10-Year Celebration: UMAC Men's Track and Field All-Decade honors
ST. PAUL, Minn.---As part of its 2018-19 "10-Year Celebration," the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) named 12 individual athletes to the UMAC Men's Track and Field All-Decade Team and selected a Coach of the Decade and an Indoor Team of the Decade and Outdoor Team of the Decade, the conference announced Thursday.
The 12 individuals named to the All-Decade Team include Todd Brassow (Martin Luther College, 2013-16), Chalmer Combellick (University of Minnesota Morris, 2013-17), Charles Corbett (University of Wisconsin-Superior, 2016*), Leandro Dower (Minnesota Morris, 2011-14), Taylor Gish (University of Northwestern, 2009-12), Justin Hanson (College of St. Scholastica, 2010-13), Tom Lyscio (St. Scholastica, 2009-12), Justin Pearson (Minnesota Morris, 2018-Present*), Jeremy Peterson (St. Scholastica, 2013-16), Thomas Udenberg (Wisconsin-Superior, 2016-17*) Billy Visto (Minnesota Morris, 2009-11*) and Kevin Wagner (St. Scholastica, 2013-16). The UMAC also recognized former St. Scholastica head coach Kirk Nauman as the Coach of the Decade, the 2013 St. Scholastica team as the Men's Indoor Track and Field Team of the Decade and the 2013 St. Scholastica squad as the Men's Outdoor Track and Field Team of the Decade.
All-Decade Team
Todd Brassow, Martin Luther College (2013-2016)
Brassow was a four-time UMAC champion in the high jump and owns the top three marks at the UMAC Outdoor Championship including his conference-record mark of 2.00 meters (6-6.75). Brassow qualified for the NCAA Championship in both 2015 and 2016 earning All-America recognition as a senior with a seventh-place finish. He owns the Martin Luther school record for high jump after clearing 2.08 meters (6-9.75) at the 2015 national meet.
Chalmer Combellick, University of Minnesota Morris (2013-2017)
Combellick is one of the most decorated UMAC track athletes in the NCAA era. He was a 13-time UMAC individual event champion between indoor and outdoor events and was part of three title-winning Minnesota Morris relays. In 2014, Combellick was selected the Track Athlete of the Meet at both UMAC Championships. He qualified for and placed 14th in the 1,500-meter run at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championship. Combellick twice set a UMAC record in that same event and currently holds three UMAC Championship records.
Charles Corbett, University of Wisconsin-Superior (2016*)
In just one season as a UMAC member, Corbett made his mark on the conference. He won four individual event titles and set records in all four that still stand. At the UMAC Indoor Championship, Corbett was selected the Track Athlete of the Meet setting three personal and one relay record. He qualified for both NCAA meets in 2016 placing 12th in the Indoor 5,000-meter run and 14th in the 10,000-meter outdoor race. Corbett led Wisconsin-Superior to its first team title at the 2016 UMAC Outdoor Championship.
Leandro Dower, University of Minnesota Morris (2011-2014)
Dower made a significant impact for the Cougars during his time as a sprinter. He won seven individual event titles between the UMAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships and was a member of nine relay champion squads. Dower earned the 2011 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet honor after leading the Cougars to a team title following two record-setting performances. To date, Dower still owns the UMAC record in the 200-meter outdoor events and is part of two relay-record squads.
Taylor Gish, University of Northwestern (2009-2012)
Gish is one of the top athletes in Northwestern track and field history. During his time as an Eagle, Gish earned All-UMAC recognition seven times and won six individual conference titles in throws. He owns the top two UMAC marks in the weight throw including the record of 18.41 meters (60-4.75) from 2012. Four times in his career Gish recorded marks that finished in the top 25 in Division III. He also boasts school records in discus and hammer throws.
Justin Hanson, College of St. Scholastica (2010-2013)
Hanson is the most decorated hurdler in UMAC track history. The Saint record holder won 11 individual UMAC titles and was part of six UMAC title-winning St. Scholastica teams between indoor and outdoor. Hanson currently holds the top two UMAC times in both the 55-meter hurdles (indoor) and 400-meter hurdles (outdoor). In 2013, Hanson was selected as the UMAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet.
Tom Lyscio, College of St. Scholastica (2009-2012)
Lyscio earned eight UMAC individual event titles at the UMAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships including three in the outdoor shot put during his four years as a Saint. Lyscio was selected as the UMAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Meet in 2010 and 2011 and earned the same honor in 2010 at the outdoor meet. As a senior, Lyscio qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in hammer throw placing 14th.
Justin Pearson, University of Minnesota Morris (2018-Present*)
In just one season as a rookie in 2018, Pearson was named the UMAC Track Athlete of the Meet at both the indoor and outdoor conference meets. Collectively between both championships, Pearson won five individual event titles and was part of two Minnesota Morris championship relays. Pearson set a new meet record in the 400-meter dash at the outdoor meet. He also qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 100-meter dash and placed 17th.
Jeremy Peterson, College of St. Scholastica (2013-2016)
Peterson is one of the most decorated field athletes in St. Scholastica history. During his four years as a Saint, Peterson won 11 individual throws titles at the UMAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships and was selected as UMAC Field Athlete of the Meet four times in his career (three outdoor). Peterson still owns the top two throws in the UMAC hammer and is the St. Scholastica record holder in both indoor and outdoor shot put, discus, hammer throw and weight throw. He qualified for the NCAA Championships three times in hammer and once in weight throw. In 2015, Peterson finished ninth in the hammer at the NCAA Outdoor Championship.
