RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The run of the RedStorm of the University of Rio Grande in athletics shows no signs of slowing down.
The RedStorm won their fifth consecutive men's athletics (cross country and track) championship on Saturday, blowing past the competition at the 2026 River States Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The RedStorm doubled up every team in the field but one, finishing 118.5 points clear of the nearest competition with 280.5 points.
IU Kokomo left Rio Grande with the runner-up hardware, finishing the meet with 162 points. Shawnee State concluded their tenure in the River States Conference with 124.5 points, giving the Bears third place by 5.5 points over IU East. Rio Grande head coach Matt Paxton added to his trophy case, as the RedStorm leader was named RSC Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year via a vote of his peers.
The RedStorm's dominance was primarily on the track - the lone gold medal for Rio Grande in the field events was Milan Tobiska's win in the long jump. The RedStorm won six of the eleven running events, with the efforts led by Tobiska and Tyler Jenkins. To go with his win in the long jump, Tobiska won the gold medal in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Jenkins concluded a decorated RSC career with wins in the 1500 and 10000 meter races.
Elsewhere, the RedStorm were also victorious in the 400 and 800 meter races. Trevon Houston took the gold medal in the 400 meters, an event that saw four RedStorm runners earn points. In the 800 meters, Kasey Science earned the win, leading a pack of four Rio Grande runners that went 1-2-4-5. In the relays, the RedStorm swept, winning the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 meter races.
The Track Athlete of the Year award went to Shawnee State's Chayse Lipscomb. Lipscomb swept the hurdles events, winning in both the 110 and the 400. He also qualified for the finals in the 200 meters, and placed fourth in the long jump. On the field side, Shawnee State's Luke Rader was honored. Rader won the triple jump, took second in the long jump, and added a fourth place finish in the 110 hurdles. Claiming his three gold medals in the long jump, 100 meters, and 200 meters, Rio Grande's Tobiska earned Newcomer of the Year honors.
Additionally, the RSC is also proud to announce the athletes recognized as their program's Champion of Character. Each team in each River States Conference sponsored sport is asked to nominate one athlete as their Champion of Character. These student-athletes best represent the NAIA’s Champions of Character program and its five core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Following a number of last chance events, athletes from around the conference will turn their attention to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held this year at the Karl Straus Track in Asheville, North Carolina. Qualifying athletes will be announced later this month, with action in the Tar Heel State set to begin on May 20 and continue through May 22.
2026 River States Conference Men's Outdoor Track and Field Awards
Track Athlete of the Year- Chayse Lipscomb, Shawnee State
Field Athlete of the Year- Luke Rader, Shawnee State
Newcomer of the Year- Milan Tobiska, Rio Grande
Coach of the Year- Matt Paxton, Rio Grande
Champions of Character
Seth Karnes, Brescia
Jose Martinez, IU Columbus
Zach Kiracofe, IU East
Evan Gaylor, IU Kokomo
Ayden Reed, Kentucky Christian
Jacob Miller, Oakland City
Jeremiah Aiken, Midway
Anton Meinlschmidt, Rio Grande
Abbott Church, SMWC
Garrett Carver, Shawnee State
Isaac Agee, WVU Tech