UW-Whitewater's Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) has been named the North Region Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the second consecutive season. 

Patzka, a three-time USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week this season, has won fix of six meets he has competed in during the 2023 campaign. Patzka was the North Region Champion for the second consecutive season after posting a career-best time of 24:02.0 in last week's meet. The junior finished as the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runner-up this season and is the reigning national runner-up heading into the NCAA Division III Championship Saturday. 

The Warhawks have claimed the North Region Athlete of the Year award the last three seasons with David Fassbender earning the honor in 2021 followed by the back-to-back honors for Patzka. 

Patzka will lead UW-Whitewater into the NCAA Championship hosted by Dickinson College at Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania. The men's race is slated to start at 10 a.m. Saturday with live coverage exclusively on ncaa.com.