2025 NCAA Division II Cross Country Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NCAA DII Cross Country season were announced on Thursday 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 22, at the 2025 NCAA DII Cross Country Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The meet will be held at the Wayne E. Dannehl National 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 — Brian Kiprop — Fayetteville State

Kiprop won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional, CIAA Championships, and Cedric Walker HBCU Cross Country Challenge. The Fayetteville State sophomore also finished second at the Royals Challenge and third at the Bulldog Stampede.

CENTRAL REGION — Aziz Mohammed — Northwest Missouri

Mohammed won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Central Regional and MIAA Championships. The Northwest Missouri senior also finished fourth at the Platte River Rumble Gold and sixth at the Chile Pepper Festival.

EAST REGION — Jonathan Volpe — Southern Connecticut

Volpe won the individual titles at the NCAA DII East Regional and Northeast-10 Championships. The Southern Connecticut senior also finished sixth at the Hartford XC Invitational.

MIDWEST REGION — Ramon Rodriguez — Tiffin

Rodriguez won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional, G-MAC Championships, and Lewis Crossover. The Tiffin senior also finished second at the Lucian Rosa Invitational.

SOUTH REGION — Colten Lee — Palm Beach Atlantic

Lee won the individual title at the NCAA DII South Regional. The Palm Beach Atlantic senior also finished fourth at the Sunshine State Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Weldon Chebon — New Mexico Highlands

Chebon won the individual titles at the NCAA DII South Central Regional and South Central Regional Preview. The New Mexico Highlands sophomore also finished third at the New Mexico Highlands Cross Country Jam and Texas Tech Red Raider Open, and seventh at the RMAC Championships.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Lars Laros — Wingate

Laros won the individual title at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional.

WEST REGION — Damian Garcia — Chico State

Garcia won the individual title at the NCAA DII West Regional. The Chico State junior also finished second at the CCAA Championships, and posted top-six finishes at the Mike Johnson Classic and Kim Duyst Invitational.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Steve Spence — Shippensburg

Spence, in his 28^th year as head coach at Shippensburg, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the Atlantic Region Championships with 60 points. Shippensburg also won teams titles at the PSAC Championships with 40 points and Galen Piper Challenge with 20 points.

CENTRAL REGION — Wick Cunningham — Northwest Missouri

Cunningham, in his fifth year as head coach at Northwest Missouri, led the Bearcats to the team title at the Central Region Championships with 72 points. Northwest Missouri also won the team title at the MIAA Championships with 54 points and was the top NCAA DII team in finishing runner-up at the Platte River Rumble Gold with 52 points.

EAST REGION — John Wallin — Southern Connecticut

Wallin, in his 16^th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the East Region Championships with 34 points. Southern Connecticut also won the team title at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships with 23 points.

MIDWEST REGION — Jerry Baltes — Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 27^th year as head coach with Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 44 points. Grand Valley State also won team titles at the GLIAC Championships with 17 points, Bradley Pink Classic White Division with 34 points, Calvin Knight Invitational with 22 points and Joe Piane Invitational Open Division with 15 points.

SOUTH REGION — Caleb Morgan — Lee (Tenn.)

Morgan, in his 12^th year as head coach at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to the team title at the South Region Championships with 24 points. Lee also won the team title at the Gulf South Conference Championships with 21 points and finished third at the Lucian Rosa Invitational with 91 points.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Damon Martin — Adams State

Martin, in his 31^st year as head coach at Adams State, led the Grizzlies to the team team title at the South Central Region Championships with 50 points. Adams State also won team titles at the RMAC Championships with 32 points and Joe I. Vigil Open with 20 points.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Kevin Eagle — Anderson (S.C.)

Eagle, in his ninth year as head coach with Anderson (S.C.), led the Trojans to a runner-up finish at the Southeast Regional Championships with 58 points for the highest finish in program history. Anderson also finished runner-up at the SAC Championships with 37 points, and won team titles at the UAH Chargers Invitational with 47 points and Wingate Bulldog Stampede with 40 points.

