UTICA, NY - The Empire 8 has announced its All-Conference selections for the 2025 men's cross country season. Among the honorees are five Pioneers. Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) led the team with a First Team selection. Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham) was the lone Utica member of the Second Team. Killian Bauer (Verona, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherill), Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central), and Anthony Leotta (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) were each named to the Third Team, with Tim Jeralds additionally being named among the E8's Tomorrow's Leaders.

Melita headlined the Pioneers all fall, opening with a course-record win at SUNY Poly and rolling that momentum into a dominant Empire 8 title (25:34.2). He kept trending up against bigger fields, clocking a season-best 25:04.6 for 5th at the Niagara Regional to punch his second-straight ticket to the National Championship. Melita was Utica's only NCAA qualifier and capped the journey on the national stage with a 194th overall finish time of 25:58.7.

Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham) provided veteran stability in the scoring five, earning Second-Team All-E8 with a 27:15.3 for 15th overall at the conference meet. He then stepped up at Regionals, dropping a 26:53.1 finish, good for 59th overall, to help Utica secure a program-record 6th-place team finish in a deep Niagara field. Across the season, Tobias routinely sat near the front of the Pioneer pack and converted late-season fitness into meaningful points.

Bauer, a first-year, made an immediate impact, landing Third-Team All-E8 honors with a 23rd overall finish of 27:48.3 at the conference championship. Bauer had a strong outing at Regionals, cutting his time down to 26:59.3 and placing 65th against one of the nation's most competitive geographic fields. He consistently raced inside Utica's scoring group and tightened the 1-5 gap down the stretch.

Timothy Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central) earned Third-Team All-E8 by crossing the E8 finish line 25th overall after 27:51.8. He followed with a gritty 27:07.6 (70th) at the Niagara Regional, anchoring Utica's depth in the five-man score. Jeralds was additionally named to the E8's Tomorrow's Leaders Team, recognizing a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but also in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen. Throughout the campaign, Timothy's reliability and late-race composure proved invaluable in crowded packs.

Leotta delivered when it counted, earning Third-Team All-E8 in 27:50.7 (24th) and then dropping a season-best 26:23.9 (38th) at the Niagara Regional. The senior consistently hovered near scoring position all fall and saved his sharpest run for the championship finale. His regional breakthrough provided key separation in Utica's team total and reflected a strong late-season build.

All five of the all-conference team members, and many other cross country team members, will now set their sights on the track and field season. Action for that season is set to begin later this week. Utica will return to cross country action in the fall of 2026.