Lawrence Technological University

Cross country teams end of year banquet 2023

Cross Country Programs Honor their Own at Team Banquet

12/6/2023 1:49:00 PM | By: Patrick Stewart, Director of Athletic Communications

Team MVP awards went to junior Hanna Assenmacher and sophomore Luke Droz

SOUTHFIELD--The Lawrence Technological University men's and women's cross country teams put an official bow to the end of the 2023 season on Sunday when they hosted their program banquet at Shield's Restaurant Bar Pizzeria. The event was attended by 65 guests of both squads.

"The festivities went very well and we appreciate the support all season who followed our teams," LTU men's and women's cross country head coach Eric Green said. "We are already looking forward to next season."

Junior Hanna Assenmacher (Ida High School) and sophomore Luke Droz (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson HS) received team most valuable player trophies. Assenmacher claimed first-team all-conference after finishing seventh at the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships with a time of 23 minutes and 28.41 seconds in the 6-kilometer race for a personal record. Her other season highlights included a 5k PR time of 19:01.9 at the Oct. 14 Jayhawk Invitational for 11th place, and a third-place showing at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge Invitational (19:28.2) a week later. Droz captured All-WHAC Second Team honors after coming in eighth (25:40.93) in the conference 8k meet. He also produced two other top-10 finishes at the season-opening Bethany Invitational (4th, 26:01) and GRCC Raiders Invitational (6th, 25:25.2--PR time).

Team newcomer of the year awards went to Madison Armstrong (Hartland High School) and Jack Kelly (Novi High School). Armstrong competed in three meets in which she had a 5k PR time of 21:09.3 (53rd) at the NAIA GLC Invitational and 6k PR clocking of 26:01.9 at the WHAC Championships, while Kelly appeared in five events that included an 8k PR time of 27:28.8 at the GRCC Raiders Invitational where he also had his best finish at 40th.

In addition, varsity blankets were handed out to the teams' eight senior letterwinners. Certificates were also awarded to honor NAIA Scholar-Athletes, Academic All-WHAC and NAIA Champions of Character honorees (Assenmacher for the women and Coach Green for the men).

Other awards: