2025 WIAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a third straight first-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at the Oshkosh Sports Complex May 2-3. This will mark the 106th gathering of conference teams.
 
The Eagles accumulated 236 points to secure the 58th conference championship in program archives and 32nd time in the last 33 seasons. UW-Oshkosh placed second with 166 points, while UW-Eau Claire took third with 120.5, UW-Whitewater fourth with 102.5, UW-Stout fifth with 65, UW-Platteville sixth with 53, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 51 and UW-River Falls eighth with 22.5.
 
UW-Oshkosh has six conference championships, while UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater own four and UW-Stout one. Former member UW-Milwaukee collected 34 first-place finishes.
 
Competition at this year’s championship will begin at 1:30 p.m. on May 2, and 11:00 a.m. on May 3. Medals will be awarded to the top-eight finishers in each of the individual events and runners comprising the top-six relay teams, while All-Conference designation will be given to the top-three finishers in each event.
 
This year’s meet features four teams ranked in the top-12 of U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Rating Index distributed on April 29. UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Oshkosh is second, UW-Eau Claire third and UW-Whitewater 12th.
 
Returning champions in individual events include: UW-Eau Claire’s Yakob Ekoue (2023/shot put and discus; 2024/discus), Stefan Klechefski (2023/100-meter dash), Tommy Mestnick (2024/javelin), Mitch Stegeman (2022/pole vault; 2023/decathlon), and Sam Verkerke (2022/1,500-meter run); UW-La Crosse’s Nathan Andringa (2023/high jump), Sam Blaskowski (2022/100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump; 2024/100-meter dash), Colin Conzemius (2024/400-meter dash), Chase Doornink (2023/400-meter dash), Dirk Lueck (2024/400-meter hurdles), Cael Schoemann (2023/800-meter run; 2024/800-meter run), Luke Schroeder (2023/400-meter hurdles; 2024/110-meter hurdles), Joey Sullivan (2024/5,000-meter run), and Andrew Tumminaro (2024/pole vault); UW-Oshkosh’s Caleb Cornelius (2022/high jump; 2024/high jump), Isaiah Isom (2024/shot put), Londyn Little (2023/200-meter dash; 2024/200-meter dash), Colin McClowry (2022/400-meter dash), Charlie Nolan (2024/decathlon), and Joshua Rivers (2024/long jump); and UW-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka (2022/3,000-meter steeplechase; 2023/3,000-meter steeplechase; 2024/1,500-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase) and Gunner Schlender (2023/5,000-meter run; 2024/10,000-meter run).
 
Patzka has claimed the Trach Performer of the Meet distinction the last two years, while Ekoue has secured consecutive Field Performer of the Meet honors. Blaskowski was named the Track Performer of the Meet at the 2022 championship. Returning Newcomers of the Year include: Patzka (2021); Blaskowski (2022); Doornink (2023); and Tumminaro (2024).
 
Individuals that have claimed first-place relay medals at previous championships include: UW-Eau Claire’s Colin McClowry (2022/4x400-meter relay) and Sam Schreiber (2022/4x400-meter relay); UW-La Crosse’s Tyler Backes (2023/4x400-meter relay), Chase Doornink (2023/4x400-meter relay), and Andrew Hackbarth (2024/4x400-meter relay); and UW-Oshkosh’s Dylan Gramley (2024/4x100-meter relay), Joey Kean (2022/4x100-meter relay; 2023/4x100-meter relay), Londyn Little (2023/4x100-meter relay; 2024/4x100-meter relay), Ryan Potter (2021/4x400-meter relay), and Danny Vinson (2024/4x100-meter relay).
 
Individuals from remaining conference programs ranking high on this year’s WIAC Honor Roll include: UW-Platteville’s McKade Jelinek (discus), Caden Schneider (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Andrew Zimmermann (800-meter run); UW-River Falls’ Jacob Balcome (decathlon) and Zane Habisch (high jump); UW-Stevens Point’s Jack Gjovik (triple jump), Logan Murphy (10,000-meter run) and Derek Penzkover (1,500-meter run); and UW-Stout’s Sam Knox (pole vault), Braden Krystosek (pole vault), Kaden Martin (110-meter hurdles), Karter Rashke (triple jump) and Jack Roeber (triple jump).
 

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