Tusculum University cross country runner Nathan Buckeridge has been named the Applebee's Male Student-Athlete of the Month for September 2025.

Buckeridge, a junior from Haywards Heath, England, has enjoyed a sizzling start to his debut season with the Pioneers. He has won the individual title in all three of his races this fall. He opened the campaign by winning the Roane State Invitational with an 8K time of 26:12, 91 seconds clear of the second-place runner. For his efforts, he was named the South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Week.

Buckeridge made it back-to-back victories by claiming the individual medal at the Brevard Classic covering the 8K course in 25:35.34, winning by more than a minute. He closed out the month with a first-place finish at the SAC Championship Preview held at Kinser Park in Greeneville. He posted a time of 28:26.9 on the hilly 8K layout which will host the Conference Championship later this month. He won the SAC Preview by 34 seconds.

His three wins are tied for the third-most in a season by a Pioneer. Buckeridge led Tusculum to back-to-back team wins at Roane State and Brevard, followed by a third-place showing at the SAC Championship Preview.

The Tusculum Student-Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar of Greeneville.  The Applebee's Student-Athlete of the Month Award honors one male and one female student-athlete each month from an in-season sport during the 2024-25 academic year, recognizing their hard work, effort and performance.