North Central College Cardinals

Prior to securing the NCAA title, the 1981 team claimed the program’s eighth straight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championship, with seven Cardinals placing among the top 11 finishers. North Central totaled 24 points in the race, leaving a 37-point cushion over runner-up Augustana College. The 1981 North Central College men’s cross country team ran to victory at Petrifying Springs State Park in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 21, 1981. Led by Bob Dunphey (ninth place), Tony Bleull (11th place) and Bill O’Neill (17th place) as All-Americans, the Cardinals scored 89 points, defeating runner-up Brandeis University by 18 points, securing the fifth NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship in program history. 

Roster: Dick Andrus, Mario Bastida, Chris Barajas, Tony Bleull, Jeff Braun, Rick Cadena, Joe Cecchi, Andy Conti, Neal Cleghorn, Barney Davis, Jamie Dow, Bob Dunphey, Rod Grady, Todd Jacobson, Ray Krauss, Dale Koepnick, John Leal, Gerry Mallon, Tom Martin, Scott McCleary, Scott Nelson, Mike Newman, Bill O'Neill, John Perron, Mark Petry, Jay Rogers, Dave Schulze, Phil Smigla, Kevin Steir, Gus Torrel, Bill Wahl, Chris Wheaton, Jim Willer, Lee Woolley, Al Carius (head coach), Jim Nichols (assistant coach)