BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Franklin College men's cross country team lined up for their first post-season race of the year on Saturday (Oct. 29) afternoon, taking on runners from nine other league teams at the 2022 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Championships.
 
It was a stellar showing for the Grizzly men, as they collected five all-conference honors with runners placing inside the top-20. As a team, Franklin had their best showing since 2010, earning a runner-up finish with 73 total points.
 
Sophomore John Asplund had a day to remember for the Grizzlies, taking fifth place overall and setting a new program record in the 8K with a time of 25:24.6. It marked the second straight year the Bloomington, Ind.-native earned all-conference honors, as he finished 10^th as a true freshman a year ago.
 
Four Grizzlies picked up Honorable Mention All-HCAC honors with their showings. Junior Jack Sells became a three-time all-conference selection with a 14^th place finish and a time of 26:31.6. Sells edged out Elliott Gough who earned his first all-conference nod with a 15^th place finish and time of 26:31.9. A pair of freshman earned all-conference showings to round out the scoring for the Griz, with Riley Devening (26:45.6) and Samuel Wilson (26:55.5) placing 19^th and 20^th, respectively.
 
Also competing for the Grizzlies on Saturday were: Trevor Newby (27:00.5), Eli Cochrane (27:22.3), Parker Mullins (28:02.3), Wyatt McCullough (28:21.6), Jonah Decker (28:37.9), Corbin Lee (28:54.2), Drew McGaha (29:05.6), David Sieg (30:27.4), Luke Paddock (31:55.4), Tristan Konkler (32:39.1), Brayden Devenport (32:40.8), Ethan Bequeret (33:22.9) and TyJay Laster (34:32.4).
 
The Grizzlies are off for two weeks to prepare for the 2022 Great Lakes Regional, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 12 in Holland, Mich.