GROVE CITY, Pa. – An experienced 10-man nucleus of upperclassmen will help lead the Grove City College men's cross country squad into its spring 2021 season. Two seniors and eight juniors comprise that veteran core as the Wolverines look to return to the top of the Presidents' Athletic Conference under head coach Jessica Smith.

Fourth-year performers Matt Bennett (Bethel, Maine/Gould Academy) and Malachi Lyon (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) return for the 2021 campaign. Bennett returns after being sidelined by injury during the 2019 season. A two-year letterman, Bennett will compete for a spot in the lineup this spring while also providing experience and leadership.

Lyon competed on Grove City's Mideast Regional Championships roster in each of his first two seasons. He took 38th at the 2019 conference championships after missing the first half of his junior campaign. Lyon aims to return to the lineup on a full-time basis.

Jeffery Eide (Seminole, Fla./Northside Christian) will help lead Grove City's eight-man junior class. Eide earned First Team All-PAC honors as a sophomore in 2019 and will likely be in the upper portion of Grove City's lineup this spring.

Four other juniors are also back after helping comprise Grove City's Mideast lineup in 2019: Aaron Hammer-Huber (North Royalton, Ohio/Lutheran West), Matthew Hay (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem), Einar Trosdal (Nashville, Tenn./Sovereign Grace) and Nathan Warrick (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty).

Trosdal earned 24th at the conference championships in his sophomore season while Hammer-Huber placed 25th in 2019. Warrick earned 31st at that meet and Hay took 36th. All four men will aim to contend for All-PAC recognition this season.

Juniors Noah Callinan (Kettering, Ohio/Kettering Fairmont), Devin Freed (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and Calvin Raab (Perkiomenville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) are also in the mix for Grove City. Callinan and Freed are both two-year lettermen while Raab lettered in 2019, his first season in the program.

Sophomores Andy Beichner (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman), Logan Hunter (Huntingburg, Ind./Southridge) and Bergen Weiner (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) all lettered as rookies in 2019. All three runners will push the upperclassmen for spots in the lineup.

A number of newcomers are also expected to contribute in this year's abbreviated season.

The Wolverines open the season Saturday, February 27 at the Saint Vincent Invitational. Grove City will also compete in the Bethany Invitational the following Saturday, March 6. Bethany will host the conference championships March 20.