Men's Track 5/13/2025 1:14:00 PM

Oliver Ollesch Named GSC Track Athlete of the Year

CLINTON, Miss. — Mississippi College standout Oliver Ollesch has been named the 2025 Gulf South Conference Men's Track Athlete of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. The honor, voted on by the conference's head coaches, marks the second consecutive year a Choctaw has earned the award—joining Nik Klei, who received the honor in 2024. It is also just the second time a Mississippi College athlete has claimed the award since the program was reinstated into GSC competition in 2016.

Ollesch delivered a dominant outdoor season for the Choctaws, capping it off with three podium finishes at the 2025 GSC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He captured gold and broke the GSC record in the 400-meter hurdles and anchored MC's championship-winning 4x400-meter relay team. He also helped the Choctaws secure a third-place finish in the 4x100 relay, showcasing his range and consistency across multiple events.

The senior hurdler has steadily emerged as one of the GSC's elite competitors throughout his career and solidified that status in 2025 with multiple top finishes against the conference's best. His performance helped MC maintain its competitive presence on the track and in relays, playing a crucial role in the Choctaws' strong showing at the GSC Championships.

Ollesch's selection adds another milestone to what has been a historic season for the Mississippi College track and field program and further underscores the program's growth on the conference and regional stage.

The GSC also recognized UAH's Malik Turner as the Field Athlete of the Year, Lee's Pierre Chauveau as Freshman of the Year, and UAH head coach David Cain as Coach of the Year.