WEST REGION — Gary Towne — Chico State

Towne, in his 30^th year as head coach at Chico State, led the Wildcats to the team title at the West Region Championships with 75 points. Chico State also won team titles at the CCAA Championships with 30 points, San Francisco State Invitational with 45 points and Mike Johnson Classic with 34 points.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Natalie Barr — Glenville State

Barr won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional, Carnegie Mellon Invitational, and Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic. The junior also finished third at the Mountain East Championships and third at the West Liberty Invitational.

CENTRAL REGION — Emily McCullough — Fort Hays State

McCullough won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Central Regional, MIAA Championships, and Wichita State J.K. Gold Classic. The Fort Hays State senior also finished third at the Tiger Open.

EAST REGION — Courtney Henchcliffe — Southern Connecticut

Henchcliffe won the individual titles at the NCAA DII East Regional and Northeast-10 Championships. The Southern Connecticut senior also finished fifth at the Hartford XC Invitational.

MIDWEST REGION — Lauren Kiley — Grand Valley State

Kiley won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional and GLIAC Championships. The Grand Valley State senior also finished tenth at the Spartan Invitational and 15th at the Joe Piane Invitational.

SOUTH REGION — Lauren Wallace — Mississippi College

Wallace won the individual title at the NCAA DII South Regional. The Mississippi College senior also finished second at the Watson Collegiate Classic, third at The Opener, and fourth at the Gulf South Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Tristian Spence — Adams State

Spence won the individual title at the NCAA DII South Central Regional. The Adams State junior also finished second at the RMAC Championships and second at the Joe I. Vigil Open.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Madison Clay — Catawba

Clay won the individual titles at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional and Bulldog Stampede. The Catawba senior also finished second at the Royals Challenge and third at the Fleet Feet Invitational.

WEST REGION — Bethany Mapes — Biola

Mapes won the individual titles at the NCAA DII West Regional and PacWest Championships. The Biola senior also finished second at the Biola Invitational, sixth at the Lewis Crossover, and eighth at the UC Riverside Invitational.

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Jason Pyles — Davis and Elkins

Pyles, in his 10^th year as head coach with Davis and Elkins, led the Lady Senators to the team title at the Atlantic Region Championships with 58 points. Davis and Elkins also won the team title at the Mountain East Conference Championships with 32 points and was runner-up at Lock Haven Invitational with 66 points.

CENTRAL REGION — John Hibshman — Winona State

Hibshman, in his sixth year as head coach with Winona State, led the Warriors to the team title at the Central Region Championships with 99 points. Winona State also won team titles at the NSIC Championships with 28 points, Griffon Invite with 15 points, Roy Griak Invitational Suzy Wilson Maroon Division with 27 points and Vic Godfrey Open with 35 points.

EAST REGION — Melissa Stoll — Southern Connecticut

Stoll, in her 14^th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the East Region Championships with 44 points. Southern Connecticut also won the team title at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships with 42 points.

MIDWEST REGION — Jerry Baltes — Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 27^th year as head coach with Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 25 points. Grand Valley State also won team titles at the GLIAC Championships with 15 points, Bradley Pink Classic White Division with 41 points and Calvin Knight Invitational with 26 points.

SOUTH REGION — Mark Rennix — Palm Beach Atlantic

Rennix, in his first year as head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic, led the Sailfish to the team title at the South Region Championships with 76 points. Palm Beach Atlantic also won the team title at the Sunshine State Conference Championships with 41 points.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Corey Kubatzky — UC-Colorado Springs

Kubatzky, in his 11^th year as head coach at UC-Colorado Springs, led the Mountain Lions to a runner-up finish at the South Central Region Championships with 74. UC-Colorado Springs also was runner-up at the RMAC Championships with 68 points and won the team title at the UCCS Rust Buster with 22 points.

SOUTHEAST REGION — Pol Domenech — Wingate

Domenech, in his sixth year as head coach at Wingate, led the Bulldogs to the team title at the Southeast Region Championships with 29 points. Wingate also won the team title at the SAC Championships with 25 points and was runner-up at the Wingate Bulldog Stampede with 44 points.

WEST REGION — Gary Towne — Chico State

Towne, in his 30^th year as head coach at Chico State, led the Wildcats to the team title at the West Region Championships with 40 points. Chico State also won team titles at the CCAA Championships with 25 points, Lewis Crossover Invitational with 100 points and Mike Johnson Classic with 47 points.