Milwaukee City Wire

The Milwaukee Panthers men's and women's cross country teams are set to begin their 2025 season at the Tom Barry Invitational, hosted by St. Norbert in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The event will be held on Saturday, August 30 at the Shorewood Cross Country Course on the campus of Green Bay. The women's 5k race is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by the men's 6k at 10:45 a.m.

A new addition to the coaching staff this year is Priscilla Schultz, who joins as Associate Head Coach. Schultz previously spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona and started her collegiate coaching career at Arizona State University. She was also recognized as the first female All-American in Arizona State cross country history.

Head Coach Andrew Basler returns for his eighth season with the program. Last year, Basler led the women's team to a fifth-place finish at the Horizon League Championships with 111 points. He has previously guided the team to four Horizon League Championships titles.

The women's team enters this season aiming for its fifth Horizon League title in eight years. They have been predicted to finish fifth in the league's preseason poll but hope to improve their ranking during the season. The roster includes ten returning runners from last year, among them Anelise Egge, who was named Horizon League Runner of the Year and won the individual championship—the first Panther to do so since Meg Swietlik in 2020—and Rachel Helm, who finished tenth last year. Veterans Ally Schmitz and Anna Gallagher are also expected to play key roles.

On the men's side, Milwaukee is looking to improve upon last year's ninth-place finish at the Horizon League Championships. The team is picked seventh in this year's preseason poll and will rely on fifteen returning athletes for leadership and depth. Carter Eckhoff and Sam Schreiber both placed in the top fifty last year, while Cullen Boyle and Lucas Picco are also expected to contribute significantly.

After opening their season in Green Bay, both teams will return to compete again at Shorewood Cross Country Course for the Phoenix Open hosted by UW-Green Bay on September 6.

"Milwaukee cross country welcomes Priscilla Schultz as the Associate Head Coach of the program. Schultz comes to the Panthers after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona. Schultz began her collegiate coaching career at Arizona State University, where she was a decorated student-athlete and was the first female All-American in Arizona State cross country history."

"Head Coach Andrew Basler returns for his eighth season leading the Panther cross country program. A year ago, Basler led the women's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the Horizon League Championships with 111 points. He has four women's cross country Horizon League Championships under his belt, and he will be looking to add another this season."

"Anelise Egge, who was named Horizon League Runner of the Year and captured the individual championship, the first Panther to do so since Meg Swietlik in 2020, is back to defend her title."

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