PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Following an eighth-place finish at the SUNYAC Championships, the Plattsburgh State men's cross country team enters the 2026 season with its sights set on a stronger showing at this year's conference championship meet. The Cardinals will open the campaign on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they host the Cardinal Classic, their lone home meet of the season.

2025 CARDINAL SNAPSHOT:
SUNYAC Championships: 8th
NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships: 22nd

Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Nathan Petesch enters his second season leading the Cardinals and will look to continue building the program as Plattsburgh prepares for the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31, before competing at the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14.

The Cardinals concluded the 2025 campaign with a 22nd-place finish at the NCAA Division III Mideast Region Championships after an eighth-place showing at the SUNYAC Championships. Senior Zander Brown (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) paced the Cardinals at both championship meets, crossing the line as Plattsburgh's top finisher in each race.

Coach's Insights:
"Similar to the women, the men are all stronger than a year ago, and the newcomers will help to push us forward," said Petesch. "Everyone has been ready to work and brought a solid focus to the task at hand. Our focus is just on consistency and purpose in the process."

Player's Insights:
"This upcoming season feels very special as this year's team is looking stronger than last year," said Matthias Lauvau. "Some of our top guys are healthy and ready to work and help the team place better than we did last year at SUNYACs and even Regionals. Also, everyone on the team wants to go to regionals, so this extra competitiveness pushes the team to be better both on and off the cross country course."

Team Outlook:
Plattsburgh returns a veteran core that consistently contributed to the scoring lineup last season. That experienced group will be joined by first-year and transfer talent, adding valuable depth as the Cardinals look to strengthen their scoring unit and contend for a top finish at the SUNYAC Championships.

The Cardinals enter the season with a 14-runner roster, including nine returners from last year's team. The group will be led by Brown, who emerged as the Cardinals' top runner last season, and junior Brody Serfass (Endwell, N.Y./Maine Endwell), who established himself as a reliable scorer after a strong campaign in his first season. The Cardinals welcome six newcomers, including one transfer, who will look to add depth and compete with the rest of the lineup.

Inside the Nest:
The Cardinals' scoring group was led by Brown, who finished among Plattsburgh's top two runners in all seven races last season. His consistency among the Cardinals' top runners provided a steady presence throughout the campaign and established him as a key returning runner heading into 2026.

The rest of the Cardinals who found themselves in the scoring lineup throughout the season included seniors Nate Alexander (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus), Matthias Lauvau (Rye, N.Y./Rye Neck) and Serfass, each gaining valuable experience competing among the team's top runners. Together, they give Plattsburgh a strong foundation at the front of the lineup.

Other returners will include sophomores Michael Ayala (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz), Griffin Leary (Pearl River, N.Y./Clarkstown South), Bryton Mandigo (Hartford, N.Y./Hartford), Brennan Muecke (Beamus Point, N.Y./Maple Grove), and graduate student Samuel Van Auken (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville), who will look to make their way into the Cardinals' scoring group while pushing the runners ahead of them. Their presence on the team gives Plattsburgh additional opportunities to displace opposing runners and strengthen its team score.

Joining the Cardinals this season are first-years Sean Dormann (Saranac, N.Y./Saranac), Myles Hoffman (Medway, Mass./Medway), Everett Probeck (Glenmont, N.Y./Bethlehem Central), Matt Rombold (Endwell, N.Y./Maine Endwell), and sophomore transfer Sean Rose (Peru, N.Y./Peru Central). The newcomers bring fresh competition to the roster and will look to work their way into the top seven.