Marian’s Rios Heralded as CL Male Athlete of the Year

JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced on Thursday that Christian Rios of the Marian University men's track and field program had been named the 2024-2025 CL Male Athlete of the Year. 

Rios highlighted a historic year for the Marian men's track and field program, which swept the indoor and outdoor Crossroads League Championships and claimed the NAIA Indoor Track National Championship. In addition to the team title, Rios secured an individual title in the indoor weight throw and was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA Indoor Great Lakes Region Field Athlete of the Year and the CL Championships Field Athlete of the Meet in the indoor and outdoor championships.

In addition to his individual national title and All-American honors in the weight throw during the indoor season, Rios added All-American performances in the outdoor campaign in the hammer, discus and shot put. The success followed Rios' domination at the league championships, where he claimed five individual Crossroads League titles and was a five-time All-Crossroads League standout during the 2025 seasons.

"I am incredibly proud of Christian for being named the Crossroads League Male Athlete of the Year," said Marian track and field head coach Katie Wise. "Christian is a true embodiment of excellence, not only in the throwing ring but as a teammate and leader within our program. As a national champion and multiple-time All-American, his work ethic, humility and character have made a lasting impact on Marian track and field, as well as the Crossroads League. Christian represents everything we value in a Knight, determination, integrity and the drive to lead by example."

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.

Crossroads League Male Student-Athlete of the Year Recipients
2024-2025 – Christian Rios, Marian (track and field)
2023-2024 – Isaiah Tipping, Marian (track and field)
2022-2023 – Tim Noeding, Bethel (soccer)
2021-2022 – Steve Ott, Indiana Wesleyan (cross country/track and field)
2020-2021 – Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan (basketball)
2019-2020 – Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan (basketball)
2018-2019 – Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan (basketball)
2017-2018 – Erik Escobedo, Bethel (track and field)
2016-2017 – Lane Mahurin, Indiana Wesleyan (basketball)
2015-2016 – Austin Fox, Saint Francis (basketball)
2014-2015 – Matt Schauss, Bethel (basketball)
2013-2014 – Riley Swanson, Mount Vernon Nazarene (baseball)
2012-2013 – Brady Klotz, Bethel (golf)
2011-2012 – Caleb Kennedy, Huntington (basketball)