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Christian Patzka (Left) and Gunner Schlender leading the pack at the Tom Hoffman Invitational – Photos by Olivia Zinanni, Craig Schreiner

Written by Lalaina Chandanais
[UW-W sophomore majoring in English]

In his hometown of Brillion, Wisconsin, Gunner Schlender began running in early middle school when he decided to join the track team, and it soon became what he now refers to as his “first love.” His father was a track coach as well, so the passion for competitive running is deeply rooted in his family.

Schlender, now a fifth-year senior studying physical education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, is a big part of the sudden bloom of immense talent and growth of the Warhawk men’s cross country team in recent years.

“To really encapsulate the growth, we have to go back to before I joined,” said Schlender, a 2024 recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award.

In 2020, Schlender started his first year at UW-Whitewater. After a year away from competitive cross country due to the pandemic, he was itching to jump back into the sport he loved. He and his friend and fellow All-American student-athlete, Christian Patzka, helped the program to a new level.

“When I committed, we were ninth in the region, fifth in the conference,” Schlender said. He went on to explain how the team rose to fifth in the nation and second in the conference within his first year on the team, signifying only the beginning of what would be the team’s most immense growth period yet.

This season, the team is poised to compete for championships and individual awards at all levels.

Patzka, a fifth-year history education major, joined the team at the same time as Schlender, and his talent was already apparent to Jeff Miller, the head coach for more than 40 years.

Patzka credits one of his first defining experiences with running to be back in his hometown of Black Earth, Wisconsin, where he ran a community 5-kilometer race with his father when he was in middle school. It was from there that his love for running only grew.

After he committed to UW-Whitewater, Patzka went on to win back-to-back regional races in cross country and national titles in track and field. Both he and Schlender have qualified for every national cross country meet and have achieved All-America status each year since they arrived.

Schlender and Patzka have been crucial in getting the team to where it is today, contributing what is, according to Miller, a “once-in-a-lifetime sort of talent.”

“They were All-Americans as freshmen. That has never happened before, and they both have done it. They have qualified for every national meet since they have gotten here, so it’s the stuff of legends,” said Miller. “They have reached well beyond what I think they even thought they could do.”

When asked to name some highlight moments of the team’s success, there was a moment of deliberation shared by all — the team’s vast number of achievements surely made it difficult to only name a few.

“The Blugold Invite in Eau Claire in 2021 was our first real meet as a team, our first real test. We knew what we were capable of, but had yet to prove it,” said Schlender. “We went out there and raced incredibly well. It was our first time that our potential as a team was tapped into. After that, we knew we could beat teams that are nationally ranked, and that we wanted to be in the top 10.”

Patzka recalled the aftermath of some of the team’s first wins, stating how the shared feeling of pride and accomplishment amongst every teammate was a highlight in itself.

“Everyone’s got a big smile, a tear comes down. You know it was all worth it,” said Patzka.

Head cross country coach Jeff Miller, third from right, embraces Schlender and Patzka, on his immediate right and left, respectively, and the men’s team’s other seniors following the Tom Hoffman Invitational on Sept. 21, 2024, outside of the Williams Center. The Warhawk senior class was recognized at the meet. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Olivia Zinanni)

A resilient, close-knit program

For Miller, one of the largest achievements in his eyes was the resilience that shone through after a year of stagnancy and uncertainty.

“Our athletes got to train more with the extra time they had, and it just helped them get stronger,” Miller said. “We took a bad situation and made the most of it.”

Still, there is another layer of the cross country team’s success that cannot be defined by the digits of a new record time or a medal around a neck. Another factor that further emphasizes the strength of their unique bond with each other.

Patzka was made aware of his teammates’ unwavering support when he was suffering from Achilles tendonitis during the summer after his freshman year and into his sophomore year. Even when he could not compete, his teammates made it known that they unconditionally valued him.

“The guys would still check in on me,” said Patzka. “It was nice knowing that even though it was really painful, I still have those guys there for me. I felt supported.”

Schlender shared the same positive sentiment towards the support and long-lasting connections made within the team, stating how he met some of his closest friends through UW-Whitewater cross-country. Justin Krause, currently a graduate assistant for UW-Whitewater’s Campus Tutorial Services and a volunteer assistant coach for the cross country teams, was a sophomore on the team when Schlender joined. Krause served as a consistent role model for his new teammates each year.

“He has been my best friend since my first visit and is the best leader I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve lived with him for three years now.” said Schlender. “He is the hardest worker, the nicest person, and when he does something, you just follow it. When you are around him, you work harder, and you care more.”

Gunner Schlender, at right, and Christian Patzka, are also decorated members of the Warhawk men’s track and field team — they’ve each earned multiple conference All-America honors. The duo is shown competing at the Karl Schlender Invitational at Kachel Fieldhouse on Jan. 20, 2024. The meet is named for Schlender’s grandfather, who coached the men’s and women’s programs for nine years. (UW-Whitewater athletics photo/Olivia Zinanni)

Warhawk family and tradition

The deep gratitude within the team extends in all directions, especially toward the faculty and staff that have had a positive impact on getting the team to where it is today. One faculty and team member connection that is particularly special is the one between Schlender and Miller — it’s rooted in the history of the UW-Whitewater athletic department and of a longtime friendship.

“I coached with Gunner’s grandfather, Karl Schlender. I shared an office with him. He was a great coach and person, and everyone who knew him knows that,” said Miller. “Gunner never met his grandfather, so it is kind of an interesting dynamic — I talk about what kind of person he was to him, and he learns more about him through that.”

It is acknowledged among the members of the team that they would not be where they are without the footsteps left by previous athletes to follow. Patzka even states that the university’s rich athletic history is a large reason why he was drawn to it.

“There are so many people who go through our athletics, so being associated with UW-Whitewater athletics and being associated with past athletes through the years is a great honor.”

A bright present and future

When considering the team’s future, there is an overall sense of high hopes for the continuation of this great era of achievement.

Junior business analytics major and teammate, Dan Anderson, has shown great growth and potential. Miller said the Eau Claire native has taken the positive influences of Schlender and Patzka and grown into his potential.

The Warhawks are currently ranked second in the North Region and fourth in the nation among NCAA Division III teams by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA). Schlender and Patzka finished first and second, respectively, in a field of more than 400 runners to lead the team to a runner-up finish at the Pre-National Meet on Oct. 4 in Terre Haute, Indiana, the site of this year’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship.

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship is set for Nov. 2 in Stevens Point, with the NCAA regional and national meets to follow on Nov. 16 and Nov. 23, respectively.

With the sheer amount of talent displayed and learned from within recent years — and the promising outlook for the 2024 team — this great bloom in the men’s cross country team’s success is set to continue for years to come.