CHAMPAIGN, ILL. – Illinois' best and brightest student athletes were honored Monday night at the annual Fighting Illini Oskee Awards celebration held at State Farm Center.
More than 500 Fighting Illini student-athletes, managers and cheerleaders honored at the Oskee Awards, an annual event that recognizes graduating student-athletes and others who have excelled both athletically and academically. The event was hosted by Fighting Illini football great and current Big Ten Network analyst J Leman, a past winner of both the Big Ten Medal of Honor and Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year in 2008.
Senior standouts Nicole Choquette (track & field/cross country) and Isaiah Martinez (wrestling) took home the night's highest honor, the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor. Now in its 104th year, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The conference's most exclusive award was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence.
The Fighting Illini Spirit Awards, which are given to the male and female athlete who best exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini, also were handed out on Monday. Receiving the 2018 Fighting Illini Spirit Awards were Taylor Edwards of softball and wrestling's Carver James.
The women's golf (3.61 GPA) and men's cross country (3.38 GPA) teams were recognized for having the top team cumulative grade-point averages among Illinois' varsity sports over the last two semesters, and six individuals were honored for having the top GPA in their respective classes. Swimming and diving's Emily Martin (3.98 GPA in agricultural accounting) and men's tennis player Noe Khlif (3.97 GPA in accountancy) had the top GPAs among sophomores. Softball's Stephanie Abello (3.98 in creative writing) and track and field's Joe Haight (3.94 in engineering physics) were the top juniors. Among seniors, soccer's Olivia Schmitt (3.97 GPA in journalism) and basketball's Cameron Liss (3.97 GPA in accountancy) had the highest GPAs.
The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships also were awarded. Seniors Nicole Choquette and Tony Zea of track & field received $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools.
The softball team, led by head coach Tyra Perry, once again received the Illini Life Skills Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award for its commitment to community service.
Two past Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients took part in The Oskees Monday night. Lindsey Nimmo Bristow (tennis) and Brad Lawton (track & field), both celebrating 25 years since earning their Medals of Honor in 1993, were at State Farm Center to make remarks to the current crop of Fighting Illini student-athletes.
In addition to the awards handed out, finalists for Male and Female Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards also were announced. The Eddleman and Freshman winners will not be selected until the conclusion of the spring sports season in June.
The Conference's oldest and most prestigious award has been given annually to a male and female student in the graduating class that has demonstrated proficiency in both scholarship and athletics
» Senior Nicole Choquette, Track & Field/Cross Country
» Senior Isaiah Martinez, Wrestling
Fighting Illini Spirit Award Winners | Award History
Athletes who exemplify the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Junior Taylor Edwards, Softball
» RS Sophomore Carver James, Wrestling
Fighting Illini Outstanding Team GPA Awards
Highest cumulative grade point average for a team over the last two semesters
» Women's Golf - 3.61 GPA, Coach Renee Slone
» Men's Cross Country - 3.38 GPA, Coach Jake Stewart
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Female and male student-athletes with the highest grade-point average in each class of school
» Sophomore Emily Martin, Swimming & Diving, 3.98 GPA, agricultural accounting
» Sophomore Noe Khlif, Tennis, 3.97 GPA, accountancy
» Junior Stephanie Abello, Softball, 3.98 GPA, creative writing
» Junior Joe Haight, Track & Field, 3.94 GPA, engineering physics
» Senior Olivia Schmitt, Soccer, 3.97 GPA, journalism
» Senior Cameron Liss, Basketball, 3.99 GPA, accountancy
Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Female and male student-athletes selected to receive $7,500 scholarships to be utilized at their graduate schools
» Senior Nicole Choquette, Track & Field/Cross Country
» Senior Tony Zea, Track & Field
Life Skills Student-Athlete Development Team Competition Award
Team that shows the most commitment to community service during the academic year
» Softball, Coach Tyra Perry
Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) Performance of the Year Award
Top performance of the year across all sports, nominated by SAAC sport representatives and voted on by the student-athletes
» Men's Track & Field – Jon Davis runs sub four-minute mile
Dike Eddleman Female Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois female athlete who most excelled in her sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Senior Grace Park, Golf
» Sophomore Rae Balthazor, Gymnastics
» Junior Kiana Sherlund, Softball
» Junior Jaclyn Switkes, Tennis
» Senior Nicole Choquette, Track & Field/Cross Country
» Junior Jordyn Poulter, Volleyball
Dike Eddleman Male Athlete of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to the University of Illinois male athlete who most excelled in his sport at both the conference and national levels. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Junior Bren Spillane, Baseball
» Senior Dylan Meyer, Golf
» Junior Alex Diab, Gymnastics
» Senior Aleks Vukic, Tennis
» Senior David Kendziera, Track & Field
» Senior Isaiah Martinez, Wrestling
Female Freshman of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a female, participating in her first year at Illinois, who most excelled in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Freshman Ali Morallos, Golf
» Freshman Nicole Biondi, Gymnastics
» Freshman Bella Loya, Softball
» Freshman Michelle McCord, Swimming & Diving
» Freshman Mia Rabinowitz, Tennis
» Freshman Rebecca Craddock, Track & Field/Cross Country
» Freshman Megan Cooney, Volleyball
Male Freshman of the Year Finalists | Award History
Presented to a male, participating in his first year at Illinois, who most excelled in athletics. Winner announced in June after the completion of all spring sports.
» Freshman Trent Frazier, Basketball
» Freshman Ricky Smalling, Football
» Freshman Alex Brown, Tennis
» RS Freshman Jon Davis, Indoor Track & Field
» RS Freshman Mike Carr, Wrestling
Fighting Illini Female Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Female student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Senior Mary Jane Horth, Gymnastics
» Junior Taylor Edwards, Softball ***WINNER***
» Sophomore Emily Martin, Swimming & Diving
» Junior Daniela Pedraza Novak, Tennis
» RS Sophomore Morgan Schulz, Track & Field/Cross Country
» RS Sophomore Beth Prince, Volleyball
Fighting Illini Male Spirit Award Finalists | Award History
Male student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit, courage, effort and dedication of the Fighting Illini
» Senior Jackson Douglas, Baseball
» Junior Aaron Jordan, Basketball
» RS Junior Austin Roberts, Football
» Sophomore Bryan Baumgarten, Golf
» Senior Alex Gold, Track & Field/Cross Country
» RS Sophomore Carver James, Wrestling ***WINNER***
Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees
Chi Alpha Sigma is the National College Athlete Honor Society. To be selected, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.4 GPA through their junior year, earn a varsity, letter, have good moral character, and exhibit citizenship and leadership qualities.
