Well I'm not sure who made that other thread but I don't think it's too accurate, so here's a more in-depth list for the NESCAC xc 2025 championship. This list is of course subject to change, but here's a look at the top returners, teams, and the paper-race list for the 2025 NESCAC conference. **As a note, the list of runners is the top 7 returning members of each team's xc squad at the 2024 NESCAC championship. It's too hard to aggregate results across a whole season, so I'm using the previous year's championship as a template. Also, this post is too long to be made in 1 part, so I had to break it up.**
The Paper Race - After taking out all graduating seniors and accounting for displacement, here is the theoretical scores for all NESCAC teams based off of the 2024 race and its returners:
Tufts: 53
Williams: 66
Amherst: 71
Wesleyan: 80
Middlebury: 121
Colby: 155
Bowdoin: 161
Bates: 176
Hamilton: 185
Conn College: 222
Trinity: 251
Basically, Tufts is the slight favorite, and its a toss-up between the next three teams. However, as Bucknell head coach Kevin Donner likes to say, "Paper doesn't race." Only time will tell which team is going to take home the trophy come fall. May we all hope the competition is fierce.
Tier 1 team (Tufts) - The teams to beat/is their race to lose
Tufts: The Jumbos are certainly shaping up to be the team to beat next fall. They return all of their top seven from the 2024 NESCAC meet, and have made some huge strides during the track season. It's hard to see where they fall short: they have low sticks in Amokrane Aouchiche and Jonah Reisner, great depth with their lowest returner placing 34th among their returning 7, and some solid talent just outside of their varsity members looking to keep things competitive. Here's how the Tufts squad ranks:
Luke Brennan, #10 at CACs, rising SR (PRs: 14:48, 24:53) Brennan hasn't been up to par during the 2025 track season, but his reliability in xc and prs speak for themselves. He'll likely be a top contributor for Tufts.
Amokrane Aouchiche, #11 at CACs, rising SR (PRs: 14:35, 29:55, 24:39) Aouchiche had a breakout cross season and hasn't looked back since, finishing as an All-American at nationals and dropping a nasty 29:55 in the 10k recently. He's shaping up to be a potential individual victor by the time fall rolls around.
Calvin Cummings, #14 at CACs, rising SR (PRs: 14:56, 9:24S, 24:47) Cummings is another guy who hasn't quite had the track season to back up his cross performances, but does seem to pull it together on the grass when it counts. He's put up solid performances at NESCACs, regionals, and nationals.
Jonah Reisner, #23 at CACs, rising JR (PRs: 8:17, 14:22, 24:52) Reisner is looking to be a huge riser in the NESCAC, dropping some absurd times this track season and just recently finishing 2nd at the conference 5k. He could also reasonably contend for an individual title.
Quinn Hampson, #29 at CACs, rising SR (PRs: 8:28, 14:41, 25:00) Hampson might not have the same flashy prs as Aouchiche and Reisner, but he's been a formidable competitor this track season and just finished a 1500/5k double at the outdoor meet, finishing 4th in both. If he can carry over this fitness to cross he has the potential for an all-NESCAC spot.
Avery Smart, #32 at CACs, rising JR (PRs: 14:59, 31:29, 25:01) Smart has really struggled this track season, racing infrequently and failing to put up any notable times. It could just be the sophomore slump, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Harris Gulbransen, #34 at CACs, rising JR (PRs: 8:28, 14:49, 25:26) Gulbransen has only raced 4 times this track season, but has run prs his last two times racing. That doesn't leave me with much to say about him, but he'll likely be a contributor.
Other Jumbo's who could potentially contribute include Will Cusato, Cullen McCaleb, Gabe Grove, and Aidan Max