The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's and women's cross country teams held their year-end banquet earlier this month and announced the programs' award winners for the 2019 season.
 
Men
 
The Warhawk men placed fifth at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and recorded their best finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship since 2010 by placing eighth.
 
Junior David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) highlighted the men's campaign with his second straight All-America honor, finishing sixth at the NCAA Championship after a runner-up finish at the regional race. He was joined on the all-region podium by junior Kyle Neuroth (Muskego, Wis./Muskego), who placed 29th overall and was one place shy of being one of seven runners from non-qualifying teams to punch a ticket to the NCAA Championship. Fassbender, Neuroth and freshman Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) garnered All-WIAC accolades, with Krause becoming the first men's freshman to be an all-conference runner in head coach Jeff Miller's 38-year tenure with the program.
 
The following individual award winners were announced:
 
First Year Award:
Andrew Hirsch (Brookfield, Wis./Catholic Memorial)
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee)
Andrew Lohse (Dixon, Ill./Dixon)
Nick Schmidt (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton)
Sam Uhrich (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam)
 
Second Year Award:
Nick Key (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port)
Mathias Otten (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan Lutheran)
Seth Zimdars (Ripon, Wis./Ripon)
 
Third Year Award:
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
Conner Hackett (Darlington, Wis./Darlington)
Brian Kuehl (Geneva, Ill./Geneva)
Kyle Neuroth (Muskego, Wis./Muskego)
Clinten Woerishofer (Appleton, Wis./North)
 
Fourth Year Award:
Grant Miller (Cedarburg, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran)
 
Most Valuable Freshman:
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee)
 
Most Improved:
Nick Schmidt (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton)
 
Most Valuable Performer:
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
 
Most Inspirational:
Brian Kuehl (Geneva, Ill./Geneva)
Kyle Neuroth (Muskego, Wis./Muskego)
 
Women
 
The Warhawk women placed sixth at the WIAC Championship and 10th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, the team's highest finish since 2007 and a 12-spot improvement from 2018.
 
Junior Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine) earned All-Midwest Region accolades by finishing 22nd overall, and became the women's program's first all-conference honoree since 2014 after finishing 18th at the WIAC meet. Braun was one spot shy of being one of seven individuals on non-qualifying teams to reach the NCAA Championship. All five of UW-Whitewater's top five regional placers scored higher among conference competitors than they did at the WIAC Championship.
 
The following individual award winners were announced:
 
First Year Award:
Megan Anderson (Albany, Wis./Albany)
Jill Cavanaugh (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington)
Sarah Daley (Aurora, Ill./Kaneland)
Alyssa Dobbs (Greendale, Wis./Greendale)
Paige Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
Claire Gorham (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah)
Megan Hering (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights)
Sarah Niehueser (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran Academy)
 
Second Year Award:
Jenny Kinjerski (Green Bay, Wis./Preble)
Amanda Leder (New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower)
Gabrielle Martin (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford)
Julia Wesley (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead)
 
Third Year Award:
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine)
Julia Fewell (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem)
Kennedy Hauser (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon)
 
Most Valuable Freshmen:
Jill Cavanaugh (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington)
Alyssa Dobbs (Greendale, Wis./Greendale)
Paige Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
 
Most Improved:
Jill Cavanaugh (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington)
 
Most Valuable Performer:
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine)
 
Most Inspirational:
Claire Gorham (Rockton, Ill./Hononegah)
Sydney Prestifilippo (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North)