William Penn University Men's Cross Country

Friesen came to William Penn from Dana College in Nebraska where he served the same role since 2002. In his tenure, he managed all aspects of the program that consisted of over 70 athletes. He also oversaw the operation of the cross country teams. Serving as the Associate Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator at Dana as well, Friesen was honored as the 2005 American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year. Friesen has a plethora of additional collegiate coaching experience over the last two decades at several institutions such as Dakota State University (assistant football, football recruiting coordinator, head and assistant softball, assistant baseball), Fort Hays State University (assistant football, assistant recruiting coordinator), Mesa State College (assistant football, equipment manager), Red Rocks Community College (assistant football, defensive coordinator), and Denver University (head football). He has also coached prep football at Alameda High School. A 1995 graduate of Mesa State with a degree in human performance and wellness, Friesen also earned his Master's of Science from Fort Hays State in 1999. Sean Gosewisch is in fourth season as assistant track and field coach. He is also in his third year as assistant cross country coach. Gosewisch returns to William Penn after serving as a graduate assistant coach from 2012-2013.  He has a Master's of Business Leadership degree from WPU in 2013. A 2010 graduate of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, he majored in history. A national qualifier at the NCAA Division I and II levels, he was a captain of both the cross country and track and field squads as a senior.  A strong scholar, Gosewisch earned Collegiate All-American Scholar honors. He also picked up academic all-conference honors and was a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. Eric Ritter is in his third year as a Graduate Assistant Coach. A 2013 graduate of Coe College with a degree in Physical Education (Strength and Conditioning, Coaching), Ritter was a conference champion in the hammer throw as a senior.  He also placed in the top eight in the conference in the hammer and shot put as a junior and senior.  The Throws Captain as a senior, he was Kohawk Athlete of the Week once and Iowa Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week once as well.  He had a personal best of 178-3 in the hammer throw. A native of Iowa City, he qualified for the state meet as a member of the Iowa City West HS team.  He also placed second at districts.

Gosewisch returns to William Penn after serving as a graduate assistant coach from 2012-2013.  He has a Master's of Business Leadership degree from WPU in 2013. A 2010 graduate of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, he majored in history. A national qualifier at the NCAA Division I and II levels, he was a captain of both the cross country and track and field squads as a senior.  A strong scholar, Gosewisch earned Collegiate All-American Scholar honors. He also picked up academic all-conference honors and was a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. Eric Ritter is in his third year as a Graduate Assistant Coach. A 2013 graduate of Coe College with a degree in Physical Education (Strength and Conditioning, Coaching), Ritter was a conference champion in the hammer throw as a senior.  He also placed in the top eight in the conference in the hammer and shot put as a junior and senior.  The Throws Captain as a senior, he was Kohawk Athlete of the Week once and Iowa Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week once as well.  He had a personal best of 178-3 in the hammer throw. A native of Iowa City, he qualified for the state meet as a member of the Iowa City West HS team.  He also placed second at districts.