Thomas Udenberg, University of Wisconsin-Superior (2016-2017*)
In just two seasons, Udenberg helped Wisconsin-Superior men's track and field team win three UMAC team titles establishing the start of its current dominance in the conference. Udenberg picked up three UMAC individual titles in the shot put and finished with a six All-UMAC performances. In 2016, Udenberg qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championship and placed 12th in the shot put. He owns six UMAC top-10 performances including the outdoor shot put record.
Billy Visto, University of Minnesota Morris (2009-2011*)
Minnesota Morris captured back-to-back UMAC Outdoor Championship team victories in 2010 and 2011 thanks to Visto. As a Cougar, Visto won the UMAC triple jump four times between the indoor and outdoor meets in the NCAA era (five overall). He set UMAC triple jump records with each of his conference event wins and owns the top two jumps in UMAC history for both triple jumps. Visto finished his storied career as a NCAA provisional qualifier in the triple jump in 2011.
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evin Wagner, College of St. Scholastica (2013-2016)
Wagner is the most decorated men's track and field athlete in the last 10 years for the UMAC. He qualified for the NCAA Championships six times as a Saint including four-straight appearances at the outdoor meet in the decathlon. Wagner was a two-time All-American decathlete placing fourth in 2015 and third in 2016. As a senior, Wagner was the national runner-up in the heptathlon at the Division III Indoor Championship. Wagner won nine UMAC titles in seven different events and was part of three relay champion squads as well as seven UMAC title-winning Saint teams. He also was selected the 2015 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet. Wagner owns five individual St. Scholastica records and one relay record.
Coach of The Decade
Kirk Nauman, College of St. Scholastica
Nauman led the Saints' men's track and field program from 2008-16 and collected 12 UMAC team championships including seven-consecutive UMAC Indoor Championship titles beginning with the first conference meet in 2010. Under his direction, the Saint men also won five UMAC Outdoor Championships and he was named the Coach of the Year in each of those seasons in addition to three honors earned during the indoor season. Nauman also guided four Saints to All-America status.
Teams of The Decade
Indoor Track and Field - College of St. Scholastica, 2013
The 2013 St. Scholastica men's track and field squad captured the UMAC Championship winning 14 of 16 events recording the most points in the history of the meet with 285 points. The Saints had 20 individuals record All-UMAC finishes with Samora Johnson and Corey Anderson winning the top individual honors. That season, the Saints were ranked in the USTFCCCAA Central Region Top 10 for three weeks. The team members were Travis Ambuehl, Anderson, Braxton Ball, Luke Beckwith, Ben Carlson, Christopher Duran, Peter Drinkwine, Kelin Dunfee, Tim Dunstan, Aaron Eglekraut, Charlie Fernow, Ryan Guentzel, Charlie Haberman, Justin Hanson, Jeremy Hecker, Alex Horoshak, Luke Johannessen, Johnson, Chris Lawson, Frank Lesar, Justin Maan, Aaron Marcella, Jake McGurran, Luke McKenzie, Calvin Merhoff, Matthew Miller, Ryan Murphy, Mike Naumann, Riley Niebuhr, Jeff Ohaju, Steven Perry, Jeremy Peterson, Brian Riley, Ethan Schubert, Ryan Soule, Connor Stevens, Sam Toso, Zach Visina, Kevin Wagner, Graham Whiting. Head coach was Kirk Nauman.
Outdoor Track and Field - College of St. Scholastica, 2013
Following a dominant indoor UMAC victory, the Saints won the 2013 Outdoor Championship with 285.5 points which more than doubled the total of the runner up team. The Saints won 10 events and had 12 individuals earn All-UMAC honors. The team members were Travis Ambuehl, Corey Anderson, Braxton Ball, Luke Beckwith, Ben Carlson, Christopher Duran, Peter Drinkwine, Kelin Dunfee, Tim Dunstan, Aaron Eglekraut, Charlie Fernow, Ryan Guentzel, Charlie Haberman, Justin Hanson, Jeremy Hecker, Alex Horoshak, Luke Johannessen, Samora Johnson, Chris Lawson, Frank Lesar, Justin Maan, Aaron Marcella, Jake McGurran, Luke McKenzie, Calvin Merhoff, Matthew Miller, Ryan Murphy, Mike Naumann, Riley Niebuhr, Jeff Ohaju, Steven Perry, Jeremy Peterson, Brian Riley, Ethan Schubert, Ryan Soule, Connor Stevens, Sam Toso, Zach Visina, Kevin Wagner, Graham Whiting. Head coach was Kirk Nauman.
*Only seasons a student-athlete competed during the 10-Year timeframe (2009-2018 for track and field) in the UMAC are listed.
Throughout 2018-19, the UMAC will recognize individual athletes and one coach for each conference sport on All-Decade Teams and name one team as Team of the Decade. Individuals and teams were nominated by UMAC full and associate member institutions and the teams were selected by a committee of administrators and coaches from the UMAC. The All-Decade recognition is part of the UMAC "10-Year Celebration" commemorating the first 10 years of NCAA Division III membership for the UMAC.
All-Decade Team Archives
"10-Year Celebration" Page