Award History
NCAA DII XC Regional Awards2023 NCAA Division II Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Cross Country season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Many of these athletes and coaches will end their season on Saturday, November 18, at the 2023 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships in Joplin, Missouri. The meet will be hosted by Missouri Southern at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION — George Couttie — Charleston (W.Va.)
Couttie won the individual title at the Atlantic Region Championships in 30:10.5. Earlier in the postseason, Couttie captured top individual honors at the Mountain East Cross Country Championships. He also broke the tape first at the LHU Invitational and the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational.
CENTRAL REGION — Peter Kipkemboi — East Central (Okla.)
Kipkemboi won the individual title at the Central Region Championships in 29:46.9. Earlier in the postseason, Kipkemboi finished third at the GAC Cross Country Championships.
EAST REGION — Wondu Summa — Franklin Pierce
Summa won the individual title at the East Region Championships in 30:44.1. Earlier in the postseason, Summa captured top individual honors at the Northeast-10 Cross Country Championships. He also finished first at the Bruce Kirsh Cross Country Cup.
MIDWEST REGION — Ransom Allen — Wayne State (Mich.)
Allen won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships in 30:38.0. Earlier in the postseason, Allen captured top individual honors at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships. He also finished first at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational, among other victories.
SOUTH REGION — Jan Lukas Becker — Mississippi College
Becker won the individual title at the South Region Championships in 29:21.3. Earlier in the postseason, Becker finished runner-up at the Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships not long after a victory at The Watson Collegiate Cross Country Classic.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — William Amponsah — West Texas A&M
Amponsah won the individual title at the South Central Region championships in 29:32.6. Earlier in the postseason, Amponsah captured top individual honors at the Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships. He is undefeated this year through five competitions.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Titouan Le Grix — Wingate
Le Grix won the individual title at the Southeast Region Championships in 28:45.0.
WEST REGION — Johan Correa — Central Washington
Correa won the individual title at the West Region Championships in 30:42.1. Earlier in the postseason, Correa finished runner-up at the GNAC Cross Country Championships, which is his only non-victory this season out of six competitions.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION — Nick Bias — Charleston (W.Va.)
Bias, in his tenth year as head coach at Charleston (W.Va.), led the Golden Eagles to the team title at the Atlantic Region Championships with 54 points. Charleston (W.Va.) also won the team title at the Mountain East Cross Country Championships with 20 points and UAH Chargers Invitational with 95 points.
CENTRAL REGION — Steve Sawyer — East Central (Okla.)
Sawyer, in his 15th year as head coach at East Central (Okla.), led the Tigers to the team title at the Central Region Championships with 40 points. East Central also won the team title at the GAC Cross Country Championships with 15 points, DBU Old Glory Gallop with 16 points and Missouri Southern Stampede with 38 points.
EAST REGION — John Wallin — Southern Connecticut
Wallin, in his 14th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the East Region Championships with 32 points. Southern Connecticut also won the team title at the Northeast-10 Cross Country Championships with 31 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Jerry Baltes — Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 25th year as head coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 48 points. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships with 21 points, Jayhawk Invite with 17 points and Live in Lou Classic with 104 points.
SOUTH REGION — Matt Levassiur — Florida Southern
Levassiur, in his seventh year as head coach at Florida Southern, led the Moccasins to a strong runner-up finish at the South Region Championships with 86 points. Florida Southern also won the team title at the Sunshine State Cross Country Championships with 28 points and the Mocs Kick-off with 30 points. Florida Southern has been ranked in the National Coaches’ Poll twice this year after only being ranked that many times in the previous ten years.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Chris Siemers — Colo. School of Mines
Siemers, in his 12th year as head coach at Colorado School of Mines, led the Orediggers to the team title at the South Central Region Championships with 43 points. Colorado School of Mines also won the team title at the RMAC Cross Country Championships with 32 points and Lewis Crossover with 34 points.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Pol Domenech — Wingate
Domenech, in his fourth year as head coach at Wingate, led the Bulldogs to the team title at the Southeast Region Championships with 15 points. Wingate also won the team title at the SAC Cross Country Championships with 20 points.
