Bring six national championships together in one weekend festival – which took place in Division II for the eighth time in December – and the impactful moments multiply.

D’Agostino credits her experience as a student-athlete for preparing her for a professional career as a runner, both on and off the track.

Michmerhuizen graduated from Calvin College and now puts the lessons she learned as a student-athlete to use as she pursues her Ph.D. in pharmacology, hoping to one day find better treatments for people with diabetes.

The Lakers, who claimed their third consecutive national title with a score of 50 points, entered the meet as the heavy favorite. Six of the team’s seven runners earned All-America honors by placing in the top 40.