The conference’s most decorated track & field athlete and the top player on a national championship golf team were named 2022 Great Midwest Athletes of the Year. Ashland’s Trevor Bassitt and Findlay’s Kristina Kniesly claimed the awards as the top performers for the 2021-22 year and will be recognized at the conference meetings this summer.
 
Bassitt, from Bluffton, Ohio, adds the male athlete of the year honor to his long list of accolades. He finished his career at Ashland with 10 national titles, including a win in the 400 hurdles at the outdoor national meet in May. He was the conference’s athlete of the year in both the indoor and outdoor seasons and won the Great Midwest Collegiate Achievement Award. He was also on the Bowerman Watch List and earned a silver medal at the 2022 Indoor World Championships.
 
Kniesly, a native of Logansport, Indiana, is the female athlete of the year after leading Findlay to a national championship in women’s golf. The was a first team All-American and the Great Midwest Player of the Year for the Oilers, who enjoyed a historic season. Kniesly averaged 73.89 in 2021-22 and 76.21 for her career, both school records. She won three tournaments as an individual and was 4-0 in match play during the conference and national championships.
 
This was the 10^th year for the athlete of the year award. Kniesly is the first golf athlete to win, while Bassitt is fifth track athlete. Find the entire list of Great Midwest Athletes of the Year HERE.