TSR's 2025 High School XC Top-25 Team Rankings (Boys): Final Edition

TSR Collaboration

Dec 1, 2025

11 min read

Written by Morgan Boonshaft & Ethan Moore

Edits & additional commentary via Abby Waddington and Garrett Zatlin

25. Coeur d’Alene Vikings (ID) (-22 / 3)

After entering the postseason as a possible contender for the national title, the Vikings struggled mightily at the NXR Northwest meet, finishing in 6th place with 212 points in a brutally-deep regional field. Junior Wyatt Carr was a major bright spot, dropping a 14:48 mark for 8th over the 5000-meter course to reaffirm his low-stick status. However, the supporting pack couldn’t quite keep pace with the front-running strength of the top teams, causing the Vikings to shockingly falter.

24. Haddonfield Memorial Bulldogs (NJ) (Unranked)

History was made in the Northeast region as Haddonfield became the first South Jersey boys team to ever qualify for Nike Cross Nationals, surging to a runner-up finish at the NXR Northeast meet. The Bulldogs packed up beautifully, placing four athletes in the top-25, led by Benjamin Andrus (18th place, 16:06 for 5k) with Luke Andresen, Peter Simpson and Ryan Gibson only seconds behind. The Bulldogs have put up a remarkable postseason with yet another New Jersey Group Two state title and a runner-up finish to Christian Brothers (TSR #2) at the NJ XC Meet of Champions. With their stellar performance at the difficult Bowdoin Park course, Haddonfield proved that they are more than deserving of their first trip to Portland.

23. Summit Storm (OR) (Unranked)

The Summit boys showed promise at the NXR Northwest meet, finishing 5th with 186 points and coming within 40 points of a runner-up finish in one of the nation’s deepest regions. Junior Bjorn Blankenship delivered a big-time performance with an 11th-place finish while classmate Charlie English added valuable depth in 35th place (15:20 for 5k). With a young core and their momentum trending upward, the Storm showed long-term promise even if they aren't going to NXN this fall.

22. Noblesville Millers (IN) (0 / 22)

The Millers delivered a gritty performance at the NXR Midwest meet, finishing 3rd in a deep region, only 14 points behind Plainfield North (TSR #19). Senior John Libs led the charge with an impressive 15:01 mark over the 5000-meter course for 11th place. Meanwhile, sophomore Isaiah Vohs and junior Banner Barnes provided great scoring stability for the Millers. Despite missing an at-large bid to the national meet in Portland, Noblesville’s regional showing reinforces their status as a nationally competitive squad.

21. Crater Comets (OR) (Unranked)

Crater delivered a breakout performance at the NXR Northwest meet, finishing 4th in a stacked field and putting themselves firmly on the national radar. Sophomore sensation Garrett Faught stole the show with a monster runner-up finish in 14:38 over the 5000-meter course, capping off a phenomenal season that already included leading his team to the Oregon 5A state title. The young Comets squad showed that they can compete with the region’s best. And although they were just out of qualifying for the national meet, they will definitely be a team to watch in the coming years.

20. Mead Panthers (WA) (Unranked)

The Panthers came to life in November, first claiming the Washington 4A state title. Mead then backed up their title with a strong performance at the NXR Northwest meet where they finished 3rd, just one point behind Lincoln (TSR #14) to miss the automatic qualifier. Senior Jovanny Lieb (15:11 for 5k) and sophomore Stejer Franklin (15:16 for 5k) led the way, but the real story has been the team’s late-season surge. Four of their five regional scorers ran personal bests to bring them within reach of strong regional rivals. While Mead didn’t get the nod for an at-large bid to NXN, this rapidly improving squad has proven they can compete with the best of the best.

19. Plainfield North Tigers (IL) (Unranked)

Plainfield North has surged into our national rankings after an impressive runner-up finish at the NXR Midwest meet, trailing only podium contender, Columbus North (TSR #8). Seniors Thomas Czerwinski (15:00 for 5k) and Aidan Conners (15:05 for 5k) set the tone up front with top-12 finishes, giving the Tigers the front-end strength they needed in a deep regional field. Their performance comes on the heels of the program’s first-ever Illinois state title, signaling a team that is peaking at just the right time.

