ALLENDALE, Mich. – Following their selections as Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Outdoor Field Athletes, Erika Beistle and Jaivon Harrison have been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) Field Athletes of the Year for the Midwest Region. Head Coach Jerry Baltes swept Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors and the Assistant Coach of the Year categories were swept by GVSU, as well, as throws coach Matt Conly was honored as Women's Assistant Coach of the Year and sprints and hurdles coach Eric Kramer was named Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
Baltes rightfully swept both women's and men's Head Coach of the Year honors. With 60 points at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, the 26-year head coach led the women's squad to their first outdoor National Championship title since 2012, winning two individual championship titles, nine First-Team and five Second-Team All-American honors. The women's squad shattered two program records this season in addition to the meet record at the National Championships in women's discus and the GLIAC meet record in the women's 4x400m relay. At the GLIAC Championships, the women won their 25^th consecutive title with 13 event wins.
 
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year Conly receives the honor following a literal National Championship-winning performance this season. In his fifth year as an assistant coach at GVSU, Conly coached the Lakers' throwers to combine for 29 of the team's 60 points at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Throughout the season, Conly has coached his women to nine postseason podium appearances, including one National Champion and two National Runner-Ups.
 
The 2025 GLIAC Outdoor Women's Field Athlete of the Year and Division II record holder in women's discus has been named this year's Midwest Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year. Erika Beistle's honor follows the biggest season of her career, a season where she shattered several records and left her mark on Division II as a whole. The Rodney, Michigan native opened the season with a 60.46m (198-4.25) discus throw, already nearing her personal-best 62.50m mark. At the first home meet of the season, the Grand Valley State athlete not only exceeded her personal-best, but shattered the NCAA Division II discus record, as well. Beistle threw for 66.63m (218-7.25) to break the division record, which was set at 61.35m (201-4) since 2019. Since her record, Beistle has recorded a discus of more than 210 feet in five of six meets to hold eight of the top 10 best marks in NCAA Division II history. At the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, she broke two more records in the event. With a 65.05m (213-5) launch, Beistle broke the meet record in women's discus and recorded the longest mark on Colorado soil in state history. The 10 points she added to Grand Valley State's women's team score helped the Lakers win the 2025 National Championship in women's outdoor track and field.
 
As previously mentioned, Baltes was also named the Midwest Region Men's Coach of the Year. He led his Lakers to a third-place team finish at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, earning 15 First-Team All-American honors led by individual national champion in high jump, Jaivon Harrison. Baltes also led his squad to their 18^th total GLIAC men's outdoor title, breaking several program records and crowning 16 individual champions in the process.
 
In his third year as assistant coach for Lakers track and field, Kramer coached his sprints and hurdles men's squad to combine for 95 points at the GLIAC Championships, leading the team to their 18^th outdoor men's title. Several records were broken at the Championships, but would not stand for long, as his athletes would shatter more at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Myles Rhodes and Zach Pray, his two individual national qualifiers, both earned All-American honors in the 400m at the Championships. The duo recorded the two fastest times in program history and Rhodes ran a 45.99 finish to place fifth at the meet. Grand Valley State's men's 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams also broke records, first at the GLIAC Championships then again at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Both squads earned team points with fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively.
 
Three-time NCAA DII National Champion Jaivon Harrison has been named the Midwest Region's Division II Men's Field Athlete of the Year, following his honor as GLIAC Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Through seven meets this outdoor season, Harrison never cleared less than 2.11m (6-11). The Bryant Stratton transfer began the season with a 2.19m (7-2.25) mark, which he steadily increased as the season progressed. Just two weeks later, he would clear 2.20m (7-2.5), then 2.21m (7-2.75) in another two weeks. Despite the high marks, Harrison still had not tied or exceeded his personal-best… yet. On May 11, 2025, just one week ahead of the national championships, Harrison tied his personal-best mark. On his second attempt at 2.26m (7-5), the senior soared over the bar with ease. Harrison continued to dominate with a 2.18m (7-1.75) mark at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. The height granted him the individual national championship title – the fourth he has earned in his collegiate career and third earned in Laker uniform.