Men's Cross Country 10/23/2025 7:43:00 AM

Hawks Eye 18th Title on Challenging Settler’s Hill Course

Palatine, IL: The Harper men's cross country team enters Saturday's Region 4 Championship as the favorite to reclaim the regional crown, with defending champions College of DuPage and Joliet Junior College close behind. The meet will take place at the Settler's Hill Cross Country Course in Batavia, a hilly and technical course known for its uneven grass terrain.

Each of the top three teams brings a potential individual champion to the race. Joliet's Nathan Ciarlette, last year's Region 4 runner-up and the 2024 NJCAA DIII National Champion, is the favorite to take the top spot. Harper's Ryan Golden who has led the Hawks all season, enters ranked second, while DuPage's Adriano Quintero is projected third. The rest of the All-Region projections include Harper freshman Sebastian Welc and Joliet's Gavin Carlson, both consistent front-runners for their squads.

While the individual battle up front will draw attention, the meet will likely be decided by the next five finishers. Harper's depth has been a strength all year, with Jerome Graessle (6th), Ethan Waddell (7th), and Michael Johnson (10th) all projected to score inside the top ten. DuPage's Zach Bacci (8th) and Jack Schultz (9th) are expected to be in that mix as well, making the middle of the race crucial for determining the team champion.

For Harper, Nate Larsen and RJ Moniri will play key roles in disrupting DuPage and Joliet's packs, potentially swinging valuable points in the Hawks' favor.

If projections hold, the Hawks will capture their 18th Region 4 title in program history. To do so, they'll need to stay composed on an unfamiliar course and execute the team-oriented racing that has carried them all season.

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Players Mentioned

Jerome Graessle: Sophomore

Michael Johnson: Sophomore

RJ Moniri: Sophomore

Ryan Golden: Freshman

Nate Larsen: Freshman

Ethan Waddell: Freshman

Sebastian Welc: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jerome Graessle
: Sophomore

Michael Johnson
: Sophomore

RJ Moniri
: Sophomore

Ryan Golden
: Freshman

Nate Larsen
: Freshman

Ethan Waddell
: Freshman

Sebastian Welc
: Freshman