Folkestad Named MIAC Indoor Athlete Of The Year
Cooper Folkestad was named the MIAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year it was announced by the conference office. Folkestad earned the award for his record-setting performance in the shot put at the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet last weekend.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/05/26)---Cooper Folkestad (Sr., Wadena, Minn./Wadena Deer Creek HS) was named the MIAC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year it was announced by the conference office.
Folkestad earned the award for his record-setting performance in the shot put at the MIAC Indoor Championship Meet last weekend.
It is the first time in his career that Folkestad has earned a post-conference meet award. He becomes the second Cobber to be named MIAC Field Athlete of the Year in the past three seasons and third overall in the history of the program. Wade Rhonemus claimed the honor in 2024 and 2-sport standout Brandon Zylstra was named the MIAC Field Athlete of the Year in 2015.
Folkestad earned this year's award for his event-winning performance in the shot put. He posted a distance of 60-10.00 on his very last attempt of the meet which broke the championship meet and facility record.
Folkestad qualified for the finals with a toss of 59-04.25 on his third attempt in the prelims and then unleashed his meet record on the final chance.
Folkestad is currently ranked second in the shot put in Division III this season by virtue of his school-record mark of 60-11.25 which he posted on Feb. 6 at the NDSU Bison Open.
Folkestad will have an 8-day break before participating in the NCAA Indoor National Meet on Mar. 13-14
2026 MIAC All-Conference
Tyler Evans (Pole Vault)
Eli Hegland (High Jump)
Blake Houska (Shot Put)
Tommy Schreiner (Long Jump)
4x400-Meter Relay (Brayden Carlson, Ryan Richardson, Joey Molstre, Michael Crowder)
2026 MIAC All-Conference Honorable-Mention
Tyler Goss (3K & 5K)
Hayden Hauf (55M Hurdles)
Chris Verdier (Triple Jump)
Joey Molstre (Heptathlon)