18. McCallie Blue Tornado (TN) (-3 / 15)

McCallie delivered a solid showing at the NXR Southeast meet. The Blue Tornado squad finished in 3rd place overall, but they couldn’t quite match the strength and momentum of runner-up, Broughton (TSR #17). Junior star Andrew Beroset was the brightest highlight of the meet, claiming the regional title in 14:45 over the 5000-meter course to solidify his status as one of the best low-sticks in the Southeast region. While Beroset’s individual dominance and the team’s overall strength weren’t enough to provide them a path to Portland, McCallie capped off a quality season with yet another strong performance.

17. Broughton Capitals (NC) (Unranked)

A late-season surge has vaulted Broughton into the national conversation, highlighted by a strong runner-up finish at the NXR Southeast meet. Low-stick Cam Kuss hs returned from injury. And although he is still returning to form, the senior placed 22nd to provide much-needed scoring potency for the Capitals. Top-50 finishes by Charlie Slawinski (42nd) and Sam Wooten (48th) provided the pack-running stability the squad needed. The concern, however, lies in their depth: their 6th and 7th runners clocked in at 17:10 and 17:23 over the 5000-meter course at the regionals meet, meaning Broughton has little margin for error if anyone in their typical scoring contingent falters. Even so, when everything clicks, this is a national-caliber squad capable of inflicting major damage.

16. Campolindo Cougars (CA) (0 / 16)

Championship weekend in California only strengthened Campolindo’s national standing as the Cougars captured the 2025 CIF Division Three cross country state title in commanding fashion. Their 50-point margin of victory over runner-up West Torrance was highlighted by junior Clark Gregory placing 4th and teammate Nikola Van Delft following taking 11th place. Even beyond their front two, Campolindo’s pack held strong, which is the very strength that made them look so dangerous earlier at the North Coast Section meet where all seven of their runners finished inside the top-20.

15. Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriots (SD) (+3 / 18)

History was made in the Heartland region as Sioux Falls Lincoln stormed to their first-ever NXR Heartland title, becoming the first boys team from South Dakota to claim the victory. The Patriots were strong up front, with Miles Lechtenberg finishing 5th and Tyrus Needles taking 8th. Both runners dipped under the 15:30 barrier for 5000 meters. Not only was their 75-point margin of victory the second-largest in meet history, but the gap between Sioux Falls and runner-up Lincoln Pius was wider than the spread from 2nd place to 8th place! With three NXN appearances now to their name and the confidence of a historic regional meet victory, the Patriots enter NXN with serious momentum.

14. Lincoln Cardinals (OR) (+6 / 20)

Depth made the difference for Lincoln at the NXR Northwest meet where the Cardinals claimed the second automatic qualifying spot to NXN, edging Mead by just one point in one of the closest finishes of the entire postseason. Without a traditional low-stick, Lincoln relied on exceptional pack strength, led by junior Malcolm Dimoff in 34th place who was followed closely by senior Joshua Prince (44th), junior Peter James (46th) and sophomore Seth Kugel (52nd). If they can continue showing team cohesion even without a front-running ace, then the Cardinals will head to Portland as a sleeper threat that no opposing program will want to ignore.

13. Jesuit Blue Jays (LA) (-4 / 9)

Fresh off a fifth-straight Louisiana state title, Jesuit faced far stiffer competition at the NXR South meet where they placed 3rd behind national powers Southlake Carroll (TSR #3) and Austin Vandegrift (TSR #11). The Blue Jays were essentially dead even with Vandegrift through four runners, but a 123rd place by their final scorer proved costly in the final standings. Senior Brady Monahan continued his strong postseason with a 16th place finish in 15:18 over the 5000-meter course. While their regional meet result wasn’t as sharp as their in-state dominance, Jesuit’s depth and experience has helped them put together a solid season which will unfortunately be ending sooner than anticipated.

