Hayes Announces 2023 Cross Country Schedule
6/29/2023 12:00:00 PM | Cross Country
The Demon Deacons will open the 2023 campaign on Sept. 1, hosting UNC Greensboro.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After leading Wake Forest to its first ACC title since 1994 and its highest NCAA Championship finish since 1989 last season, reigning ACC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year John Hayes officially unveiled the 2023 slate for the Wake Forest men's and women's cross country programs Thursday evening.
"We are excited to announce our schedule this year," said Hayes. "Both the men and women will race against tremendous competition to prepare us for the postseason. Both teams will race on the course that the NCAA Championships will be held on. Our whole staff is excited about this season."
2023 Slate
The Demon Deacons will open the 2023 campaign, hosting UNC Greensboro on Sept. 1. 15 days later, the Wake Forest women will travel to Boone, N.C. for the Firetower Project.
On Sept. 23, the men will begin their championship quest, traveling to Charlottesville, Va. for the Virginia Invitational. The following Saturday, the women return to action, making a trip to Bethlehem, Pa. for the Paul Short Run.
Both squads travel to Charlotte on Oct. 6 for the Royals XC Challenge. Then, a week later, the women will compete in Charlottesville, Va., while the men will travel to Madison, Wis. for the Nuttycombe Invitational.
The 2023 ACC Cross Country Championships will take place Oct. 27 in Tallahassee, Fla. The Deacs will then compete at the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va. on Nov. 3, before traveling to Spartanburg, S.C. for the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 10.
The 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held in Charlottesville, Va. on Nov. 18.
Of note, Wake Forest's 11-race schedule features three events in the state of North Carolina.
Early Roster Outlook
Despite the loss of three-time All-American Zach Facioni, the men will return All-American and All-ACC award winner, Luke Tewalt as he will look to build upon a historic 2022 campaign in which he finished fourth at the ACC Championships.
In addition to Tewalt, Hayes will bring in one of the most decorated recruiting classes nationally, highlighted by 2022-23 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Rocky Hansen.
Of note, the men will return four (Tewalt, Rynard Swanepoel, Daniel Winter and Weber Long) of the nine individuals that competed at the 2022 ACC Championships.
For the women, the Demon Deacons will look to build upon a solid 2022 season as they recorded top-10 finishes at both the ACC Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional a season ago.
Under the supervision of associate head coach Ashley Bastron, the women's squad is expected to return half of its competitors from the 2022 ACC Championships.
Despite the loss of All-Region honoree Mackenna Curtis-Collins, the Deacs will return veteran Caroline Garrett who recorded a top-50 finish at the ACC Championships last season. Additionally, the Deacs welcome a well-rounded recruiting class, including California transfer Natalie Weiner.
The Hayes Era
Since arriving at Wake Forest in 2016, Hayes has returned the men's cross country program to prominence. Under Hayes, the Demon Deacons improved their finish at the ACC Championships from 14th in 2015, to winning the league title in 2022 and from 23rd at the Southeast Regional in 2015, to winning the Southeast Region in 2021.
Last season, Hayes coached three All-Americans including Zach Facioni, the first three-time All-American in program history. Hayes also coached four All-ACC runners, which tied the program record for the most all-conference selections in a single season.
Prior to Hayes' arrival, Wake Forest had gone over a decade without making an NCAA Championship appearance. Of note, the Demon Deacons have now made an appearance at the NCAA Championships in three-consecutive seasons under Hayes' direction.
Over his 20-plus year coaching career, Hayes has led his teams to 12 NCAA Division I cross country championship appearances.
Last Season's Highlights (Men)
Last Season's Highlights (Women)
Program History/Accolades (Men)
Program History/Accolades (Women)
2023 Cross Country Schedule
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
"We are excited to announce our schedule this year," said Hayes. "Both the men and women will race against tremendous competition to prepare us for the postseason. Both teams will race on the course that the NCAA Championships will be held on. Our whole staff is excited about this season."
2023 Slate
The Demon Deacons will open the 2023 campaign, hosting UNC Greensboro on Sept. 1. 15 days later, the Wake Forest women will travel to Boone, N.C. for the Firetower Project.
On Sept. 23, the men will begin their championship quest, traveling to Charlottesville, Va. for the Virginia Invitational. The following Saturday, the women return to action, making a trip to Bethlehem, Pa. for the Paul Short Run.
