New Orleans, La. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior Sam Blaskowski of Oshkosh (West), men's track & field head coach Josh Buchholtz and men's track & field assistant coach Nathan Petesch have been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced Tuesday.  Blaskowski was recognized as National Track Athlete of the Year while Buchholtz was named National Head Coach of the Year and Petesch named National Assistant Coach of the Year. 
 

Sam Blaskowski, Junior, sprints

• Blaskowski was named most Outstanding Performer of the Championships from the 2024 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships 
• This is the second consecutive season that Blaskowski has been named Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
• This past weekend Blaskowski repeated as National Champion in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.68.
• Blaskowski set the NCAA III national record of 6.64 seconds at the Mark Gutherie Legacy Invitational at UW-La Crosse.
• He also won his first National Championship in the 200-meter with a time of 20.93. That time is the second fastest time all-time in NCAA III history.
• Earlier this season, Blaskowski qualified for the USA Track and Field Championships where he placed 10^th in the 60-meter dash. It was his second straight appearance in the 60-meter dash at the USATF Championships as he finished fifth in 2023. 

 
Josh Buchholtz, 16^th Season and Nathan Petesch, Sixth Season

• Buchholtz has been named the USTFCCCA National Indoor Coach of the Year four times (2013, 2014, 2023, 2024) while this is the first honor for Petesch. 
• UWL won their NCAA Division III record 20^th Indoor National Championship this past weekend which gave the Eagles back-to-back indoor titles. The Eagles had 12 individuals earn NCAA III All-America Honors along with their 4x400 relay team.
• Buchholtz has now led UWL to ten NCAA Division III titles, including six indoor (2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2024) and four outdoor (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017).
• Under the coaching of Buchholtz and his staff, the Eagles won their 21^st Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) indoor title in the last 22 seasons. The UWL coaching staff was honored as the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
• Petesch is in his sixth season as an assistant women's and men's cross country and track & field coach at UW-La Crosse.
• Under the direction of Men's Cross Country Head Coach Derek Stanley and Petesch, the Eagles finished second at the NCAA III Cross Country Championships this past fall.
• The Eagles had three distance runners score in the 5,000 meter run, two score in the 3,000 meter run and two score in the mile. Ethan Gregg defended his national crown in the 3,000 meter run while finishing second in the 5,000 meter run. Cael Schoemann won the national title in the 800-meter run.