12. Belen Jesuit Prep Wolverines (FL) (0 / 12)

Belen Jesuit is a tough team to gauge, largely because of their limited competition this season. Since Florida teams do not race at NXR due to their state meet falling so late in the season, the Wolverines’ only true test has been at the Southern Showcase where they finished 3rd behind Columbus North (TSR #8) and McCallie (TSR #18). However, that race was more than two months ago. Since then, they’ve been undefeated, most recently dominating in the FHSAA Class 4A XC State Championships behind the efforts of the stellar low-stick Marcelo Mantecon, who will compete as an at-large individual qualifier at NXN this weekend.

11. Austin Vandegrift Vipers (TX) (Unranked)

After flying under the radar for most of the season, the Vipers burst onto the scene with back-to-back runner-up finishes behind Southlake Carroll (TSR #3) at the UIL XC State Championships and the NXR South meet. In what looked like a rematch of the Texas state meet at the NXR South meet, the Vipers closed the gap further on Carroll with only a 19-point differential. Senior Kai McCullough is a capable low-stick with 5th and 6th place performances at the two high-profile meets. A breakout race from their fourth scorer, Miles Nutt, who improved his 5000-meter PR by 37 seconds from his state meet to his regional meet, has Vandegrift on an upwards trend that they’ll hope to ride to a top-10 finish in Portland

10. Coronado Cougars (CO) (+7 / 17)

The Cougars had a tremendous day at the NXR Southwest meet, upsetting a prestigious American Fork team to finish 3rd, also earning an NXN at-large bid in the process. Oliver Horton (5th) and Xzavier Campos (11th) delivered the firepower that Coronado needed to overtake the Cavemen. While the Cougars' fourth and fifth scorers were a bit further than back than those of other nationally-ranked teams, the Cougars' two phenomenal low-sticks will benefit them greatly in a competitive national field.

9. American Fork Cavemen (UT) (-2 / 7)

A consistent top team in the country each year, American Fork had a rare “off” day at the NXR Southwest meet, finishing an admittedly disappointing 4th place. However, they faced the stiffest competition of any region, being defeated by Niwot (TSR #1), Herriman (TSR #4) and Coronado (TSR #10) can hardly be considered a failure. The Cavemen still secured an at-large bid for NXN, so they’ll have a chance at redemption in Oregon. David Webb’s 10th place performance in the loaded region was a bright spot for the Cavemen, and if they can get more from their backend scorers, then they’ll be poised to retain their status as a perennial contender this weekend.

8. Columbus North Bull Dogs (IN) (+3 / 11)

Already with quality wins at the Southern Showcase and the Nike XC Town Twilight, Columbus North added another big victory after capturing the NXR Midwest title. The key to their success is a strong, balanced attack that relies on a senior front-running duo in Jace Works and Denton Sluder, with a young core of consistent backend scorers. If they can continue to show that they can compete with the best, then the dominant IHSAA state champions could certainly make some noise at NXN.

7. Christ School Greenies (NC) (+3 / 10)

The Greenies notched a comfortable victory at the NXR Southeast meet, defeating strong programs in Broughton (TSR #17) and McCallie (TSR #18). While they don’t have a dominant low-stick like many of the teams ranked above them, they boast very strong depth, with only a 33-second time-spread separating their first and fifth scorers at their regional meet. Their wins at the Great American XC Festival and the Virginia XC Showcase demonstrate that their regional performance was no fluke and they enter the national meet with tremendous momentum.

6. Jesuit Marauders (CA) (+2 / 8)

It was an amazing weekend for the Marauders, who put together an incredible team performance at the CIF Division Two XC State Championships to earn an automatic qualifier spot to NXN. They dominated their state meet with a 52-point score, defeating notable in-state rivals Woodbridge and Matilda Torres. Their top-five time-spread was immaculate, with their first scorer, Isaac Abbott, finishing in 14:59 over the three-mile course and their fifth scorer clocking a time of 15:17. Their 18-second time-spread ranks among the best in the nation, and if they continue to run in that manner, then they’ll be a serious podium threat at NXN.