Both squads travel to Charlotte on Oct. 6 for the Royals XC Challenge. Then, a week later, the women will compete in Charlottesville, Va., while the men will travel to Madison, Wis. for the Nuttycombe Invitational.
The 2023 ACC Cross Country Championships will take place Oct. 27 in Tallahassee, Fla. The Deacs will then compete at the Hokie Open in Blacksburg, Va. on Nov. 3, before traveling to Spartanburg, S.C. for the NCAA Southeast Regional on Nov. 10.
The 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be held in Charlottesville, Va. on Nov. 18.
Of note, Wake Forest's 11-race schedule features three events in the state of North Carolina.
Early Roster Outlook
Despite the loss of three-time All-American Zach Facioni, the men will return All-American and All-ACC award winner, Luke Tewalt as he will look to build upon a historic 2022 campaign in which he finished fourth at the ACC Championships.
In addition to Tewalt, Hayes will bring in one of the most decorated recruiting classes nationally, highlighted by 2022-23 Gatorade North Carolina Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, Rocky Hansen.
Of note, the men will return four (Tewalt, Rynard Swanepoel, Daniel Winter and Weber Long) of the nine individuals that competed at the 2022 ACC Championships.
For the women, the Demon Deacons will look to build upon a solid 2022 season as they recorded top-10 finishes at both the ACC Championships and the NCAA Southeast Regional a season ago.
Under the supervision of associate head coach Ashley Bastron, the women's squad is expected to return half of its competitors from the 2022 ACC Championships.
Despite the loss of All-Region honoree Mackenna Curtis-Collins, the Deacs will return veteran Caroline Garrett who recorded a top-50 finish at the ACC Championships last season. Additionally, the Deacs welcome a well-rounded recruiting class, including California transfer Natalie Weiner.
The Hayes Era
Since arriving at Wake Forest in 2016, Hayes has returned the men's cross country program to prominence. Under Hayes, the Demon Deacons improved their finish at the ACC Championships from 14th in 2015, to winning the league title in 2022 and from 23rd at the Southeast Regional in 2015, to winning the Southeast Region in 2021.
Last season, Hayes coached three All-Americans including Zach Facioni, the first three-time All-American in program history. Hayes also coached four All-ACC runners, which tied the program record for the most all-conference selections in a single season.
Prior to Hayes' arrival, Wake Forest had gone over a decade without making an NCAA Championship appearance. Of note, the Demon Deacons have now made an appearance at the NCAA Championships in three-consecutive seasons under Hayes' direction.
Over his 20-plus year coaching career, Hayes has led his teams to 12 NCAA Division I cross country championship appearances.
Last Season's Highlights (Men)
- The Wake Forest men's cross country team placed fifth at the NCAA Championships a year ago, marking the program's highest championship finish since 1989.
- Zach Facioni became the first, and only, three-time All-American in program history.
- Luke Tewalt and Aaron Las Heras also earned All-American honors.
- The Demon Deacons won the ACC Cross Country Championship for the first time since 1994.
- The title marked the fifth in program history.
- Wake Forest had its best performance of the 2022 campaign, as the Deacs finished 42 points ahead of second-place Syracuse to secure the league title.
- At the ACC Championships, Aaron Las Heras (third), Luke Tewalt (fourth), Thomas Vanoppen (fifth) and Zach Facioni (eighth) all garnered All-ACC honors and finished in the top eight.
- Despite coasting to a third place finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional, the Demon Deacons had four runners earn All-Region honors (Tewalt, Facioni, Las Heras and Vanoppen).
- The Wake Forest women's cross country team concluded the 2022 season finishing in the top-10 in each of its final three races.
- The Deacs improved consistently throughout the season and didn't finish below 11th in any meet despite a competitive schedule.
- At least one runner finished in the top-25 in each meet.
- The Deacs ended the season ranked in the top-10 in the Southeast Region.
- The Demon Deacons earned an impressive top-five finish at the Panorama Farms XC 23 Invitational.
