MARION, Ind. (Dec. 3, 2025) – For the first time in program history, Indiana Wesleyan University’s (IWU) men’s cross country hoisted the NAIA red banner, winning the 2025 NAIA National Championship on Friday morning in Tallahassee, Florida. The Wildcats delivered a powerful, unified performance, placing five runners inside the top 40 and finishing with 117 points. After four consecutive years inside the national top five, IWU reached a historic milestone: bringing a national title home to Marion.
The Wildcats were led by a standout pack effort. Josh Bainbridge surged to an eighth-place All-American finish in 24:38, while Grant Flora joined him in the All-American ranks at 25th overall with a time of 25:02. Trenton Sweet, Braden Sweet, and Hunter Wasnich rounded out the top 5 scorers, each contributing key placements that solidified IWU’s championship run and underscored the depth and determination of this year’s roster.
“This season was a true blessing. I felt like Heaven touched down on Friday,” said head coach Brody Beiler. “With Coach Foss’s 37 years of hard work, and a program vision from 2000 that encompassed two goals—growing in your relationship with Jesus and every year contending for a National Title—this felt much bigger than just a race.”
Following the team’s historic performance, Beiler, in his second season as head coach of the men’s cross country team, was named NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. In addition, IWU’s men’s and women’s programs combined for a fourth-place finish in the national combined trophy standings; a testament to the strength, consistency, and Christ-centered culture of Wildcat distance running.
“All year we focused on ‘Run Free,’ a concept derived from Hebrews 12:1-3, and this team focused on throwing off all that hinders and fixing their eyes on Jesus with everything they did: academics, relationships, sport, and faith. I believe the outcome of this year will not surpass the journey we’ve been on together as a team.”
The national title represents not only a pinnacle achievement for the men’s program but also a milestone for IWU Athletics as a whole. With a foundation built on faith, disciplined preparation, and a pursuit of excellence, the Wildcats’ victory reflects the heart of IWU’s mission to develop student-athletes in character, scholarship, and leadership.
