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In November 2023, Roadrunner alumni and All-Americans Joe Ofsansky, John Roscoe and Tom Ellspermann reunited with Hall of Fame Coach Ron Gunn in 1^st Source Bank Fieldhouse on SMC’s Dowagiac campus. They were recognized during halftime of the SMC’s Men’s basketball game in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the 1973 SMC Men’s Cross Country individual and team championships — the first of an unprecedented three straight National Junior College Athletic Association cross country team championships for the Roadrunners.

Ofsansky and Roscoe, high school teammates from North Vigo High School in Terre Haute, Ind., were two-time All-Americans during their time on campus. They each won individual national titles as well — Roscoe in 1973 and Ofsansky in 1975. Ellspermann was also an All-American while at SMC.

What was most impressive about the 1973 national championship is what Coach Gunn and the Roadrunners accomplished. They beat teams from much larger schools across the country. Together, they brought the title home to SMC.

“Coach Gunn took us raw kids,” said Ofsansky, “and turned us into national champions.”

Members of the 1973 team included: John Aller, Dennis Bell, Bill Fries, Mike Ghyselinck, Dave Hucksted, Brian Hudson, Bruce Marschke, Ed Muro, Don Pearman, Paul Pena, Brian Petroff, John Roscoe, Pat Tobin, Tim Tobin and Bernie Zemen.