Men's Outdoor Track and Field

WIAC Sweeps USTFCCCA Men’s North Region Awards

NEW ORLEANS--Individuals from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) have swept the North Region men’s awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2026 outdoor season. In addition, 114 conference performers secured All-Region honors.
 
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Blake Postler was tabbed the Track Athlete of the Year, while UW-Oshkosh’s Joshua Rivers received Field Athlete of the Year honors. UW-La Crosse’s Josh Buchholtz was named the Coach of the Year and Derek Stanley secured Assistant Coach of the Year distinction.
 
Postler is the second Blugold to win the award, joining Thurgood Dennis (2013 and 2015). Postler won the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III Championship in 49.88 seconds, moving up to second in NCAA Division III history behind Edwin Moses. It was also the fastest time in the event since 1977. Postler also finished third in the 110-meter hurdles and anchored the fourth-place 4×400-meter relay at the national championship. Earlier in the season, Postler won the 400-meter hurdles and finished runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles at the WIAC Championship.
 
Rivers is the second individual in program archives to claim the honor, joining Nick Braatz (2012). Rivers won the long jump at the NCAA Division III Championship with a leap of 25-9 1/2 (7.86m), the second-best mark in meet history. Earlier in the season, Rivers soared 26-0 1/2 (7.94m) in a winning effort at the WIAC Championship for the third-best mark in NCAA Division III history. Rivers also placed third at the Drake Relays.
 
Buchholtz received the coaching award for the 10th time in his career (2012-14, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023-26). He led the Eagles to the team title at the NCAA Division III Championship with 106 points, the highest recorded since 1985. UW-La Crosse also won the team title at the WIAC Championship with meet-record 335 points.
 
Stanley also claimed the honor in 2013. This year, he coached the Eagle mid-distance and distance runners to earn seven qualifying marks to the NCAA Division III Championship as three of his athletes set program records. His athletes accounted for 108 of UW-La Crosse’s 335 points in winning the team title at the WIAC Championship and earned No. 1 national #EventSquad Rankings in the 800-meter run, 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meter run.
 
The USTFCCCA also announced the All-North Region Team. To be named All-Region, an athlete must be ranked in the top-five of an individual event in the region on the TFRRS Descending Order List. In addition, each member of a region’s top-three relay team was selected for distinction. Only athletes from USTFCCCA member institutions are eligible for the award. Following is a list of individuals from the WIAC claiming all-region recognition:
 
UW-Eau Claire:  Daylan Berger (400-Meter Hurdles); Johnny Botsch (Pole Vault); Tyler Botz (110-Meter Hurdles); Jack Campbell (Decathlon); Izaak Clendenning (4x400-Meter Relay); Nick Odom (4x100-Meter Relay); Cameron Pease (400-Meter Hurdles); Blake Postler (110-Meter Hurdles, 400-Meter Hurdles, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Jackson Schulz (4x100-Meter Relay); Gage Stankiewicz (Shot Put, Discus); Jace Stolte (Decathlon); Reilly Templeton (200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Fischer Wait (4x400-Meter Relay)
 
