Carter Giittinger USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete of the Year Graphic Web

Men's Indoor Track and Field 7/20/2026 3:49:00 PM

Giittinger selected as NAIA USTFCCCA Men’s Indoor Field National Scholar Athlete of the Year; Falcons earn team and individual All-Academic recognition

NEW ORLEANS – Friends University junior student-athlete Carter Giittinger has received the prestigious 2026 NAIA U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men's Indoor Field National Scholar Athlete of the Year honor, the organization released today (July 20).

Under head coach Henry Brun, both the Falcon men and women track & field programs are also USTFCCCA All-Academic teams, given to teams with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point-average for all student-athletes listed on the institution's eligibility certificate.

Additionally, 10 Falcon men and six Falcon women earned All-Academic award recognition.

To be named a USTFCCCA All-Academic athlete, the student-athlete must have a cumulative 3.25 GPA and achieve an "A" or "B" standard in a championship event during the indoor or outdoor season. Also, the student-athlete must have completed at least two semesters or three quarters at the certifying institution.

Giittinger stood tall throughout the 2025-26 season, winning the NAIA National Championship in the Men's Heptathlon with a school record 5,466 points that also ranked as the fourth most in NAIA history. The Russellville, Ark. native then claimed an All-America finish in the NAIA Outdoor Decathlon event after accumulating a school record 7,030 points to finish third overall.

The complete list of Falcons that received NAIA USTFCCCA All-Academic awards are listed below:

Men's Track & Field USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes (Major in parenthesis)

Logan Barnhill (Accounting)

Matthew Bryant (Marketing)

Thomas Burk (Health & Human Performance)

Carter Giittinger (Health and Physical Education

Spencer Hines (Physical Education Teaching)

Denzel Nyamwela (Mechanical Engineering)

Eddy Rachedi (Cyber Security)

Ian Russell (Business Administration)

Pius Vokes (Business Administration)

Payton Willits (Mechanical Engineering)