2026 Roster
2026 Schedule

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State men's track and field team opens its 2026 outdoor season on Saturday, Apr. 4, at the Saint Ice Breaker and the Amherst Spring Fling. Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Nathan Petesch and Associate Head Coaches Andrew Krug and Brett Willmott aim to lead the men's team to an improved finish at the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships following last year's fourth-place finish. Last year's result was the highest finish for a Plattsburgh State men's team since 2006.

Coach Insights

"The team showed a lot of growth throughout the indoor season. The SUNYAC Championship meet was a highlight, as the athletes brought great energy and support", said Petesch. "The team also just flat out competed, and that's the kind of program we want to be - rising to be our best in the biggest moments. A key for the outdoor season will be to maintain the momentum they earned during indoor and to keep focused, as we still have a ways to go before championship time. I think we found that to be at a different level, you have to believe at a different level, and I'm excited about the group continuing to elevate during the outdoor season."

Team Outlook

The Cardinals return a deep and experienced roster, highlighted by senior sprinter Charles Cypress (New Windsor, N.Y. / Cornwall), who earned Mideast All-Region honors in three events this indoor season, and junior Isaiah Ritter (Peekskill, N.Y. / Peekskill), who is coming off an All-American performance in the long jump in the indoor season.

Event Breakdown

Distance:

Senior Samuel Van Auken (Greenville, N.Y. / Greenville) leads an experienced mix of upperclassmen and talented newcomers after placing second in the 10,000-meter last season. Most recently, Van Auken claimed first place in the 3,000-meter run at the SUNYAC Indoor Championships, and he will look to build on his indoor success while aiming to replicate last season's achievements.

The returning squad also features juniors Nate Alexander (Marcellus, N.Y. / Marcellus), Zander Brown (Wappingers Falls, N.Y. / Roy C. Ketcham), and Matthias Lauvau (Rye, N.Y. / Rye), along with senior Jack Natali Jr. (Clayton, N.Y. / Thousand Islands).

This year's team adds a group of promising newcomers who made their first appearances during the indoor season: first-years Michael Ayala (New Paltz, N.Y. / New Paltz), Griffin Leary (Pearl River, N.Y. / Clarkstown South), Bryton Mandigo (Hartford, N.Y. / Hartford), Brennan Muecke (Bemus Point, N.Y. / Maple Grove), and sophomore Brody Serfass (Endwell, N.Y. / Maine Endwell).

Hurdles:

Sophomore Thomas Clark (Stone Ridge, N.Y. / Rondout Valley) headlines the hurdles unit after earning Mideast All-Region honors in the 60-meter hurdles in the indoor season.

First-years Max Page (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Beekmantown) and Michael Slominski (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Plattsburgh) add depth to the hurdles crew and will look to build on their experience from their first indoor seasons.

Jumps:

The Cardinals return a talented group of jumpers, highlighted by Ritter. Ritter enjoyed a standout indoor season, breaking the program record in the long jump with a leap of 7.20 meters before placing 12th at the NCAA Division III Championships, earning Second Team All-America honors. He also had a strong 2025 outdoor season, finishing second in the long jump at the conference championships, and will look to top that this upcoming season.

The group also features senior De'Andre Watson (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Plattsburgh) and junior Tyler Baker (Plattsburgh, N.Y. / Plattsburgh), with junior Sampson Lin (Farmingville, N.Y. / Sachem East) rounding out the returners.

First-years Rashid Okine (Schenectady, N.Y. / Schenectady), Collin Pringle (Suffern, N.Y. / Suffern), and junior transfer Jacai Sanders (Rochester, N.Y. / East), who competed at Onondaga Community College, bring fresh potential to the lineup. Among them, Pringle adds another bright spot to the jumping group after earning Mideast All-Region honors in the high jump and placing second at the conference championships this past indoor season.

Multis:

The multi-group provides a steady source of scoring for the Cardinals and is led by graduate student Faris Webber (Arlington, Va. / Washington Liberty). Webber placed second in the decathlon at the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships last season and most recently earned third place in the heptathlon this indoor season. He aims to carry that momentum into the outdoor season and compete for a championship as he continues to deliver reliable scoring for the Cardinals.

First-year Jayden Wendt (Cornwall Hdsn, N.Y. / Cornwall Central) is the only new addition to the multi-group.

Sprints:

Plattsburgh State's sprinting unit enters 2026 with championship-caliber talent and depth. Leading the way is C. Cypress, the program record holder in the 200-meter dash, who finished third in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes last season. He comes off a strong indoor campaign, earning Mideast All-Region honors in three events, including the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.

Senior Jordan Williams (Bronx, N.Y. / Cardinal Hayes) adds valuable experience to the sprint core, joined by juniors Ryan Beltran (Bronx, N.Y. / Cardinal Hayes) and Aidan Lobdell (Westport, N.Y. / Bouquet Valley). Other returners include sophomores Ethan Cypress (New Windsor, N.Y. / Cornwall), Jack Gregory (Guilderland, N.Y. / Guilderland), Jack Scauri (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Hauppauge), Brian Shannon (Goshen, N.Y. / Goshen), and Hassani St. John (Trinidad and Tobago).

Fresh legs come from first-years Jackson Barg (Niagara Falls, N.Y. / Niagara Falls), Giel Cheverez-Soto (Amsterdam, N.Y. / Amsterdam), and Milo Pearsall (Cold Spring, N.Y. / Haldane), while fifth-year Jeremiah Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y. / East New York Family Academy) brings additional speed, rounding out one of the deepest groups on the roster.

Throws:

The Cardinals' throwing unit returns an experienced and well-rounded group, led by senior Thomas Konnick (Cooperstown, N.Y. / Laurens).

He is joined by sophomores Manny Olivier (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Glen Cove), Zach Stevens (Queensbury, N.Y. / Glens Falls), and Nathan Webber (Cadyville, N.Y. / Saranac), each looking to contribute to the team's scoring.

First-years Caleb Lewis (New City, N.Y.) and Roanan Ross (Memphis, N.Y. / Jordan Eldridge) round out a talented throwing roster.

With a blend of veteran leadership, record-setting returners, and a talented incoming class, the Cardinals are well-positioned to build on their 2025-26 indoor success as they aim for a SUNYAC Outdoor Championship.