UW-La Crosse:  Chase Altergott (3,000-Meter Steeplechase); Trent Backeberg (Long Jump, Decathlon); Connor Boyle (Pole Vault); Josh Brunner (Pole Vault); Owen Clark (1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase); Collin Conzemius (400-Meter Dash, 4x400-Meter Relay); Christian Crumbaker (Triple Jump); Chase Doornink (400-Meter Dash); Mitchell Eldredge (High Jump); Landon Gallun (100-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay); Jake Gardner (Shot Put); Andrew Hackbarth (4x400-Meter Relay); Tyler Heiman (800-Meter Run); Sebastian Jefferson (Long Jump); Jayce Kiehne (800-Meter Run); Gaven Lange (Pole Vault); Nate Lawrence (Javelin); Aidan Manning (1,500-Meter Run); Aidan Matthai (5,000-Meter Run, 10,000-Meter Run); Evan Maurud (100-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay); Zach Nyquist (400-Meter Hurdles); Finn Patenaude (400-Meter Hurdles, 4x400-Meter Relay); Carter Pearson (Triple Jump); Aaron Poelma (110-Meter Hurdles); Logan Powers (Hammer); Gavin Sargeant (Triple Jump); Triton Schmidt (Long Jump); Cael Schoemann (800-Meter Run); Luke Schroeder (100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 110-Meter Hurdles, Javelin, 4x100-Meter Relay); Nolan Seaberg (Long Jump, Decathlon); Ryder Smith (4x100-Meter Relay); Anthony Staryszak (Discus); Joey Sullivan (1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase); Chuck Vater (1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase); Alex Wagner (Pole Vault); Devin Williams (400-Meter Dash, 4x400-Meter Relay); Jayden Zywicki (1,500-Meter Run, 5,000-Meter Run, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase)
 
UW-Oshkosh:  Tyran Bender (4x400-Meter Relay); Cameron Cullen (10,000-Meter Run); Cavan Dobberstein (Decathlon); Dylan Doss (100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, Long Jump, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Matthew Ewens (High Jump); Gavin Fritsch (Discus, Hammer); Bryce Hale (Hammer); Isaiah Isom (Shot Put); Collin Kao (Pole Vault); Londyn Little (200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Sean Malay (4x400-Meter Relay); Kieran Maude (Hammer); Nolan Milas (100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay); Lucas Nicholson (800-Meter Run); Joshua Rivers (Long Jump); Bryce Smith (Decathlon); Davian Willems (100-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay); Caleb Wright (Long Jump)
 
UW-Platteville:  Mason Augustynowicz (4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Kadyn Dixon (4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); McKade Jelinek (Discus); James Ketterer (4x400-Meter Relay); Caleb Kitelinger (4x100-Meter Relay, 4x400-Meter Relay); Owen Orioles (Pole Vault); Noah Platten (4x100-Meter Relay); Caden Schneider (5,000-Meter Run, 3,000-Meter Steeplechase); Max Schneider (Javelin); Zach Sporaa (10,000-Meter Run); Elijah Wade (1,500-Meter Run)
 
UW-River Falls:  Jacob Balcome (Decathlon); Yaih Marial (High Jump); Tyler Parker (800-Meter Run)
 
UW-Stevens Point:  Mateo Alvarado Venegas (10,000-Meter Run); Gavin Fujino (Pole Vault); Jack Gjovik (Triple Jump); Simeion Harris (4x400-Meter Relay); Matthew Jokela (4x400-Meter Relay); Ben Kempe (4x400-Meter Relay); Jack Marsh (Hammer); Mason Mead (4x400-Meter Relay); Logan Murphy (10,000-Meter Run)
 
UW-Stout:  Matthew Binstock (High Jump, Triple Jump); Conner Blade (4x400-Meter Relay); Thomas Casey (110-Meter Hurdles); Malachy Driscoll (110-Meter Hurdles); Jesse Fowler (Hammer); Sam Knox (Pole Vault); Braden Krystosek (Pole Vault); Nolyn Linder (4x400-Meter Relay); Karter Rashke (Shot Put); Logan Scott (4x400-Meter Relay); Nolan Zachgo (4x400-Meter Relay)
 
UW-Whitewater:  Dan Anderson (10,000-Meter Run); Jer’Von Anderson (High Jump); Kayden Baumgart (4x100-Meter Relay); Caleb Beightol (4x100-Meter Relay); Drew Davey (800-Meter Run); Jack Erickson (400-Meter Hurdles, 4x400-Meter Relay); Chris Kalies (400-Meter Dash, 4x400-Meter Relay); Daniel Nickel (High Jump); Traysen Thomason (4x100-Meter Relay); Gabe Ubert (4x400-Meter Relay); Sam Vargas (100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, 4x100-Meter Relay); James Williams (4x400-Meter Relay)
 
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