Marion, AL. – After finishing 19^th at the NJCAA National Championship last fall, the MMI men's cross-country team starts the 2023 season ranked 14^th in the first USTFCCCA preseason poll.

After losing the 2022 ACCC Runner-Up, Cody Goth, to the United States Air Force Academy, the Tigers will look to a much deeper squad this year with several key returners leading the way.  Sophomores Benjamin Stewart (Bibb County HS) and Parker Hicks (Port St. Joe HS) will provide leadership to the 2023 team along with Barrett Draiss (Helena HS), Tyler Druskoff (The Woodlands HS), and Joshua Gaffney (Napoleon HS).

Newcomers that will be looked upon to keep the Tigers in contention in the Central regional standings are  Peter Paccassi (Fauquier HS), Sam Myers, (Nease HS), Amarion Booker (Demopolis HS), Thomas Burch ( Helena HS), Michael Cody (Northview HS), Jeremy Garcia (Edinburg North HS), Abubakr Jallow (Marietta HS), Joshua Romero (Spanish Fort HS), Nelson Troy (Grand Oaks HS, and Jacob Hilb (Mother of Divine Mercy HS).

MMI will officially start their fall season on Friday, September 8, when they travel to Milledgeville, GA. to compete in the Brickyard Invitational hosted by Georgia Military College.