Jackson, Mich. - The Crossroads League announced on Wednesday, July 15, that Marian University's Tristan Trevino of the men's cross country and track and field program has been named the 2025-26 Crossroads League Male Athlete of the Year. Trevino is the third-ever Knight to earn Male Athlete of the Year, joining former track and field members Isaiah Tipping and Christian Rios.

"Tristan is the kind of student-athlete every coach hopes to have in their program," said Director of Track and Cross Country Katie Wise-Butler. "This recognition is a reflection of the countless hours he has invested behind the scenes and the consistency he has shown every single day. His success did not happen overnight. It came from his commitment to doing the little things right, trusting the process, and showing up with the same mindset whether it was practice or competition."

Tristan Trevino completed his junior year and had a dominant athletic campaign from start to finish, beginning with a school record set during the cross country season, establishing a new 8K race time of 24:23.2. Trevino would go on to lead Marian to a top-five finish in the Crossroads League and qualify for the NAIA National Championship, where the Knights finished top-20, qualifying as a team for the second consecutive year. 

Trevino then put up story after story in the in the indoor track and field season, setting new school records in the 800m and mile races before helping Marian win the Crossroads League Championship. Trevino was named the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year before leading the Knights to an NAIA National Championship, where he earned three NAIA Championships and was named a member of the NAIA's Most Outstanding Performers for his efforts on the 4x800m relay. At the national championships, Trevino helped Marian win national titles in the 4x800m relay and the DMR, setting a new school record in the 4x8 prelims. The junior also won the individual mile championship, claiming three NAIA All-America honors. He concluded his indoor season by being named the USTFCCCA Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. 

Wise-Butler continued, "What I am most proud of is not just what Tristan accomplished on the track, but the person he is. He is a tremendous teammate, leads by example, and genuinely cares about the success of those around him. Being voted Athlete of the Year by the conference is an incredible honor, and I could not be happier to see Tristan receive this well-deserved recognition."

The story for the junior continued in the outdoor season, where he set two more school records, doing so in the 800m and the 1500m. After helping Marian win the Outdoor Crossroads League Championship, Trevino was again named as the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year. He went on to win his fourth NAIA National Championship of the year in late May with a sweep of the 4x800m relay titles and also earned All-America honors in the 1500m. 

Tristan Trevino earned six All-Crossroads League honors across his track and cross country seasons and was a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, eventually earning both CSC Academic All-District and Second Team Academic All-America. The junior won two Crossroads League Athlete of the Week honors, and one NAIA Track Athlete of the Week honor in the 2025-26 season. 

The Crossroads League Male Student-Athlete of the Year award is nominated and voted on by the 10 Athletic Directors from the Crossroads League and announced each summer.

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