CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) recognized Manchester University men's cross country and track and field student-athlete
Gavin Byerly (Huntington, Ind.) as the 2025-26 HCAC Athlete of the Year for men’s sports on Wednesday, following a vote of league officials.
Byerly was the HCAC’s premiere distance runner on the men’s side this season, excelling in cross country and both indoor and outdoor track and field competitions.
The Manchester senior started his year off with a fantastic performance at the HCAC Cross Country Championship, winning the race by six seconds and earning Runner of the Year honors. He would go on to earn Great Lakes Regional Athlete of the Year - the first such honor in the Spartans history - and First Team All-America status at the NCAA Championship.
Indoors, Byerly earned a trifecta with HCAC titles in the 800m, mile, and 3000m races. His performance earned him Distance Runner of the Year honors for the conference and he would add All-Region recognition as well.
The Huntington-native would continue his success outdoors, completing the sweep of major awards with another Distance Runner of the Year award. At the HCAC, he tripled up once again with wins in the 800m, 1500m, and the steeplechase. His 800m and 1500m times were both meet records. He went on to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships, finishing sixth in the 1500 to earn All-America honors.
The HCAC Athlete of the Year award is in its thirteenth year of existence. The award is voted on by the Sports Information Directors of each member institution.
HCAC Athletes of the Year for Men's Sports
| Year |
Name |
Sport(s) |
Institution |
| 2026 |
Gavin Byerly |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
Manchester University |
| 2025 |
Tate Ivanyo |
Basketball |
Anderson University |
| 2024 |
Trent Youngblood |
Baseball |
Transylvania University |
| 2023 |
Jailen Hobbs |
Football, Track & Field |
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology |
| 2022 |
Cornell Beachem, Jr. |
Football, Wrestling |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| 2021 |
Montez Archer, Jr. |
Football |
Bluffton University |
| 2020 |
Cornell Beachem, Jr. |
Football, Wrestling |
Mount St. Joseph University |
| 2019 |
Cam Fails |
Basketball |
Hanover College |
| 2018 |
Chase Burton |
Football |
Franklin College |
| 2017 |
Wes McKinney |
Basketball |
Hanover College |
| 2016 |
Ryan Aelker |
Football |
Bluffton University |
| 2015 |
Max Kittle |
Track & Field |
Anderson University |
| 2014 |
Kyle Linville |
Football |
Franklin College |
For more information on all things HCAC, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the HCAC's home on the internet at www.heartlandconf.org. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference news by following @HCACDIII on Twitter and by liking the "HCAC DIII" Facebook page.