The 2025 Dickinson athletics season is off to a great start and the Red Devils men’s cross country team wasted no time adding to its storied history. On September 5, the team traveled to Gettysburg College for the annual Little Three Championship Meet, featuring Dickinson, Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall. What followed was another dominant performance under the guidance of veteran Head Coach Don Nichter, now in his 35th season leading the Red Devils program.
The meet has been a fixture since 1968, but no team has shown more consistency than Dickinson. The Red Devils entered the meet with 27 consecutive titles — the longest streak in the meet’s history — dating back to 1997. They also hold the record for individual winners, including seven straight heading into this fall after recent graduate Brock Overlander’s victory at Dickinson Park last fall. On Friday, the Red Devils made sure that legacy continued.
Reflecting on the significance of this year’s win, Coach Nichter highlighted both the championships rich history and the competitive caliber of his team:
“The Red Devils never won the championship for the first 28 years and then broke through in 1997 to win the title,” he said. “This year’s championship was a dominant performance and a testament to the depth of this team with the largest team ever of 31 athletes.”
Luke Knestout ’28 came through the line to take first place in a time of 15:27.5, nearly 40 seconds faster than his time last year. He was followed closely by senior Alexander Kane (15:34.5), junior Nathan Caldwell (15:42.2), sophomore Atticus Fair (15:49.4), senior Benjamin Moseman (15:49.7), sophomore Avi Ghorai (15:54.4), and sophomore Travis Knaggs (15:56.7). The Red Devils placed seven runners in the top ten to post a commanding team score of 17 in a field of 46, securing their 28th consecutive Little Three crown.
For Knestout, the victory carried special meaning. Knestout’s performance earned him Centennial Conference Athlete of the Week honors, and he credited both preparation and team culture for the squad’s dominant showing. Reflecting on the performance, he shared:
“This accomplishment, winning the Little 3 XC Championship, means so much to me because of the rich history that it holds. I’m just so grateful that my name will forever be a part of this legacy and this historic meet. Looking at the list of previous winners, I saw mentors of mine and even national champions. To join this elite list of such accomplished runners is definitely one of the results I’m most proud of in my running career so far.”
Kane, who won the individual title in 2023 and placed second in this year’s meet, emphasized the importance of balancing pride with responsibility:
“I am confident that next year’s team will continue the legacy of success. That said, the team should not become complacent in the future. This accomplishment is significant because of its connection to Dickinson cross country runners both past and future, and about preserving a legacy of success as a program.”
With another Little Three title secured, the Red Devils now turn their focus to the bigger stages ahead — conferences, regionals, then nationals. If early results are any indication, the tradition of excellence that Coach Nichter has instilled in the Dickinson cross country program remains as strong as ever.
