La Crosse, Wis. - Members of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's and men's track & field teams will be recognized at the White House in Washington, D.C. as part of College Athlete Day on Monday, June 12.  President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will celebrate women's and men's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship teams from the 2022-23 season. 

UWL departs campus on Saturday, June 10 and will arrive in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 11 with free time for sightseeing. The teams will arrive back in La Crosse on Tuesday, June 13. 
 

The UWL women's track & field team, led by head coach Nickolas Davis, swept the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships. It is the first two national crowns for Davis. UWL won its second NCAA Division III indoor title in school history on March 10-11 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Eagles finished with 59.5 team points to win their first indoor championship since 2015. UWL earned 18 All-America honors at the indoor championships, including Skye Digman winning the weight throw. 

The Eagles captured their fourth NCAA Division III outdoor title on May 25-27 in Rochester, New York. UWL totaled 67.5 team points after finishing second the previous two seasons. It was the team's first national outdoor crown since 2015. UWL also won the title in 1983 and 1984. The Eagles earned 20 NCAA Division III All-America accolades at this year's outdoor meet with Digman capturing the shot put title. 

"Being invited to the White House to celebrate our team on College Athlete Day is an incredible honor," said Davis.  "Not only was this season one that we will never forget, but it is also made even more memorable with opportunities like this. We are graduating many seniors who contributed to our success at the national meet, so for us to have one last adventure with that group is especially meaningful."  Thirty-five members of the women's track & field team will be attending the ceremony. 

UWL also swept the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Indoor and Outdoor Championships. It was the third straight indoor league title for the women's squad and 29th in school history. UWL won its 11th straight outdoor conference crown and 38th in program history. 

Josh Buchholtz, head men's track & field coach, led UWL to the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship in March and a second-place finish at the outdoor championships in May. Buchholtz has led UWL to nine NCAA Division III titles, including five indoor (2009, 2013-14, 2017, 2023) and four outdoor (2013, 2015-17).  The Eagles secured their 19th indoor title in school history (most in NCAA Division III) this year and first since 2017 with 35.0 team points. UWL has captured 12 of the last 20 indoor national titles. The team secured five All-America honors at this year's indoor championships, including national titles from Sam Blaskowski in the 60-meter dash and Ethan Gregg in the 3,000-meter run. 

At the NCAA III Outdoor Championships, UWL placed second with 49.0 points. It is the Eagles' 33rd top-10 finish at the outdoor championships, including 29th in the top-four. UWL has won an NCAA III record 15 outdoor titles in school history. The team earned 14 All-America awards at this season's outdoor meet. Blaskowski captured the 100-meter dash while Ryder Smith, Blaskowski, Spencer Reichart and Luke Schroeder won the 4x100-meter relay. Blaskowski set an NCAA Division III record with a winning time of 10.13 in the 100-meter dash while the 4x100-meter relay also set a national record with a time of 39.86 in the preliminaries at the championships.  

"A trip to the White House is a great, once in a lifetime opportunity, and I know the teams are excited for the opportunity," said Buchholtz.  "What a huge bonus reward for the work that they put in alongside their teammates.  National titles and a trip to the White House, this is special!."  Twenty-five members of the men's team will be traveling to Washington, D.C.

The men's squad also swept the WIAC titles this season. UWL won its 46th indoor crown in school history and 20th in the last 21 seasons. The Eagles captured their 57th outdoor title and 31st in the last 32 years.