ALLENDALE, Mich. – Four 2026 NCAA Division II Midwest Region honors have been awarded to Grand Valley State track and field following the conclusion of the indoor season, as announced by the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) earlier this week. Senior thrower Erika Beistle was named Women's Field Athlete of the Year, throws coach Matt Conly was voted Women's Assistant Coach of the Year and head coach Jerry Baltes swept Men's and Women's Coach of the Year awards.
 
In her final season of collegiate eligibility, Beistle shattered the NCAA DII shot-put record on two occasions during the 2026 season. The first came at the GVSU Bill Clinger Classic in late January when she threw 17.78m (58-4). The Rodney, Mich. native one-upped herself with a massive throw of 18.26m (59-11) in mid-February at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. This year, she ranked sixth among all collegians in the event.
 
Coach Conly's honors were strongly supported by his squad's performance at this year's GLIAC Indoor Championships. He coached the women to score 56 of the 244 points in winning the team title at the first bout of postseason competition. His group went 1-2-3 in both shot put and weight throw at the championships. Conly coached Beistle to two DII records in shot put while coaching four other Laker ladies to First-or-Second-Team All-America honors.
 
Baltes, once again, swept Coach of the Year honors. Baltes led the women's team to a sixth-place team finish at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, scoring 24.5 points while earning 20 All-America honors. Baltes also led his women to the program's 27th consecutive team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, winning 13 of 17 events. He led the men's team to a runner-up team finish at the NCAA Championships, scoring 51 points and earning 16 First-Team and 23 total All-America honors. Ahead of the national championships, the men won their 25th GLIAC Indoor title with nine event wins over the weekend.