- NCAA Championship Appearances
- Team
- 1988 (14th), 1989 (3rd), 1990 (18th), 1992 (9th), 1993 (20th), 1995 (20th), 1996 (11th), 2000 (18th), 2001 (19th), 2021 Spring (15th), 2021 Fall (10th), 2022 (5th)
- Team
- ACC Champions
- Individual
- Nolan Swanson (1996) and Nathan Sisco (2001)
- Team
- 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2022
- Individual
- All-America
- John Hume (1989), Ben Schoonover (1989), Jon Russell (1996), Nolan Swanson (1997), Zach Facioni (2020, 2021, 2022), Aaron Las Heras (2022), Luke Tewalt (2022)
- All-ACC
- Ron Rick (1985), Bill Babcock (1988, 1989), Scott Hayward (1988) Jon Hume (1988, 1989), Ben Schoonover (1989, 1990), John Sence (1989, 1990, 1991), Kyle Armentrout (1990, 1993), Eric Lorenz (1991), Stuart Burnham (1992, 1993), Brant Armentrout (1992, 1993), Pat Phillips (1992, 1993), Dennis Hearst (1993), Craig Longhurst (1994), Eric Dunn (1994, 1996), Ben Boyd (1994, 1996), Paul Kinser (1995), Jon Russell (1995, 1996), Nolan Swanson (1995, 1996, 1997), Stephan Pro (1998) Ted DeVos (2000) Chris Estwanik (2001) Garick Hill (2001), Nathan Sisco (2001), Sean Stevens (2003, 2005), Mitchell Day (2017), Zach Facioni (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), Jack Tiernan (2019), Carter Coughlin (2020), Jonathan Velasco (2020), Ben Mitchell (2020), Coen Roberts (2020), Aaron Las Heras (2021, 2022), Luke Tewalt (2022), Thomas Vanoppen (2022)
Program History/Accolades (Women)
- NCAA Championship Appearances
- Team
- 1987 (10th), 1992 (19th), 1994 (12th), 1997 (17th), 1998 (15th), 2000 (29th), 2002 (9th), 2003 (21st), 2004 (19th), 2005 (17th), 2006 (27th)
- Team
- ACC Champions
- Individual
- Seana Arnold (1989) and Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998)
- Team
- 2002 (Co-Champions)
- Individual
- All-America
- Karen Dunn (1985), Jennifer Rioux (1987), Seana Arnold (1989), Nicole Stevenson (1993), Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998, 1999), Annie Bersagel (2002, 2003, 2005), Selina Sekulic (2004), Michelle Sikes (2006), Samantha Jones (2015)
- All-ACC
- Karen Dunn (1985, 1986), Jennifer Rioux (1985, 1986, 1987), Sue Vander Wagen (1986, 1987), Monica Magnusson (1987), Anne Letko (1988), Seana Arnold (1989), Liz Becker (1989), Mary Powell (1989, 1990), Jennifer Finnegan (1992, 1994), Cynthia Moreshead (1992, 1995), Nicole Stevenson (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), Liz Cotter (1996), Janelle Kraus (1997, 1998), Kelly Brady (1997), Sara Day (2000), Annie Bersagel (2002, 2005), Risa Rutland (2002), Anna Sherman (2003), Michelle Sikes (2003, 2004, 2006), Selina Sekulic (2004), Allison Kieffer (2008), Anna Nosenko (2010), Nicole Irving (2011, 2012), Samantha Jones (2014, 2015), Sam Halvorsen (2017, 2018, 2019), Elise Wright (2019)
2023 Cross Country Schedule
| Date | Event | Location |
| Sept. 1 | Wake Forest vs. UNCG | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
| Sept. 15 | The Firetower Project (Women) | Boone, N.C. |
| Sept. 23 | Virginia Invitational (Men) | Charlottesville, Va. |
| Sept. 30 | Paul Short Run (Women) | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Oct. 6 | Royals XC Challenge | Charlotte, N.C. |
| Oct. 13 | Pre-NCAA (Women) | Charlottesville, Va. |
| Oct. 13 | Nuttycombe Invitational (Men) | Madison, Wis. |
| Oct. 27 | ACC Championships | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Nov. 3 | Hokie Open | Blacksburg, Va. |
| Nov. 10 | NCAA Southeast Regional | Spartanburg, S.C. |
| Nov. 18 | NCAA Championships | Charlottesville, Va. |
Follow The Demon Deacons
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Football Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
Monday, September 22
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18