th | Midwest Invitational | 16:05 | 12th | 15:41 |
7. Owen Clark | Lakeland Union
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 2
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:49 | 81st | Team Heartland Regional Championships | 16:12 | 3rd | 15:49 |
8. Cooper Erickson | Stevens Point
In 2022, Erickson closed an impressive freshman season with a personal best time of 15:59 at the Nike Heartland Regional Championships - Wisconsin's 14th fastest returning time. Two weeks prior to that, he contributed to a team state title, placing 17th individually in Wisconsin Rapids. On the track, Erickson finished 9th in the 3200m.
Grad Year: 2026 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:59 | 103rd | Team Heartland Regional Championships | 16:19 | 17th | 15:59 |
9. Ethan Olds | Stevens Point
Another key piece of Stevens Point's 2022 state title-winning team, Olds placed 20th in the D1 competition as an individual before going on to run a personal best of 15:46 at the Nike Heartland Regional Championships.
Grad Year: 2025 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 15:46 | 71st | Team Heartland Regional Championships | 16:22 | 20th | 15:46 |
10. Zach Temple | Madison West
Madison West senior Zach Temple finished 15th at last year's state championships and approaches the 2023 season with the 15th-best returning cross country time. Temple is also ranked fifth among Wisconsin's 3200M returners.
Grad Year: 2024 | Division: 1
Key Stats:
| 2022 XC Season Best | State | Heartland |
| 16:01 | 1st | Don Loker Madison City Championships | 16:15 | 15th | 16:13 |