Folkestad, Nygaard, Pearson & Relay Team Earn All-Region Honors
Cooper Folkestad, Kyla Nygaarg, Lauren Pearson and the 4x400-meter relay team of Nygaard, Emily Rengo, Josie Brown and Emma Warner were all named to the All-Region Team.
MOORHEAD, Minn. (3/11/26)—-Concordia had three individuals and one relay earn United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) North All-Region honors for finishing in the Top 5 in the region in an individual event.
Cooper Folkestad (Sr., Wadena, Minn./Wadena-Deer Creek HS), Kyla Nygaard (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.), Lauren Pearson (Fy., Cameron, Wis.) and the 4x400-meter relay team of Nygaard, Emily Rengo (Sr., Esko, Minn.), Josie Brown (Fy., Saco, Mont.) and Emma Warner (So., McGregor, Minn.) were all named to the All-Region Team.
The Top 5 individuals in each event from each region on the year-end Descending Order Lists earned All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region's top-3 relay teams. The regions used for this award – East, Great Lakes, Metro, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, Niagara, North, South, and West – match those used during the cross country season.
Folkestad becomes the most decorated All-Region athlete in men's program history. He earned his fourth indoor All-Region honor in the shot put after posting a school-record distance of 60-11.25 at the Bison Open. His mark is currently No.2 in all of Division III.
Nygaard becomes the third athlete in women's program history to earn multiple indoor All-Region honors.
Nygaard won her second straight indoor region award by running a 2:11.15 in the 800 meters at the Wartburg Last Chance Qualifier. That time is the No.2 time in the region and she is seeded No.12 in the nation.
Pearson continued the long line of successful multi-event athletes by winning the MIAC pentathlon. Her winning score of 3,494 points broke the school record and was the No.4 mark in the region.
The 4x4 relay becomes the first Cobber relay team to receive Indoor All-Region honors in program history. The quartet also earned All-Region honors at the Wartburg meet. They crossed the line in a season-best time of 3:47.41 which broke the school record and was the No.3 mark in the North Region. Their time also helped them get a spot at the NCAA Indoor National Meet.
Past Cobber Men's USTFCCCA Indoor All-Region Award Winners
2025 - Cooper Folkestad (shot put)
2023 - Hayden Gagnon (400 meters), Cal Wright (400 meters)
2022 – Cooper Folkestad (Shot Put), Tommy Kern (400 meters), Jesse Middendorf (800 meters), Cal Wright (400 meters), 4x400-Meter Relay (Kern, Middendorf, Colin Schuller, Wright)
2021 – Cooper Folkestad (Shot Put), Jesse Middendorf (800 meters), Wade Rhonemus (Heptathlon)
2020 – Matt Bye (Heptathlon), Jesse Middendorf (800 meters)
2019 – Matt Bye (Heptathlon), Sam Haley (Pole Vault), Cal Wright (400 meters)
2018 – Eli Beachy (Pole Vault)
2017 – Eli Beachy (Pole Vault), Willie Julkes (60-meter hurdles), Jackson Schepp (Heptathlon), David Supinski (600 meters)
2016 – Jackson Schepp (Heptathlon)