Welch Named Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year
Senior Justin Welch was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year on March 9.
Welch, who earned the honor for the second consecutive season, was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Field Athlete of the Year earlier this season. The Luckey, Ohio native is the defending national champion in the weight throw and will enter the 2015 championship as the top-seed in the event.
Welch has won two national championships during his career in the weight throw and hammer throw. He won the weight throw last year during the indoor campaign before capturing the gold in the hammer during the outdoor season.
In addition, former UF star Derrick Vicars was tabbed the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with the Oilers throwers. The Genoa, Ohio native will have five athletes at the NCAA II championships in the shot put (ranked No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 15 and No. 16). His weight throwers are ranked No. 1, No. 20, No. 26, and No. 31 on the final national performance list.