PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the second consecutive year, the Keene State College men's cross country team took home the Little East Conference title last weekend. As a result of the Owls successful season, KSC's coaching staff was named the Coaching Staff of the Year for 2025 that saw Owls' head coach Dan Roark and the Owls' new assistant coach, Dylan Flewelling, earn the recognition from the great cross country season.
 
"I appreciate the honor and getting the award for coaching staff of the year! I have to give a big shoutout and thank you to my assistant coach Dylan Flewelling," said Roark. "He did a great job of helping me through the season and I think between the both of us we had a lot of fun and made it a lot of fun for our athletes." At the LEC meet across both men's and women's teams for the Owls, KSC had one of their best overall days as a team, "We had 23 athletes compete and had 17 run personal bests; they showed up and did their part. It is easy when the athletes show up and make us look good. Credit to them for showing up all year and especially showing up on championship day. A huge thanks again to our great team and Flewelling!"
 
"It was a good year all around on the men's side and we saw a ton of improvements. We still have a lot to go, and we can continue to improve at regionals next weekend by taking those steps forward," said Flewelling. "Dan has been the perfect person for me to come in as a first-year coach. His commitment to the team is clear through the program's development over the past few years." Flewelling also mentioned how well the team is positioned for the future too, "I look forward to continuing to learn from (Roark) and working together to move the program forward. We return our top seven next year, so we are looking to take some even bigger improvements off this year's successful season for the next one."
 
"This is the first time I have had more than one coach with Roark and Flewelling. By having them both at practice with them helping me improving as an athlete has been so beneficial not only for me but also for the rest of my teammates," said Owls' junior Tyler Bolaske from Palmer, Mass., who was named the LEC Runner of the Year from his first-place finish at the LEC championships. "I am very happy with how the season has been going so far. One of our main goals this season was to repeat as LEC champions, and we did that, but the season is not over. We still have regionals, and we are looking to hopefully do well there and send some guys to nationals!"
 
KSC returns to action at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds for the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday, November 15 for their next meet.