HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University Panthers are spearheaded this season by juniors Avery Crowell and Gavin Stevens, who both had impressive 2025 campaigns. The Panthers head into the 2025 Big South Conference meet with the goal to win it all for the first time since 2014. Last year, the Panthers were just five points away from glory as Charleston Southern placed first.
The Panthers opened up the season by placing first as a team in three straight meets. Those meets included the Friday Night Lights Elon Opener, Lancer Pink Invitational, and the Dill Family Foundation Pirate Cross Country Invitational.
Crowell's top individual finish was a first-place time at the Lancer Pink Invitational, while Stevens came in third in Greenville, N.C. Max Bonilla and Simon Triezenberg have both taken home Freshman of the Week honors multiple times this season.
However, it is not just about the individual times the runners have recorded in the four meets its about competing together as a team.
"From a team perspective, I think we've developed a lot of our group in a really good direction. We were kind of in a unique situation where we graduated a lot of our top seven from last year. So there's been a lot of extra emphasis on our younger guys to step up, which I think they have done," Crowell said.
Crowell believes the group has what it takes to bring home a conference championship. "I think it would mean a lot for us to get it done now, and I think we have the teammates and the ability to get it done," Stevens said.
Head Coach Mike Esposito, in his final season, stated that the first goal in the postseason is to win the conference. Then, when looking at regionals, a goal for the team is to finish in the top 15. The Panthers, in the Southeast region, will compete against institutions from North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia.
It is the final season in the coaching career for High Point's Coach Esposito and both Crowell and Stevens stated that it has been an honor to run for him. "He knows the sport. He is knowledgeable. He cares about you as an individual athlete. He is just motivated to win," Stevens said.
Stevens said having a coach that motivates him so much fuels him as an individual to want to win when he has somebody who cares so much.
"He really cares about developing you as a person and as an athlete. I think in any other program, things probably wouldn't be the same with my story specifically," Crowell said.
Esposito had the following to say about both Crowell and Stevens, "They're two kids that get it. They have really big dreams, big goals and they understand that they've got to go earn that," Esposito said.
The long-tenured head coach states that his two leaders are excellent teammates and excellent leaders. Crowell and Stevens lead by example. Stevens stated that he believes actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to leadership.
A lot goes into the sport of cross country and running, from focusing on sleep to lifting. When it comes to running, you have to stack weeks or otherwise build from week to week to keep improving. They have to build on mileage and their aerobic machine. Injury prevention is key to the runner's training.
With six upperclassman and six underclassman, the Panthers have a very balanced team heading into conference as they look to reign supreme for the first time since 2014.
The High Point men's cross country team will race on Friday, October 31st at 9:00 a.m. in Farmville, Virginia at the Longwood Golf Course.
#GoHPU x #DefendTheTeam
