Shelton State XC Looks to Start Season Strong

The Shelton State Buccaneers will open the 2025 cross country season on Friday, August 22, in a dual meet against Gadsden State at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. The 3K race begins at 9:00 a.m. and marks the first competition of the season for both programs.

The Buccaneer women enter the year coming off a Top-10 national finish in 2024, where they were ranked No. 10 in the final NJCAA Division II poll. Shelton State returns a strong leadership core in Hattie Hurst and Zoe Lucas, who bring valuable experience to a team looking to build on last year's success. They are joined by newcomers Hannah Berryman, Mia Busby, Gracie Hall, Anna Peak, and Amari Simmons, a group expected to make an immediate impact. The women are projected to be ranked again when the first NJCAA Division II poll is released on August 27.

On the men's side, Shelton State was unranked in 2024 but enters 2025 with momentum. The Buccaneers return a solid trio in Matthew Waldrop, Brady Jones, and Will Harrison, who provide experience and consistency. They are joined by one of the top junior college recruiting classes in the nation for 2025, featuring newcomers Dane Ard, Isaiah Crosslin, Drew Dykes, BenJamin Fraley, Ben Guthrie, Logan Rogers, and Jakob Salter. This combination of proven veterans and talented freshmen gives Shelton State the depth and balance to compete at a national level, and the men are expected to earn a national ranking in the opening poll on August 27. Friday's opener will provide an early opportunity to showcase that potential.

The rest Bucs 2025 schedule can be found here.