Fort Dodge, IA: The Hawks men's cross country team will look to finish what they started this weekend at the 2025 NJCAA DIII National Championship, hosted by Iowa Central at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The Hawks enter the meet ranked No. 1 in the nation, ahead of familiar Region 4 rivals DuPage and Joliet, and will aim to reclaim the national crown after finishing as national runners-up in 2024.
Lakeside Municipal Golf Course provides a fair but challenging test: a rolling layout that has hosted several major collegiate championships and is known for its open, spectator-friendly design. With temperatures expected to be cold and the potential for wind or snow, grit and race experience could play a major role in deciding the team title.
The Hawks bring one of the deepest lineups in the country, featuring five runners ranked among the top 20 nationally, led by Region 4 runner-up Ryan Golden. Alongside him are Sebastian Welc, Jerome Graessle, Ethan Waddell, and Michael Johnson, all of whom have played key roles in Harper's dominant season.
Before Saturday's championship, the Hawks shared their thoughts on the journey so far and what it will take to bring the national title back to Palatine.
Golden Aims to Finish What He Started
For Ryan Golden, this cross country season has been about unfinished business and building on momentum. After earning All-American honors in track last spring (placing third nationally in the 1500m and fourth in the 5k), Golden entered the fall with high expectations and a renewed drive.
"The success from track motivated me to come out and have a strong cross season," Golden said. "Missing my freshman year of cross also helped motivate me to do the same."
Golden has made a massive jump from his high school times, becoming Harper's top runner in nearly every meet and posting one of the top 10 fastest 8k times in program history.
"Making such a big jump from high school to college times has a lot to do with my dedication and my want to perform to the best of my ability and to get faster," he said. "Also with the help of Coach Mac's training."
After finishing as the Region 4 runner-up, Golden enters the national meet with one goal in mind.
"Coming up short at region made me want it even more going into this race," Golden said. "My mindset is on being able to push a fast last couple of miles and be strong. Bringing home a national title would mean a lot—for my teammates last track season, and my teammates now."
Welc Excited for First National Championship
Freshman Sebastian Welc has made an immediate impact for the Hawks, finishing third in Region 4 and earning a spot among Harper's all-time top 10 8k times this season. Adjusting quickly to the collegiate level, Welc credits the team environment.
"Being able to have a good relationship with my teammates is what helped me adjust," he said. "It made it more enjoyable to go to practice."
Welc has also benefited from racing alongside Harper's top runner, Ryan Golden.
"Having Ryan to push me has made me want to improve more," Welc said. "I'm hoping I have the same effect on him."
Looking ahead to his first NJCAA National Championship, Welc is focused on representing Harper and finishing the season strong.
"I'm looking forward to being able to compete for a team that is competitive. I want to finish the season on a high note," he said.
Graessle Ready for "Retribution Campaign" at Nationals
For sophomore Jerome Graessle, this season has been about unfinished business. After earning All-American honors and helping the Hawks to a national runner-up finish last fall, Graessle entered 2025 determined to ensure that the ending would be different this time around.
"The experience I've gained from last year makes me want to win all the more this year," Graessle said. "I finished All-American as the fifth man last year and even so we didn't win, so I decided a while ago to try far harder this year so that won't happen again."
That determination has fueled what Graessle calls his "retribution campaign," a season defined by consistency and commitment.
"The thought of the other team winning, or any individual beating me for that matter, drove me to have my best ever training block for any season ever," he said. "I've been very consistent with mileage and effort throughout the entire season, and that's shown in my 50-second year-over-year improvement."
As one of Harper's veteran leaders, Graessle's message to his younger teammates heading into the biggest race of the year is simple: stay steady and trust the process.
"All they have to do at nationals is run the same race they have throughout the entire season, and the win will come naturally," he said. "If you see a guy close to you, beat him. If a guy is a minute ahead, ignore him. Focus on one close guy at a time, and don't let others' races affect yours."
Waddell Finding His Stride as a Freshman
For freshman Ethan Waddell, the transition from high school to collegiate cross country has been one of learning, mileage, and mental toughness. Coming from a program that emphasized workouts over distance, Waddell said the biggest challenge was adjusting to higher mileage and longer races.
"The biggest adjustment was the amount of mileage I had to put in," Waddell said. "Going from a 5k to an 8k was an even bigger challenge, especially thinking that the race is essentially over at 3 miles when I still had 2 to go. It took a lot of effort and grit to overcome those 2 miles for the first few races."
That work has paid off, as Waddell has steadily become one of Harper's key scorers this season, finishing ninth at the Region 4 Championship to help secure the team's 18th regional title.
"It feels great knowing that I made an impact on being a winning team," he said. "My mindset is to just keep doing what I'm doing and to run my race."
Heading into his first national championship, Waddell isn't over complicating things.
"I'm just going to make sure that I do my part and run my race," he said. "I'm not going to change anything in my routine — just act like it's a normal race and do my thing."
Johnson Races with his Heart on the Line
For Michael Johnson, confidence has been the key to his growth this season. The sophomore from Grant High School has steadily improved throughout the fall, lowering his 8k best to 27:26 and solidifying himself as a crucial fifth scorer for the Hawks.
"Definitely confidence and believing in myself," Johnson said. "Becoming an All-American in outdoor track really helped me gain the confidence I needed."
Johnson also shares a unique bond with teammate Ryan Golden, as the two have been running together since their high school days.
"It has been a blessing to have been given the chance to continue doing what I love with someone I hold so close to my heart," Johnson said. "Not a lot of people get the chance to compete for six-plus years with the same person, and I'm forever grateful for that."
After coming up just short of a team national title last year, Johnson and the Hawks are locked in on finishing the job.
"I'm approaching this national meet with a much different mindset and mentality," Johnson said. "Realizing how close we came to winning the title last year only makes me want to win more."
Hawks Ready to Claim What's Theirs
The pieces are in place for Harper to capture its first NJCAA DIII men's cross country national championship since 2023. With a perfect blend of veteran leadership and hungry freshmen, the Hawks have been on a mission all season long, one that began the moment last year's runner-up finish became final.
Golden, Welc, Graessle, Waddell, and Johnson have each traveled different paths to reach this moment, but they share a common goal and an unwavering belief in each other. The No. 1 ranking is validation of their work, but Saturday's race at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course is where legacies are written.
For the sophomores, it's about redemption. For the freshmen, it's about seizing the moment. For all of them, it's about leaving Fort Dodge with the only thing that matters—a national championship trophy headed back to Palatine.
The Hawks are ready. Now it's time to run.
Â
