For the second year in a row, harriers from Nebraska Wesleyan University dominated nearly all the major awards as the Association of Division III Independents announced the All-Independent Cross Country teams today.

Amber Brandenburger, a junior from Columbus, Neb., was named the female runner of the year after she finished seventh at the NCAA Central Regional and 77th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

Dunker, a junior from Beatrice, Neb., who finished 15th at the NCAA Div. III Cross Country Championships, was voted the male runner of the year. Dunker led the Prairie Wolves to a 10th consecutive appearance and a 22nd-place team finish at the NCAA championships. He also won the individual crown at the NCAA Central Regional, where he led Nebraska Wesleyan to a fifth-place finish.

Nebraska Wesleyan landed three runners on the men’s first team – Dunker, Eric Noel and Cody Waite – and three runners – Brandenburger, Brittany Hubbard and Bridget Baldwin – on the women’s first team. Freshman runner Noel was named the men’s co-rookie runner of the year with Joshua Wang, a freshman from Green Mountain College.

Mary Casinghino, a freshman from Saint Joseph’s College (Maine), was named the women’s rookie runner of the year and was selected to the second team. Coach Chris Smith from the University of Maine-Presque Isle was selected as the women’s coach of the year and shared the men’s coach of the year honors with Ted Bulling from Nebraska Wesleyan.

The All-Independent Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams were selected by the men’s and women’s cross country coaches from the Association of Division III Independents member schools.

Women’s First Team

Amber Brandenburger, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Brittany Hubbard, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Tamara Torlakson, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz

Marie Vanzandt, Senior, California State University, East Bay

Bridget Baldwin, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Women’s Second Team

Rachel Fichthorn, Sophomore, Salem College

Michelle Phillips, Sophomore, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Mary Casinghino, Freshman, Saint Joseph’s College (Maine)

Angela Cuba, Freshman, University of Dallas

Heather DeLany, Junior, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Women’s Honorable Mention

Holly Lyon, Junior, Southern Vermont College

Kate Abbott, Sophomore, Finlandia University

Glencora Cowan, Senior, University of Dallas

Lauren Meek, Freshman, Salem College

Sarah Willis, Junior, Saint Joseph’s College (Maine)

Yesenia Esparza, Freshman, California State University, East Bay

Men’s First Team

Chris Dunker, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Mark Landreneau, Senior, University of Dallas

Eric Noel, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Herrel Siller Jr., Sophomore, Newbury College

Cody Waite, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Men’s Second Team

Peter Silverman, Senior, Chapman University

Justin Lana, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University

Joshua Wang, Freshman, Green Mountain College

Kyle Gleason, Senior, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Ryan Prescott, Sophomore, Saint Joseph’s College (Maine)

Men’s Honorable Mention

Jon Bourke, Senior, Milwaukee School of Engineering

Greg Pivarunas, Freshman, University of Dallas

Scott Dorrity, Sophomore, University of Maine-Presque Isle

Marcos Gomez, Junior, California State University, East Bay

Matt Ferguson, Senior, Saint Joseph’s College (Maine)

Timothy Phillips, Sophomore, Green Mountain College

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2006-07. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.