WEST REGION — Gary Towne — Chico State
Towne, in his 28th year as head coach at Chico State, led the Wildcats to the team title at the West Region Championships with 47 points. Chico State also won the team title at the CCAA Cross Country Championships with 18 points, San Francisco State Invitational with 22 points, Cougar Challenge with 27 points and Ash Creek Collegiate Invitational with 15 points.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION — Kylie Anicic — Edinboro
Anicic won the individual title at the Atlantic Region Championships in 20:19.2. Earlier in the postseason, Anicic captured top individual honors at the PSAC Cross Country Championships and was victorious at two other meets as well.
CENTRAL REGION — Lindsay Cunningham — Winona State
Cunningham won the individual title at the Central Region Championships in 19:33.3. Earlier in the postseason, Cunningham captured top individual honors at the NSIC Cross Country Championships. Cunningham is undefeated this season through five competitions.
EAST REGION — Isabel Marsh — Adelphi
Marsh won the individual title at the East Region Championships in 21:38.0. Earlier in the postseason, Marsh finished runner-up at the Northeast-10 Cross Country Championships.
MIDWEST REGION — Liz Wamsley — Hillsdale
Wamsley won the individual title at the Midwest Regional Championships in 20:04.5. Earlier in the postseason, Wamsley captured top individual honors at the G-MAC Cross Country Championships. Wamsley also was victorious at two other meets this season.
SOUTH REGION — Aria Hawkins — Lee (Tenn.)
Hawkins won the individual title at the South Region Championships in 20:34.7. Earlier in the postseason, Hawkins captured top individual honors at the Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Brianna Robles — Adams State
Robles won the individual title at the South Central Region Championships in 20:13.7. Earlier in the postseason, Robles captured top individual honors at the RMAC Cross Country Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Mikayla Jones — Catawba
Jones won the individual title at the Southeast Region Championships in 21:11.7. Earlier in the postseason, Jones finished runner-up at the SAC Cross Country Championships.
WEST REGION — Kendall Kramer — Alaska Fairbanks
Kramer won the individual title at the West Region Championships in 20:29.8. Earlier in the postseason, Kramer captured top individual honors at the GNAC Cross Country Championships.
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Nick Bias – Charleston (W.Va.)
Bias, in his 10th year as head coach at Charleston (W.Va.), led the Golden Eagles to the team title at the Atlantic Region Championships with 74 points. Charleston also won the team title at the Mountain East Cross Country Championships with 34 points, Lock Haven Invitational with 84 points and Charleston Invitational with 22 points.
CENTRAL REGION — John Hibshman — Winona State
Hibshman, in his fourth year as head coach at Winona State, led the Warriors to the team title at the Central Region Championships with 52 points. Winona State also won the team title at the NSIC Cross Country Championships with 38 points, Greeno/Dirksen Invitational with 60 points and Green Bay Phoenix Open with 24 points.
EAST REGION — Melissa Stoll — Southern Connecticut
Stoll, in her 12th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the East Region Championships with 58 points. Southern Connecticut also won the team title at the Northeast-10 Cross Country Championships with 54 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Jerry Baltes — Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 25th year as head coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 28 points. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Cross Country Championships with 15 points, Jayhawk Invite with 23 points and Live in Lou Classic with 58 points.
SOUTH REGION — Caleb Morgan — Lee (Tenn.)
Morgan, in his tenth year as head coach at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to the team title at the South Region Championships with 28 points. Lee also won the team title at the Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships with 21 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Damon Martin — Adams State
Martin, in his 36th year as head coach at Adams State, led the Grizzlies to the team title at the South Central Region Championships with 44 points. Adams State also won the team title at the RMAC Cross Country Championships with 32 points and Joe I. Vigil Open with 17 points.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Pol Domenech — Wingate
Domenech, in his fourth year as head coach at Wingate, led the Bulldogs to the team title at the Southeast Region Championships with 30 points, Wingate also won the team title at the SAC Cross Country Championships with 33 points and the SAC Preview with 16 points.
WEST REGION — Ben Stensland — Western Washington
Stensland, in his first year as head coach at Western Washington, led the Vikings to the team title at the West Region Championships with 75 points. Western Washington also won the team title at the GNAC Cross Country Championships with 49 points, Emerald City Open with 28 points, Bill Roe Classic with 47 points and Puget Sound Invitational with 15 points.