PREVIEW: Cross Country Teams Begin 2025 at LIU's Fall Festival on Saturday

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – As we get set for classes to officially start on Monday, the University of Bridgeport's men's and women's cross country teams will begin their 2025 campaigns on Saturday at the LIU Fall Festival in Brookville, N.Y. The Purple Knights will be racing in their first of seven meets on the schedule this fall.

FULL 2025 SCHEDULE
Sept. 6 - LIU Fall Festival | Brookville, NY
Sept. 13 - Ron Stonitsch Invitational | Poughkeepsie, NY
Sept. 20 - Codfish Bowl | Boston, Mass.
Oct. 10 - Hopkinton XC Festival | Hopkinton, NH
Oct. 19 - Mount St. Mary Fall Pumpkin Run | Newburgh, NY
Oct. 26 - CACC Championships | Philadelphia, Pa.
Nov. 8 - NCAA East Regional | Hopkinton, NH

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?
Both of UB's squads placed ninth at the 2024 CACC Championships held at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia. It was a pair of freshmen leading the way as Edoardo Vandelli piloted the men with a 15th-place finish while Stephanie Lickteig registered a team-best 37th-place effort on the women's side.

WHO IS BACK?
The aforementioned Vandelli returns for Bridgeport after his 15th-place effort garnered CACC All-Conference honors last fall. Junior Nick Migliarese, one of UB's top track and field performers last year, serves as the other returner on the men's side.

For the women, Lickteig is joined by Julia Fortune, Samantha Rodriguez and Lynzie Lawton as CACC finishers last season that are back this fall. Fortune served as UB's top scorer at last year's NCAA East Regional.

WHO IS NEW?
A bunch of fresh faces are ready to make their Purple Knight debuts this fall. Anna-Mae Nellis, who shined for Bridgeport's track and field squad last year, will be a part of the cross country team in 2025. Transfer student Marcela Bañuelos is also a new member on UB's women's side.

For the men, it will be three newcomers joining Vandelli and Migliarese. UB's newest runners consist of freshman Alex Sanchez, sophomore Austin Wagoner and senior Toby Middleton.

Middleton comes to Bridgeport from the University of Missouri-St. Louis where he placed 22nd at last year's GLVC Championship and 33rd at the 2024 NCAA DIII Midwest Regional.

WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? (Quotes)

Gregg Schmidt – Head Coach, 4^th Year

"Promising newcomers strengthen our growing UB Purple Knights cross country programs. In my years here since taking the helm, we've steadily improved our reputation and performance. Though our distance group is small in track & field overall, every runner is a vital contributor with some that will make an impact on regional and possibly even national stages. An exciting season awaits."

Julia Fortune, Senior

"I had a strong summer of training building mileage for my base, so I am looking forward to significantly improving from the last year and achieving my goals. We have a great group of girls who love the sport and support each other to work hard during practice. The positive environment pushes us all to work together and persevere through tough workouts. Overall, I'm excited to see where I place at conference this year and what will be able to accomplish as a team overall."

Edoardo Vandelli, Sophomore

"I am really excited for this upcoming season. After a positive freshman year, I'm looking forward to seeing what we can get from this season as a team and also individually. Team looks good and ready."

FOLLOW ALONG
For all information regarding Bridgeport Athletics, visit www.UBKnights.com and follow UB Athletics on Facebook (UBPurpleKnights), X (@UBPurpleKnights) and Instagram (@UBPurpleKnights).