New Orleans, La. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Sam Blaskowski of Oshkosh (West) and men's track & field head coach Josh Buchholtz have been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced Tuesday.  Blaskowski was recognized as 2025 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year while Buchholtz was named National Head Coach of the Year. 

 
Sam Blaskowski, Senior, sprints

• This is the second consecutive year that Blaskowski has been recognized as the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. Being named the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year gives Blaskowski a sweep in national awards as he was also honored at the end of the indoor season as he was named Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. Blaskowski swept the awards also in 2024. 
• Blaskowski was named most Outstanding Performer of the Championships from the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. 
• Blaskowski scored 22.5 points at the 2025 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to victories in both the 100 meters and 200 meters, as well as a leg on the winning 4×100 relay. 
• This past weekend (May 22-24) Blaskowski became just the second sprinter in NCAA III history to win four straight 100-meter National Championships with a time of 10.14. Just a few weeks earlier, Blaskowski set the NCAA III national record of 10.05 seconds at the UWL Final Qualifier on May 14.
• Also on Saturday (May 24), Blaskowski won the 200-meter championship with a time of 20.35 which gave him back-to-back national titles in the event. 
• Blaskowski ran the second leg of the 4x100 relay which won its second consecutive national title. The Eagles ran an NCAA III Championship meet record time of 39.66.

 

Josh Buchholtz, 17^th Season 

• Buchholtz has been named the USTFCCCA National Outdoor Coach of the Year six times (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025) and National Indoor Coach of the Year five times (2013, 2014, 2023, 2024, 2025). 
• UWL won their NCAA Division III record 17^th Outdoor National Championship this past weekend which gave UWL a sweep of the 2025 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles. The indoor and outdoor sweep marks the 14th time in school history the Eagles have accomplished this achievement including the fourth time of under Buchholtz. 
• The Eagles had 11 individuals earn NCAA III All-America Honors along with both the 4x100 and 4x400 relay team.
• Buchholtz has now led UWL to 13 NCAA Division III titles, including seven indoor (2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2023, 2024, 2025) and six outdoor (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2024, 2025).
• At this year's outdoor championships, the Eagles scored 84 points. Those were the most points scored by a winning men's team at the meet since 2007. UW-La Crosse scored points in nine different events, including ten or more in four: 100 meters (10), 200 meters (10), steeplechase (20) and 4×100 relay (ten).
• Under the coaching of Buchholtz and his staff, the Eagles won their 33rd Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) outdoor title in the last 34 seasons. The UWL coaching staff was honored as the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.