NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the eight regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
Men's Track Athlete of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Trevor Bassitt– Ashland
Bassitt, a senior from Bluffton, Ohio, rewrote the NCAA DII record book this year. He broke the divisional record in the 400 with his 45.27 at the American Track League Indoor Series, set an all-time, all-conditions best in the 200 with his 20.40 OT winner at the GLIAC Indoor Championships and notched the No. 3 all-time mark in the 60H of 7.67. Bassitt won four titles at the GLIAC Championships and will potentially contest six events at the NCAA meet.
Men's Coach of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Jud Logan – Ashland
Logan, in his 16th year at Ashland, has his team ranked No. 2 in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index and No. 2 in the Midwest Region. The Eagles finished second at the GLIAC Championships and claimed eight event crowns. Logan's team accumulated six automatic marks, 19 provisional marks, and two NCAA DII records. Ashland will have 13 entries for the NCAA Championships.
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Ernie Clark – Ashland
Clark, in his third year at Ashland, has multiple duties as associate head coach and that includes the guidance of Trevor Bassitt, one of the nation's top athletes. Bassitt's domination of the sprints and hurdles nationally also leads an Eagle crew with four other athletes ranked among the region's top-6. The squad has the nation's fastest 4×400 relay and contributes to the nation's No. 2 distance medley team as well.
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Nicole Sreenan – Grand Valley State
Sreenan, a senior from Elburn, Illinois, is currently the national leader in three different individual events – 60 (7.41), 200 (23.70 OT) and 400 (53.35) – and is a member of two national-leading relays – 4×400 (3:44.76) and DMR (11:21.12). She won the 200 and ran a leg of the title-winning 4×400 relay at the GLIAC Indoor Championships.
Women's Field Athlete of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Cheyenne Williamson – Saginaw Valley State
Williamson, a sophomore from Essexville, Michigan, is ranked second nationally in the pentathlon at 3906 points and sixth nationally in the long jump at 5.99m (19-8). She scored 20 points in field events at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, winning both the high jump and long jump.
Women's Coach of the Year - MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 22nd year at Grand Valley State, has his team ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index and No. 1 in the Midwest Region. The Lakers claimed their 22nd consecutive title at the GLIAC Championships with 255.22 points, winning 10 events and posting top-3 sweeps in the 200 and 5000. Grand Valley State leads the #EventSquad rankings in the mile, 3000, 5000, pole vault, and shot put. The Lakers have been the top-ranked team since the 2020 preseason National TFRI.
