INFO | USTFCCCA national AOTW presser
 
Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Distance Medley Relay quartet is this week's USTFCCCA men's indoor track and field National Athlete of the Week. The DMR group is this week's South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Athlete of the Week as well.
 
The Wingate men's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) quartet set a new NCAA Division II record at the Saucony Battle for Boston with their time of 9:29.69 Sunday. The Battle for Boston event was hosted by Boston University at its Track and Tennis Center.
 
Team members include:

David Holman (1200 meters)
Deon Sumpter (400 meters)
Klaus Scholz (800 meters)
Luca Poppe (1600 meters)

A senior, Sumpter has qualified for indoor nationals in the DMR four of four years (2023-26) with his '23 effort resulting in a national championship.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop
 
"The DMR Bulldog men have done it again! They are sitting at the top of the D2 nation, but this time, with the NCAA record in hand. It was an honor to be a part of their experience Sunday. Witnessing each one of them do their part, sharing the joy and exhausted exhilaration. We are so proud of these young men and all they have accomplished. We look forward to watching what else they do in a few weeks."
 
Fun fact

This marks the fourth time a male student-athlete from Wingate has been named USTFCCCA M-F National Athlete of the Week during the indoor season. Individually, Scholz and Holman were honored earlier this campaign. Wingate's first-ever recipient was Bulldog superstar Titouan Le Grix ('25), who collected the award on December 16, 2024. 
 
Up Next for the Wingate indoor track and field teams
 
- The South Atlantic Conference meet is Saturday and Sunday at the JDL Fast Track
- The 'Dogs are three-time defending champions on both the men's and women's side
- The Wingate men are No. 2 in the USTFCCCA indoor power rankings
- The Bulldog women are No. 14 in the USTFCCCA indoor power rankings
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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(Editor's note: A big thank you to the USTFCCCA Communications Staff for contributing information to this article.)