5. Jesuit Crusaders (OR) (+1 / 6)

The top team out of the NXR Northwest meet was Jesuit (OR), a group who stole the show with a dominant 61-point victory. They offer a balanced attack, with a strong low-stick in Kellen Williams, who placed 6th at the regional meet in 14:47 for 5000 meters, along with a quality group of varsity scorers who finished within the top-50. While they have yet to face a national-caliber challenge this season, their ability to consistently dominate in every outing bodes well for their first NXN appearance this decade.

4. Herriman Mustangs (UT) (0 / 4)

While they fell short of a team title at the NXR Southwest meet, there is plenty to be excited about for the Mustangs. They finished ahead of American Fork (TSR #9) and Coronado (TSR #10) while star low-stick Jackson Spencer took home a 1st place finish, firmly cementing himself as one of the top contenders (or maybe THE top contender) for the individual title at NXN. Their biggest challenge comes from their backend scoring as their fifth runner settled for 124th place. The perennial contender will need a big race from their final scorer if they want to stand on the podium this weekend.

3. Southlake Carroll Dragons (TX) (+2 / 5)

Carroll’s climb continues! The Texas state champions had another successful outing with a team victory at the NXR South meet, taking down nationally-ranked teams in Austin Vandegrift (TSR #11) and Jesuit (LA) (TSR #13) in the process. Leading the charge was star low-stick Caden Leonard, who showcased why he is one of the nation’s top distance runners, breaking the 5000-meter course record in 14:37. Kai Gutierrez’s 6th place finish amongst a loaded field demonstrates his capabilities to compete with the nation’s best. The success of their stars certainly bodes well for the Dragons as they head into the national meet.

2. Christian Brothers Academy Colts (NJ) (0 / 2)

The Colts maintain their position in our rankings after an astounding 33-point performance at the NXR Northeast meet. Their victory added to an already impressive fall resume, which included a New Jersey state title and quality wins at the Manhattan University and Shore Coaches invitationals. The lethal 1-2 punch of Luke Hnatt and Gavin Schmitt solidified their status as national-caliber low-sticks, notching 3rd and 4th place finishes at their regional meet. Meanwhile, their final three scorers -- Wyatt Falkowski, Ryan Collins, and Sean Galvin -- finished in short succession. The Colts’ astounding depth could be the key to victory if they can run as a strong pack at NXN.

1. Niwot Cougars (CO) (0 / 1)

Niwot has a real chance to join premier programs Newbury Park and Loudoun Valley as the only teams in NXN history to win back-to-back team titles. They dominated the field at the NXR Southwest meet, outscoring Herriman (TSR #4) by nearly 100 points while taking down other worthy opponents in American Fork (TSR #9) and Coronado (TSR #10) as well. Their championship racing prowess is stunning. The Cougars have an elite duo in Hunter Robbie and Quinn Sullivan, who each ran 14:34 over the 5000-meter course at the NXR Southwest meet. Ryder Keeton, another sub-15:00 performer over 5000 meters, Rocco Culpepper and Jude Ritzenhein rounded out the scoring for Niwot, with their entire contingent placing among the top-50 in the most competitive region in the country.

ADDED

Austin Vandegrift Vipers (TX)

Broughton Capitals (NC)

Plainfield North Tigers (IL)

Crater Comets (OR)

Summit Storm (OR)

Haddonfield Memorial (NJ)

KICKED OFF

IMG Academy Ascenders (FL)

Woodbridge Warriors (CA)

San Clemente Tritons (CA)

Downers Grove North Trojans (IL)

Riverton Silverwolves (UT)

Bishop Hendricken Hawks (RI)

JUST MISSED (in no particular order):